Today’s edition of quick hits:
* The Senate held an emotional, marathon hearing today on gun violence.
* Hadiya Pendleton’s heartbreaking death: “A 15-year-old girl who performed at President Obama’s inauguration last week was shot dead Tuesday while hanging out with friends after school in bullet-scarred Chicago.”
* A story that broke during today’s hearing: “Three people were shot and wounded Wednesday, one of them with life-threatening injuries, when a gunman opened fire at a Phoenix office complex, authorities said.”
* Mark Kelly, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ (D-AZ) husband, seems to think Republicans might be inclined to support universal background checks, but not an assault-weapons ban or a ban on high-capacity magazines.
* More on this on tonight’s show: “Israeli forces conducted an airstrike on a convoy on the Syrian-Lebanese border Wednesday, unnamed U.S. and regional security officials told international news agencies.”
* Brutal: “A violent tornado that ripped through Adairsville, Ga., on Wednesday, killed at least one person, overturned cars, littered Interstate 75 with debris, and forced officials to shut down a 10-mile stretch of the road, officials said.”
* Alabama hostage standoff: “Police SWAT teams and hostage negotiators were locked in a standoff Wednesday with a gunman authorities say intercepted a school bus, killed the driver, snatched a 6-year-old boy and retreated into a bunker at his home with the kindergartener.”
* Bipartisan support: “Sen. Thad Cochran (Miss.) on Wednesday became the first Republican to cross party lines and back former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), President Obama’s pick to be the next Defense secretary.” * Jonathan Cohn has a terrific, wonky piece on why, under the Affordable Care Act, most consumers will pay less in premiums, and those who may more will be “getting something for the extra premium dollars they pay up front.” * And in the state of Washington, state Republican lawmakers are on board with the electoral-vote scheme, but they have no chance of success — Democrats control the governor’s office and the state House. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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