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Friday's Mini-Report, 1.30.15

Today's edition of quick hits
Today's edition of quick hits:
 
* ISIS: "Exploiting a foggy night as cover, Islamic State militants launched a surprise attack on Iraqi Kurdish positions on the outskirts of Kirkuk early Friday, killing a senior Kurdish commander and at least five of his men, security officials in the city said."
 
* Middle East: "The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Friday his group did not want war with Israel but was ready for one, and reserved the right to respond to Israeli attacks any time, anywhere."
 
* Afghanistan: "The Taliban claimed responsibility on Friday for the deadly shooting of three American private contractors at an airport in the Afghan capital. U.S. officials said Thursday that the three contractors and one Afghan national were killed by an Afghan soldier on the military side of Kabul's international airport."
 
* Good advice: "Parents should listen to public health officials who encourage vaccination, the White House said Friday amid reports that hundreds of people in Arizona may have been exposed to the measles virus. 'Being guided by the science in matters like this is typically the right approach,' White House press secretary Josh Earnest said, adding that research 'certainly' indicates parents should vaccinate their children."
 
* Pennsylvania: "State Treasurer Rob McCord said Thursday that he was stepping down after six years in office, as signs emerged that he is under scrutiny by federal authorities. Investigators have been asking about McCord's campaign fund-raising in recent months, according to several sources close to the examination."
 
* Awful news out of Mississippi: "Rep. Alan Nunnelee, who has been absent from Capitol Hill for the majority of the past year after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in the spring, was moved to home hospice care in Tupelo on Jan. 26, according to a source with knowledge of the Mississippi Republican's condition."
 
* It's sad to see her career come to this: "Many of the allegations made by former CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson regarding alleged computer intrusions by the U.S. government are disputed in a report by the Justice Department's inspector general. 'The OIG's investigation was not able to substantiate the allegations that Attkisson's computers were subject to remote intrusion by the FBI, other government personnel, or otherwise,' reads the inspector general's report."
 
* Um, what? "Fox host suggests some campus sexual assault victims are 'bad girls ... who like to be naughty.'" Salon has more on this.
 
* There but for the grace of God go I: "Several media outlets on Friday were forced to walk back articles announcing a definite presidential run by Mitt Romney for 2016."
 
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.