NATIONAL

“A police official on the scene of the standoff between two armed brothers suspected in the massacre at the Charlie Hebdo newsroom says the suspects are dead, and their hostage has been freed.” – AP

“TFI is reporting that some people stayed safe during the grocery siege by hiding in the cold store. The gunman didn’t know they were there, because they kept silent, according to the report.” – UK Telegraph

“Time’s up for denial and hypocrisy,” Le Pen, who has railed against immigration, said in a video posted on her party’s website. “The absolute rejection of Islamic fundamentalism must be proclaimed loudly and clearly.” – BusinessWeek

“Al Qaeda militants in Syria are plotting attacks to inflict mass casualties in the West, possibly against transport systems or ‘iconic targets,’ the head of Britain’s MI5 Security Service said on Thursday.” – Yahoo! News

“It looks like people in France are getting very enraged at Islam on account of the recent massacre of 12 people in France, and also of course for all the other many acts of violence that have occurred in the country. A bomb erupted right next to a mosque, as we read in one report:” – Shoebat.com

“With straight faces and an apparent belief that we’d all forgotten the media coverage we’ve been subjected to in recent decades, editors and executives at many media outlets claimed this week that their well-established respect for religion prevents them from showing images that Muslim extremists have used to justify murderous terrorism.” – The Federalist

“Conservatives are right not to trust everyone with an ‘R’ after their name. Establishment Republicans have repeatedly let them down. But that doesn’t mean the alternative is to reward people for stoking conservative anger with little to show for it beyond primal scream therapy.” – Jim Antle/The Week

“President Barack Obama announced a new measure on Thursday to make mortgages more affordable for low-income homebuyers, a policy that could heighten risk in a still struggling housing market.” – Washington Free Beacon

“A record 92,898,000 Americans 16 years and older did not participate in the labor force last month, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” – Breitbart

“The Nebraska Supreme Court handed supporters of the Keystone XL oil pipeline a major victory today, approving the state’s proposed route for the project.” – Daily Signal

LOUISIANA

“Black lawmakers say House GOP Whip Steve Scalise has to do more than say he’s sorry for addressing a white supremacist group when he was a Louisiana state lawmaker 12 years ago. If Scalise wants to repair his battered image, he needs to put actions behind declarations that he’s no bigot, they say.” – The Hill

“Louisiana got a D-plus — 44th nationally — in the latest rankings on public education released Thursday by Education Week magazine. The report, called Quality Counts, marks the 19th such study by the magazine, which is widely read for its in-depth look at education issues.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“Energy centers also rank high up the list. This is evident in the strong showing of metros in the Lone Star State, home to seven of the top 25 best performing metros, and five in the top ten. The energy economies of Lafayette (19) and Baton Rouge (21), Louisiana, also place in the top 25 of large metros, the latter of which rose 55 spots in ranking last year alone.” – CityLab

“Money generated from a specialty license plate meant to help animals across the state hasn’t helped a single cat or dog. Thousands of dollars have been collected from drivers who want to support the Pet Overpopulation Fund, but it’s been impossible for the group behind the effort to access any money.” – Fox 8 Live

“Redemptorist High School parents and alumni say they have sent a proposal to the diocese to save the school, asking the Catholic leaders to give the Redemptorist back to them. Bishop Robert Muench announced the closure of the junior and senior high schools shortly before Christmas, putting a damper on many students’ winter breaks.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is sending out a letter this week asking people to donate to Sen. David Vitter’s Louisiana gubernatorial campaign.” – NOLA.com

“Continuing low oil prices, while a boon for drivers, mean state government again must readjust its finances in the middle of the fiscal year; and they mean probable cuts — up to about $300 million — in state funding for colleges and universities next year.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“The Baton Rouge mayor’s office is looking to give attorney Mary Olive Pierson another $40,000 to represent the city-parish in its fight against the proposed city of St. George.” – NOLA.com

“Mayor’s Office and Sheriff’s Office officials announced Thursday that two property taxes — 1.5 mills and another 0.5 mill — are necessary in addition to a quarter-penny sales tax to pay for the mayor’s proposed public safety plan.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“Frank Danner, who moved into the house next door after Hurricane Katrina, said sounds of revelry lasted deep into the night. And though he never stepped inside, the guests he saw walk in were, as he put it, ‘not necessarily the sort of people you’d want to see naked.'” – NOLA.com