1. President Obama nominates new Homeland Security chief
The White House officially nominated Jeh C. Johnson, the Pentagon's former top lawyer, to replace Janet Napolitano as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. The president said Johnson was instrumental in dismantling al Qaeda's core operations overseas and repealing the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. His nomination requires confirmation from the Senate. [Associated Press]
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2. Gay marriages to begin Monday in New Jersey
The New Jersey Supreme Court upheld a decision by a lower court to allow gay marriage in New Jersey, despite objections from Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who favors civil unions. The court's decision makes New Jersey the 14th state to allow same-sex marriage, which will be legal starting on Monday. [NBC News]
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3. Former House Speaker Tom Foley dies at 84
Former House Speaker Tom Foley, a Democrat who served 30 years in Congress, died on Friday in his home in Washington, D.C., his wife announced on Friday. He was 84. Foley spent 1989 to 1995 as speaker of the House, and later became the U.S. ambassador to Japan until 2001. [CNN]
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4. Norwegian man investigated for connection to Kenya mall shooting
Norway's intelligence agency is investigating a 23-year-old Norwegian citizen's connection to the hostage situation at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. The al Qaeda-affiliated group al Shabab claimed responsibility for the September attack, which resulted in 67 deaths. The man reportedly left Norway for his birthplace of Somalia, where al Shabab is based, in 2009. [BBC]
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5. First major Taliban attack in months rocks Kabul
Taliban gunmen attacked a convoy of foreign vehicles in Kabul on Friday, killing two Afghan civilians and injuring four more. The attack, which occurred near the Green Village, home to many foreign military and civilian contractors, was the first significant attack in the Afghan capital since July. [Reuters]
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6. Inmates escape Florida prison with forged documents
Joseph Jenkins and Charles Walker, both 34, were let out of a Florida prison after it received forged documents calling for their immediate release. The papers featured the fake signature of Chief Justice Belvin Perry, best known for presiding over the Casey Anthony trial in 2011. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has called for a statewide manhunt to find them. [CBS News]
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7. Morgan Stanley beats expectations with $1 billion quarter
Morgan Stanley was the big winner on Wall Street on Friday after it reported $1 billion in third-quarter profits, beating analyst estimates, as well as $7.9 billion in revenue, a significant increase from $5.3 billion a year ago. The company attributed the healthy quarter to keeping compensation costs down and a recovering commercial real estate market. [USA Today]
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8. Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.) dies at 82
Rep. Bill Young, one of the longest serving members of the House, died Friday at age 82. Young had already decided not to seek another term in Florida's 13th congressional district. The congressman, who assumed office in 1971, was the longest-serving Republican in the House, and tied with Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) as the third longest-serving member overall. [NBC]
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9. National Zoo reopens after government shutdown ends
Visitors were finally allowed back into the National Zoo, which is funded by the Smithsonian Institute, in Washington, D.C, on Friday. The zoo was closed for 17 days because of the government shutdown. The National Zoo also switched its Panda Cam back on, which follows its unnamed 8-week-old giant panda cub. [Washington Post]
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10. CBS orders full seasons for three new comedies
The Crazy Ones, starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar, has been picked up for a full season by CBS, along with two of the network's other new comedies, Mom and The Millers. As for other networks, ABC picked up Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., while Fox did the same with supernatural thriller Sleepy Hollow. [E! Online]
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