Here’s a look at some of the day’s top stories from WTOP:
Abducted Amish sisters found safe
Two missing Amish sisters have turned up safe, about 24 hours after they were apparently abducted from their family’s roadside farm stand in northern New York.
Authorities say 12-year-old Fannie and 7-year-old Delila Miller were dropped off Thursday evening in Richville, about 13 miles from where they disappeared in the rural town of Oswegatchie (ah-swee-GAH’-chee), on the Canadian border. They knocked on someone’s door, asking for help. Investigators believe more than one person is responsible for the girls’ disappearance.
Protesters gather in Ferguson, carry signs, chant
Four days of clashes between protesters and county police have given way to state troopers walking side-by-side with thousands of demonstrators in Ferguson, Missouri, where an unarmed black teen was shot and killed by a white police officer last weekend.
The dramatic shift came Thursday, after Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon assigned oversight of the protests to the state Highway Patrol, and stripped the St. Louis County Police Department of its authority.
Ford recalls 83,250 cars and SUVs
Ford is recalling 83,250 vehicles because a faulty part could cause them to lose power or roll away if they’re parked.
The recall involves the 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX; the 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT; and the 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS. Ford will notify owners and begin free repairs by the end of August.
White House commends al-Maliki for stepping aside
The White House is commending Iraq’s incumbent prime minister for stepping aside. President Barack Obama’s national security adviser is expressing hope that the power shift “can set Iraq on a new path and unite its people” against a security threat from Islamic State militants.
Susan Rice also says the United States remains committed to a strong partnership with Iraq and its people. After initially struggling to stay in power, Nouri al- Maliki (NOO’-ree ahl-MAHL’-ih-kee) relinquished his post late Thursday to fellow Dawa Party member, Haider al-Abadi.
Manfred elected next MLB commissioner
Rob Manfred was elected baseball’s 10th commissioner Thursday and will succeed Bud Selig in January.
A labor lawyer who has worked for Major League Baseball since 1998, Manfred beat out Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner in the first contested vote for a new commissioner in 46 years. The third candidate, MLB Executive Vice President of Business Tim Brosnan, dropped out just before the start of voting.
The 55-year-old Manfred, who grew up in Rome, New York — about an hour’s drive from the Hall of Fame — must address issues that include decreased interest in baseball among younger people and longer games. He has served as MLB’s chief operating officer for the past year.
He may have started as a standup comedian and TV star, but Robin Williams had a long and varied movie career, playing everything from a lonely photo clerk to a teacher to a genie to a president. On WTOP’s Entertainment page, movie critic Jason Fraley counts down Williams’ 20 best roles, with the clips to back up his choices. Watch, listen, disagree, but most of all, enjoy.
What’s up with the Winter Classic?
Last September, area hockey fans rejoiced when the Capitals announced that they would host the Winter Classic — the best known of the NHL’s outdoor games — on New Year’s Day 2015. But where will they play?
The game is less than five months away, and there hasn’t been an announcement. On WTOP’s Sports page, Noah Frank tries to figure out what the holdup is, lists some of the possible spots in the area and rates their chances. (Baltimore? Say it ain’t so.)
Polaroid makes a high-tech comeback
Polaroid? Really? It’s an old name, but they’ve got a new product — an entry in the action-camera market that one expert thinks will be a strong competitor to the well-known GoPro line. Read about it on WTOP’s Tech page.
The brewery and beer garden Bardo, in Northeast D.C., is unique for a few reasons: For one, it’s outdoors; for another, the host is Bar Dog, an Australian cattle dog who loves pizza and deals harshly with would-be intruders. On WTOP’s Living page, Rachel Nania finds out what makes the place tick, how the owners are developing the place, and the new beers they’ve finally gotten the go-ahead to start brewing themselves.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
