Overnight News Digest, aka OND, is a community feature here at Daily Kos. Each editor selects news stories on a wide range of topics.
The OND community was founded by Magnifico.
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Obama Marks Fourth With New U.S. Citizens
President Obama for a fourth straight Fourth of July joined with military families to eat barbecue and watch fireworks from the White House lawn, but this year he also began the day with active-duty service members, presiding at a citizenship ceremony that made 25 of them new Americans.
And in between, he marked the 14th birthday of his older daughter, Malia.
The naturalization event on Wednesday in the ornate East Room, which was packed with the service members’ families and friends, was the third such ceremony in the Obama White House but the first on Independence Day.
Joey Chestnut wins 6th straight hot dog-eating title in Coney Island by downing 68
Joey Chestnut won his sixth straight Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest at Coney Island, downing 68 dogs and buns on Wednesday to tie his personal best in a sweaty, gag-inducing spectacle.
Last year, the 28-year-old San Jose, Calif., man nicknamed “Jaws” won with 62 hot dogs. He bested his main rival this year by 16 dogs, scarfing down all 68 in 10 minutes in the sweltering summer heat to take home $10,000 and the mustard yellow belt.
“I feel good, it was a great win,” Chestnut said after the contest, adding he wished he could have eaten a record number of hot dogs for the audience. “I tried my best. I’m looking forward to next year already.”
A Fourth of July in the dark for many in Washington area days after storm
The Fourth of July was just another day of misery for tens of thousands of Washington area residents still waiting for power, even as utility crews worked through the holiday to fix downed lines.
As vacationers reveled at beaches, parades and picnics, about 60,000 homes and businesses were still without electricity on a fifth day of blistering heat. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, more than 37,000 in Montgomery County, nearly 15,000 in Northern Virginia, nearly 6,000 in Prince George’s County and 2,000 in the District had no electricity.
In the aftermath of Friday’s devastating storm, Independence Day celebrations were canceled in Kensington, South Germantown, Rockville and Gaithersburg to free up police and fire personnel for emergencies. But the Fourth went on as planned in many places, with parades in Great Falls, the District, Takoma Park, University Park, Dale City, Laurel and other communities.
Can turning Taliban foot soldiers turn the Afghan war?
Former Taliban fighter Mullah Rassoul is a man with few friends.
After he joined a NATO-backed program to pacify lower-level insurgents this year, he says he was harassed by a government-supported militia in his area of north Afghanistan.
He considered rejoining his former Taliban comrades, but they see him as a traitor. "They said I had to prove my loyalty by killing foreigners or high-ranking Afghans," Rassoul said.
What a drag, Israeli firm grows "highless" marijuana
hey grow in a secret location in northern Israel. A tall fence, security cameras and an armed guard protect them from criminals. A hint of their sweet-scented blossom carries in the air: rows and rows of cannabis plants, as far as the eye can see.
It is here, at a medical marijuana plantation atop the hills of the Galilee, where researchers say they have developed marijuana that can be used to ease the symptoms of some ailments without getting patients high.
"Sometimes the high is not always what they need. Sometimes it is an unwanted side effect. For some of the people it's not even pleasant," said Zack Klein, head of development at Tikun Olam, the company that developed the plant.
THE CONFESSION...
My holiday has been a gratitude filled one. I've spent the evening entertaining my great-niece who is anxiously awaiting her "papa's" return, on leave from Afghanistan.
All day long we've been staying close to the phone for a specific arrival time for "papa."
Back in May I wrote about my nephew here.
In the relief of knowing he's safe and caught up in the excitement of a three-year old who has missed her daddy dearly I totally forgot it was Wednesday.
Twenty minutes before the hour I had a moment to sit down and refresh the front page. Upon seeing Hunter's Open Thread For Night Owl's I immediately panicked suddenly remembering this was Wednesday.
I've been totally distracted for a very happy reason.
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