Luke Skywalker
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President Obama reaches to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel following an announcement of Hagel's resignation during an event at the White House.(Photo: Susan Walsh, AP)
1. The potential ins (Loretta Lynch) and outs (Chuck Hagel) of politics
Loretta Lynch is scheduled to appear Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee as President Obama's nominee to succeed Attorney General Eric Holder. If confirmed, she would become the first African-American woman to serve as the nation's main law enforcement officer. Meanwhile, the commander in chief heads right to an Armed Forces Farewell Tribute for departing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Not that Hagel is gone quite yet — he has to keep the seat warm until the president's nominee to take over the job, Ashton Carter, gets through confirmation hearings scheduled for early next month.
Loretta Lynch, nominee for U.S. attorney general.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images)
2. Clouds begin to break as some areas are buried in snow
While the storm may not have hit New York City as hard as expected, some of New England could be waking up with up to 3 feet of snow come Wednesday. Boston already saw 21 inches as of Tuesday afternoon, and the total is expected to climb. While NYC wasn't pummeled, as predicted, Mayor de Blasio said cleaning up what did hit the city would last into Wednesday.
3. 'The Americans' returns for third season
FX's favorite KGB officers disguised as a loving suburban couple return Wednesday evening as The Americans airs its third season premiere. USA TODAY TV critic Robert Bianco loves the show, saying that Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell are superb as Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings. In this week's episode, the pair are thrown into turmoil by the KGB's desire to bring their daughter, Paige (Holly Taylor), into the family business. The premiere airs tonight at 10 ET/PT.
4. Who will lead Lebanon?
Since last May, Lebanon has been without a president, but come Wednesday that will change. The country's parliament, which is charged with selecting the head of state, will convene for an 18[SUP]th[/SUP] time – yes, 18[SUP]th[/SUP] – in an effort to come to a decision. The situation is not helped by the fact that Hezbollah, the mostly Shiite party that holds considerable sway in Lebanese politics, has boycotted the elections, insisting that its favored candidate, Michel Aoun, is the only one who they want to fill the seat vacated by Michel Suleiman.
Construction continues on a luxury tower in Beirut last February.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Hussein Malla, AP)
5. ISIL hostages' parents beg governments to save their sons
The parents of two hostages held by the Islamic State appealed for their governments to secure their release Wednesday, after the pair's captors said they had less than "24 hours left to live." The deadline expires late Wednesday night Japan time.The Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS, warned it would be the group's last message and that any delay tactic would result in the hostages' deaths.
Junko Ishido, the mother of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, 47, who was taken hostage by the Islamic State group, holds back her tears during a press conference in Tokyo Jan 23.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Koji Sasahara, AP)
Bonus: "We Are The World" celebrates 30 years
The charity anthem brought the top recording artists of the time together to support USA for Africa. Just five years ago, the same song was re-recorded to support Haiti after its devastating 2010 earthquake.
Lionel Richie, clockwise from left, Daryl Hall, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder record "We Are The World" by USA for Africa in 1985. Richie wrote the charity anthem with Michael Jackson.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: AP file photo)
And, the essentials:
Weather: A quiet weather day is on tap for most of the nation after a wild Tuesday in the Northeast. Some light snow will fall in a few spots across the northern tier.
Stocks: Wall Street stock futures tilted higher as the Fed prepared to meet.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at The Mentalist, Nature: Penguin Post Office and Man Seeking Woman.
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