Good morning. Here are some of the stories we’re following today:
1. White House, Congress strike deal on Iran nukes
The White House signaled Tuesday that it would grudgingly acquiesce to lawmakers' demands to have a say in a nuclear deal with Iran — after Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved a measure that would force President Barack Obama to submit any agreement to Congress. The committee voted 19-0 for a bill that would give Congress at least a month to review the details of an agreement. During the review, Obama would be prohibited from waiving congressionally imposed sanctions on Iran — which the administration says would be needed to get Iran to sign a deal. Read more in POLITICS.
2. Obama takes Cuba off of terrorism list
As anticipated, the president is nixing Cuba from the list of countries the U.S. considers sponsors of terrorism. The list also includes Syria, Sudan and Iran; Cuba joined those countries in 1982. It's another major development in the U.S. relationship with Cuba since the president announced last December plans to restore full relations with Cuba and high-level talks began to open an embassy in Havana. The evolving shift away from Cold War policies that governed the U.S.-Cuba relationship has led to other changes that could be accomplished without approval from Congress. Read more in LATINO.
3. Designer drug flakka packs potent punch
The new designer drug is luring young Americans, and is even more potent and more addictive than its synthetic predecessors, experts say. In the lab, flakka is known as a stimulant, part of a chemical class called cathinones, with the amphetamine-like effects of Molly and Ecstasy. The drug has fueled a recent, bizarre a spate of public behavior, all occurring in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Read more in HEALTH.
4. Boston bombing jurors told not to attend marathon
Jurors tasked with deciding whether convicted bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should receive the death penalty were warned Tuesday not to take part in any events related to the upcoming anniversary of the attack or this year's marathon. The second anniversary of the bombings is Wednesday, while the 119th Boston Marathon will take place Monday. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has scheduled a moment of silence for Wednesday morning and encouraged residents and businesses to share how they are marking 'One Boston Day' on social media. Read more in NEWS.
5. Jury seated in Colorado theater shooting trial
Accused Aurora theater shooter James Holmes will face an almost totally white jury when he goes on trial April 27 in the 2012 massacre that killed 12 people and injured 70 others. The 19 women and five men — 12 of whom will end up being alternates — were sworn in Tuesday afternoon, and only one of them is a member of a minority group: a Hispanic woman. Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and many of the prospective jurors were questioned closely about their views on mental illness and the death penalty. Read more in NEWS.
6. Video shows Arizona cop using car to ram suspect
The Marana Police Department released video Tuesday showing a police officer using a car to ram an armed suspect in February. The dash cam records a gunshot as Mario Valencia is walking, and an officer warns, "Stand off, stand off, the gun is loaded." Valencia was armed with a stolen gun and fired a shot in the air, police said. Read more in NEWS.
7. Hillary Clinton makes first campaign stop in Iowa
She's back for redemption. Clinton holds her first official campaign event Wednesday in Iowa, where she finished third in 2008 when she last ran for president. The event will be a roundtable with educators and students, with another one planned Thursday for small businesses. Clinton's campaign start, meanwhile, comes as Marco Rubio joined the GOP presidential nominee race against his mentor, Jeb Bush. Read more in POLITICS.
Nightly Spotlight
Seattle entrepreneur Dan Price, the founder of Gravity Payments, on Monday delivered a startling message to his employees — he is raising the minimum pay for all of his employees to $70,000, while reducing his own pay to the same amount from about $1 million.
