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Democrats hold the Washington governorship
Democrats held onto the governorship in Washington on Friday, bringing an end to the only outstanding election from this week's governors' races.
Republican candidate Rob McKenna conceded to Democratic candidate Jay Inslee in a video statement. Inslee, a former U.S. representative, will succeed two-term Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire.
"Despite the extraordinary efforts of our volunteers, donors, staff and everyone who's been part of Team McKenna, it appears we will fall short of victory when the last ballots are counted. After 17 months of hard work, that is a very disappointing result," said McKenna.
Eleven states held governors' races Tuesday. Democrats were defending eights seats, Republicans three.
By Wednesday afternoon, CNN had projected winners in all but one of the elections - Washington - where mail-in ballots made up about 40% of the votes.
With the race in Washington now decided, Democrats hold 19 governorships; Republicans 30. Rhode Island's governor is an independent.
Republicans flipped North Carolina this year, expanding their national lead over Democrats at the statehouse level. The state hadn't elected a GOP governor since the 1980s.
Rep. Bono Mack concedes House race to Democratic foe
The Democrats picked up another seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday after longtime Rep. Mary Bono Mack conceded defeat three days after the election.
Bono Mack - who in 1998 succeeded her late husband Sonny Bono, one half of the famous Sonny and Cher singing duo before he went into politics - said Friday in a statement that she had called Democrat Raul Ruiz "and congratulated him on his impressive victory."
"After 25 years of public life in the beautiful desert, it is now time for me to start a new chapter in my life," said Bono Mack, who resides in the Palm Springs area of southern California.
With Ruiz's win, Democrats now have at least 195 seats in the House. Republicans are still guaranteed a majority, with at least 234 seats, while six contests remain too close to call.
Bono Mack won't have to look to find someone who understands what it feels like to lose this election cycle. Her current husband, former Rep. Connie Mack IV, lost his bid for a Senate seat against incumbent Bill Nelson in Florida.
Wash. counties drop marijuana misdemeanor possession cases in light of vote
The prosecutor's offices for two Washington counties - including the one that contains Seattle - announced today they will dismiss 175 misdemeanor marijuana possession charges, days after the state's voters legalized the drug.
The dropped cases all involve arrests of individuals age 21 and older for possessing one ounce or less of marijuana.
Alleged Mexican drug kingpin extradited to U.S. to face charges
Nearly one year after he was arrested, an alleged Mexican drug kingpin is now in New York to face charges he co-led the drug ring that shipped more than 100 tons of cocaine to the United States.
Luis Rodriguez-Olivera was extradited from Mexico on Thursday, in order to appear later today in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said in a press release.
CIA director David Petraeus resigns over extramarital affair
Editor's note: Retired Gen. David Petraeus stepped down Friday as head of the Central Intelligence Agency - 14 months after taking the job, days after the presidential election and days before he was to testify before Congress about an attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya that left four Americans dead.
[Updated at 7:59 p.m.] Speaking on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront," Rep. Peter King (R-New York) called Petraeus' resignation "a real loss for the country, a real loss for the CIA."
"We're going to lose the best man for the job, but again America is adaptable," said the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. "Put it this way, anytime you lose a David Petraeus, the country is not as safe as it could be."
[Updated at 7:11 p.m.] The FBI investigated a tip that the woman Petraeus was involved in an extramarital affair with was Paula Broadwell, who co-wrote a biography about him, a U.S. official said.
Broadwell spent a year with Petraeus in Afghanistan, interviewing him for the book "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus."
CNN has not been been able to reach Broadwell for comment. It is not clear if Broadwell is the woman with whom Petraeus had admitting having an affair, leading to his resignation Friday as the head of the CIA.
Police: Denver-area officer mistakenly shot, killed by fellow officer
A Denver-area police officer was fatally shot by a colleague who mistook him for an armed assailant early Friday, authorities said.
James Davies, a 35-year-old police officer in Lakewood, Colorado, was shot outside a house that he and fellow Lakewood officers - including the firing officer - were checking after hearing shots fired there, police spokesman Steve Davis said.
34 alleged Aryan Brotherhood members indicted on racketeering, murder charges
A federal grand jury has indicted 34 alleged members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas prison-based gang - including four of its "generals" - claiming most all of them conspired to participate in racketeering activities on behalf of the white supremacist group and accusing 10 of murder, officials said.
Court to tackle key voting rights provision
The Supreme Court agreed today to decide whether the key enforcement provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 should be scrapped, amid arguments it is a constitutionally unnecessary vestige of the civil rights era.
Known as Section 5, the provision gives the federal government open-ended oversight of states and localities with a history of voter discrimination. Any changes in voting laws and procedures in the covered states must be "pre-cleared" by federal authorities in Washington.
