Morning Briefing: Chelsea Manning Reprieved; Cop Killer Captured; World's Oldest Zoo Gorilla Dies

Hello Patchers, and happy Hump Day. It's a short week for most of you, so load up on this morning's big stories and then cruise on through an easy, breezy Wednesday.

A WHISTLEBLOWER'S REPRIEVE

Days away from the end of his term, President Obama chose to commute all but four months of a 35-year-prison sentence for Chelsea Manning. The former Army private was convicted of releasing millions of military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks. (Patch)

A GRIZZLY CONFIRMATION HEARING

Trump's nominee for education secretary spurred criticism and mockery Tuesday night when asked whether guns should be allowed in schools. Betsy DeVos suggested a Wyoming school might need a gun to protect against grizzly bears and, well, it only got hairier from there... (CBS)

NO. 9

On the run and accused of gunning down a member of the Orlando Police Department, suspect Markeith Loyd was taken into custody late Tuesday and reportedly restrained with the fallen officer's own handcuffs. (Patch)

MUST READS

A Slant-Eyed View of Free Speech: Band Readies for Supreme Court Appearance (Patch)

Watch Video: Gloria Allred Press Conference With Donald Trump Accuser (Patch)

American Views On Russia, Hacking Diverge Sharply On Party Lines (Patch)

ART IMITATES TABLOID

After the high-profile theft of her jewels from a French hotel room, Kim Kardashian reportedly returned to the public eye to film a cameo bit for the upcoming "Ocean's Eight." According to tipsters, the scene she shot involved a jewel heist. Seems we all process trauma in different ways. (Page Six)

PSA: DON'T DO THIS

STONED BEHIND THE WHEEL

With recreational and medical marijuana legalized in more and more states, law enforcement around the country is grappling with a sticky question: How high is too high to drive? There are legal limits for alcohol in the bloodstream, but there isn't a scientific consensus on how to judge intoxication from marijuana and no "marijuana breathalyzer" to fall back on. (The Marshall Project)

R.I.P.

The first gorilla to be born in a zoo died this week. Colo passed away, the Columbus Zoo said, with the "support of a nation" behind her. (Patch)

CASUALTIES IN THE OPIOID WAR

A "civil war" is raging in the medical community, the internal battle behind the very public debate on how to combat the deadly scourge of opioid addiction. Caught in the crossfire are chronic pain patients dependent on the prescription painkillers whose abuse has wreaked havoc in so many communities. (STAT)

HBD, BUT... CAN WE DISCUSS THIS GOLF CART SITUATION?

We're out of here, Patchers. Thanks for staying with us. Meet back tomorrow — same time, same place?

Photo courtesy of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium