The New Deal: President Obama and Republican leaders knocked heads at lunch yesterday over immigration reform. The newly empowered congressional bosses warned Obama not to take executive action and the president said he would do exactly that if he is not presented by the end of the year with a bill he would find acceptable to sign.

Vietnam: President Obama is sending 1,500 more troops to Iraq to train the Iraqi army and Kurdish forces to fight the Islamic State threat. That would double the number of American soldiers in Iraq. The White House is also asking for $5.6 billion for “overseas contingency” operations, which includes $1.6 billion to train and equip Iraqi troops. You’re probably asking, “Didn’t we already do that?” and the answer is, “yes.”

Appointments: President Obama announced his nomination of Loretta Lynch, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, to be attorney general succeeding Eric Holder. She would be the first black woman to serve in the position. Lynch has been a tough prosecutor who has held her current position twice. The White House hopes she can leap over partisan opposition to get Senate approval.

Health Check: The Supreme Court has agreed to accept a challenge to the portion of Obamacare that gives subsidies to health plans bought through the federal exchange in states that don’t have their own. The Obamacare law says health plans may be subsidized in states that run their own exchanges. But the government has also subsidized plans bought through the federal exchanges. Opponents say subsidies should not be given to people in the 36 states with federally run exchanges. A successful challenge might strip insurance from millions of people and cripple Obamacare.

Motor City: A federal bankruptcy judge has approved a plan to wipe out $7 billion worth of debt and get the City of Detroit out of its historic bankruptcy. Sixteen months ago, laboring under $18 billion in debt and bled by corruption, Detroit was the largest city in US history to go bankrupt. The city’s finances will continue to be monitored. The end of bankruptcy isn’t all rosy. Detroit will still be scraping for years to find money to bring back jobs, people, and life to the city.

Crime Blotter: A fourth victim has died of wounds suffered in the Oct. 24 Washington State high school shooting. Andrew Fryberg was 15.

>A Southern California man has been arrested and charged with the murder five years ago of his business partner, as well as the partner’s wife and two children. Charles “Chase” Merritt, 57, is accused of killing Joseph and Summer McStay and their two young children. The remains were found in the desert a year ago by an off-road motorcyclist. So far, there’s no explanation of motive.

World: Authorities now say the 43 missing college students in Iguala, Mexico were rounded up by corrupt police officers on orders of the mayor, then turned over to a drug gang who killed them and burned their bodies in a pile of tires. Police say three members of the gang confessed, but the fragments of remains have yet to be identified.

> Americans Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae, who were held captive in North Korea, have been released and are returning home.

The Obit Page: The scientist who invented a form of glass so strong it could be used for the nose cones of guided missiles and unbreakable dishware has died. S. Donald Stookey, 99, created what’s known as Corningware. His dishes could go from oven to table and back to the refrigerator, with a trip to the floor in between. It was a miracle at the time of their invention.

The McTater: The USDA has approved a genetically modified potato that creates fewer cancer-causing chemicals when fried or made into a potato chip. The potato was developed by a Boise company that supplies potatoes to the McDonald’s chain. So, to sum up, the FDA is approving a genetically modified potato that encourages people to eat fried food.

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