TODAY'S TALKING POINTS 12-11-15

TODAY'S TALKING POINTS

The White House is finalizing a proposal to expand gun background checks. Just days after Congress declined to pass a measure that would do just that, President Barack Obama’s advisers said they’re working on recommendations to broaden the checks (and skirt congressional approval.)

Connecticut is trying to become the first state to block people on the government’s terrorist watch list from buying guns. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is reportedly already working with the White House and plans to issue an executive order for the state. A New York Times/ CBS poll found that Americans are as afraid of terrorism now as they were right after 9/11. Wondering where gun laws stand in your state? Check this chart.

A former Oklahoma officer was found guilty on 18 counts of rape and other charges. The jury recommended more than 260 years in prison for Daniel Holtzclaw, who was accused of raping more than a dozen women.

Canada accepted its first wave of refugees. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said the government would resettle 25,000 refugees by the end of February, welcomed 163 asylum seekers Thursday — and the country made sure they felt right at home.

The CDC gave U.S. schools failing grades in sex ed. Only about 17% of middle schools and slightly less than half of high schools taught the CDC’s recommended sexual education material (read: how to use condoms) during the 2013-2014 school year. The worst part? The CDC was not at all surprised by the results.