In the news today

Among the leading stories in the news today from mainstream, inner-ring or upper-tier media outlets, are these nuggets:

Kidnapped 7-year-old thrown from bridge 

NBA bust facing 15 years in prison for major gun charges

Georgia cop at DUI stop: 'We only kill black people'

Interim police chief resigns amid report of connection to neo-Nazi websites 

 

Ex-cop arrested for uploading child porn onto Twitter faces new charges

Knife-wielding man in Stockholm stabs police officer in neck, officials say 

Corpus Christi police: Gunshot victim wasn't burglar

Why are these stories "top news" stories? How many of them are things you really NEED to know? Why do they appeal to the news organizations?

Stories about drugs among nation's top stories

Here are some of them.

Incredibly, these are top stories today!

Portable meth lab found in backpack

Mexican officials say ex-Texas cop led kidnap gang
American trafficker with ties to Sinaloa cartel extradited to US from Panama

Tyson claims he was high on drugs during fights

Lady Gaga: I was addicted to marijuana  

 

And you wonder why people's perceptions of drugs and drug policy are all screwed up?

 

 

Quick, what is the most important news story right now?

....

Compare what you think with these sources.

USA TODAY:

Thousands protest at former U.S. embassy in Iran

• Read Story
• Pro_Israeli groups resist Obama
• AP

 

WASHINGTON POST:

Nonprofits, politics and the money trail

Matea Gold and Tom Hamburger 12:51 PM ET

In California, new revelations detail how operatives helped move $15 million into ballot-initiative campaigns while trying to avoid naming financial backers.

• How the money is shuffled

 

CNN:

 

'Tied up like a fish'

Michelle Knight: I was hung by feet, hands, neck

Six months after she was freed from the "house of horrors" where Ariel Castro held her captive for 11 years, Cleveland kidnapping victim Michelle Knight speaks out to Dr. Phil on "AC 360." FULL STORY

• Evidence from Castro's trial  

FOX NEWS:

IT MIGHT BE AN OFF-YEAR for Election Day Tuesday, but union money is reaching deep into key state, city and local contests — including $2 million into the Virginia governor's race — trying to influence the makeup of state houses, city halls and school boards across America.

Today's top stories

From CNN

Kate and Diana: Royal comparison

CNN's Randi Kaye and Richard Quest look at Prince William's fiancee, Kate Middleton, and his late mother, Princess Diana. Will Kate be as nervous as Diana was in 1981? | QUEST: WHY ROYAL WEDDING MATTERS | FULL COVERAGE

Latest news

• Man dies after stun gun zap
• Trump: I'm worth whatever I feel
• 17 states: Stop making 'binge-in-a-can'
• Honor student's body found in river
• Louisiana considers 'birther' bill
• Japan budgets $49B to reconstruct
• Indonesia bomb plot foiled
• Thai, Cambodia troops clash; 3 killed
• 26 bodies found in mass grave
• Oil's not high; what gives?  CNNMoney
• Big bailout winners: Bankers' wives
• N.Y. beach gets another scan for clues
• Hate crime charge in MLK Day bomb try
• Ticker: Huckabee blasts Glenn Beck
• Lohan's theft case returns to court
• It's a boy for Jane Krakowski  People
• $6,390 toilet lifts seat, plays music
• Gaga apologizes for using 'r' word
• Anderson Cooper's etiquette lesson

Death, crime, terrorism, and petty, trivial stuff. That is pretty much it! And we wonder why Americans are so uninformed about important events and issues.