Petraeus letter: I showed extremely poor judgment
Here is the full text of a letter ex-CIA Director David Petraeus sent to colleagues after he submitted his resignation to President Obama:
HEADQUARTERS
Central Intelligence Agency
9 November 2012
Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the President to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA. After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.
As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation’s Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.
Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life’s greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end.
Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.
With admiration and appreciation,
David H. Petraeus
L.A. Lakers fire head coach after 1-4 start
[Updated at 4:35 p.m. ET] The Los Angeles Lakers' 0-8 preseason and 1-4 start to the regular season were too much for the front office to take.
The NBA team on Friday fired second-year head coach Mike Brown, whose efforts to implement a new offense and mesh free-agent signings with stars who won a title two years ago didn't turn into wins.
"Really, it came down to ownership and management looking at the record, looking at the improvement level, and wondering a month or two or three down the road, will we be in the same spot," General Manager Mitch Kupchak told reporters.
Obama invites congressional leaders to deficit talks
[Updated at 1:19 p.m. ET] President Barack Obama said he's invited congressional leaders from both parties to the White House next week for talks on reducing the deficit and avoiding the so-called fiscal cliff facing the economy at the end of the year.
Obama, speaking at the White House on Friday afternoon, repeated his stance that he wants a plan that would allow the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts only for income over $250,000.
Cold threatens Northeast residents without power
Low nighttime temperatures over the next couple of days aren’t going to make things easy for East Coast residents still without power after Superstorm Sandy and this week’s nor’easter.
But warmer daytime conditions will be ideal for recovery crews, including utility workers hoping to get many more homes powered and heated by this weekend.
Pilot in JetBlue incident to be released
A JetBlue pilot arrested after an apparent meltdown aboard a March flight will be released with conditions, including continuing mental health treatment, a federal judge in Texas ruled Friday.
In July, Clayton Osbon was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was charged following a March 27 incident on a JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas. Early in that flight, the plane's co-pilot became concerned about Osbon's bizarre behavior, according to an FBI affidavit. Read more about the pilot's release.
No federal criminal charges against ex-coach Fine, feds say
Federal criminal charges will not be filed against former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernard "Bernie" Fine, who was accused of sexually abusing children, U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced Friday.
A yearlong investigation of Fine "revealed insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal charges," according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of New York. As a result, the office is closing its investigation, it said.
Report: Police probe death at Swedish prime minister's residence
One person has died in an incident at the official residence of Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in Stockholm, Sweden's state news agency reported Friday.
Police are describing the incident as "an accident," the news agency said. Investigations are continuing into the circumstances of the death.
Reinfeldt was not at the residence at the time, according to Swedish media reports
Salafis call for Islamic law in Egypt protest
Thousands of supporters of various Egyptian Salafi groups gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday calling for the immediate implementation of Islamic law.
Before midday prayers, speakers called on the government of President Mohamed Morsy to move quickly to implement Sharia. Morsy won the office as the candidate for the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Freedom and Justice Party. About 10,000 demonstrators advocating for Sharia filled the square, chanting in unison, "The people want God's law applied."
FULL STORYFriday's live events
President Obama won a second term in office this week, and will be inaugurated in January. Watch CNN.com Live for continuing coverage on all things politics.
Today's programming highlights...
11:00 am ET - Boehner briefing - With the elections over and done with, lawmakers are returning to Washington to get back to work. On Capitol Hill, House Speaker John Boehner will discuss his priorities for policy fights facing Congress in the next few weeks.
1:05 pm ET - Obama statement on economy - The focus on Washington is on the so-called fiscal cliff, and efforts to prevent it from happening. President Obama will address the nation from the White House on the issue and more.
CNN.com Live is your home for breaking news as it happens.
8,000 refugees cross the border from Syria into Turkey
More than 8,000 Syrian refugees fled to Turkey from Syria on Thursday because of "fierce fighting in Ras Al Ayn,” a Turkish foreign ministry official tells CNN. The Syrian town is located near the Turkish border.
Of the thousands of refugees, 71 were injured, the official said. Two died of their wounds.
FULL STORY
Iran commander backs right to defend territory
Iran defended its right to "confront" incursions into its territory after the Pentagon said two Iranian jets fired on an unmanned U.S. Air Force drone last week.
"The armed forces will respond decisively to any act of transgression," Maj. Gen. Seyed Masoud Jazaeri said Friday, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.
FULL STORYGas rationing to start in New York area
For those in the New York area suffering from not only the devastating storms but also gas lines that have lasted longer than a work shift, some relief is on the way Friday.
Leaders announced gas rationing in New York City and Long Island in an effort to address the gas shortage brought on by Superstorm Sandy and this week's nor'easter. New Jersey put similar rules into effect last week in 12 counties.
FULL STORY
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