Supervising News Editor Lateef Mungin -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

North-Carolina-Edwards-Profile 1:30 am

The acquittal and mistrial in John Edwards' campaign finance fraud trial Thursday completes a fall from grace that transformed the man who might have been president into one of the most vilified and lampooned political figures in the country. acquittal and mistrial Thursday.

Indiana-Immigrant-Student (will update; arrival in U.S. expected about 11p ET)

The Indiana high school student in danger of missing her graduation ceremony because of a visa mix-up in Mexico is coming home, her attorney said Thursday. Elizabeth Olivas, 17, texted her attorney as soon as she heard the news: "JUST GOT OUT VISA IN MY HANDS. I'M COMING HOME! THANK YOU SO MUCH, IM SOO HAPPY!"

Syria-Unrest (will update)

A U.S. official ridiculed as "another blatant lie" a Syrian government report Thursday asserting that terrorists -- not security forces -- massacred civilians in Houla.

POL-Romney-Briefings (2 a.m.)

The Obama administration will stick with the election-year tradition of both Democratic and Republican White Houses in offering presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney classified intelligence briefings only after he formally secures his party's nomination at the convention this summer.

Canada-Body-Parts-Suspect (monitoring)

He was pegged as a serial kitten killer and a man who may have dated a Canadian woman convicted of drugging, raping, torturing and killing young girls almost two decades ago. His images and words are all over the Internet -- on porn sites and what appears to be his own website, where he defends himself as the victim of cyber-stalkers out to get him. And a journalist who met him years ago described him as "creepy." All of it paled in comparison to this week's accusations against Luka Rocco Magnotta as he became the center of Canada's most talked-about crime.

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Massachusetts-Same-Sex-Marriage

A key part of the law banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage was struck down as unconstitutional by a U.S. appeals court Thursday. The Defense of Marriage Act -- known as DOMA -- defines marriage for federal purposes as unions exclusively between a man and woman. At issue is whether the federal government can deny tax, health and pension benefits to same-sex couples in states where they can legally marry. The ruling is a boost for gay rights advocates and the Obama administration, which in a rare move, has refused to defend a federal law in court.

US-North-Carolina-Edwards-Trial

Two-time Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards took responsibility for "my sins," including an affair that resulted in a "precious" daughter, after his federal corruption case ended in an acquittal and mistrial Thursday.

CNN SHOWCASE

Canada-Body-Parts-Suspect By Moni Basu

He was pegged as a serial kitten-killer by animal rights activists, and as a man who may have dated a Canadian woman convicted of drugging, raping, torturing and killing young girls almost two decades ago. His images and words are all over the Internet -- on porn sites and what appears to be his own website, where he defends himself as the victim of cyber-stalkers out to get him. And a journalist who met him years ago described him as "creepy." All of it paled in comparison to this week's accusations against Luka Rocco Magnotta as he became the center of Canada's most talked-about crime. Authorities launched a massive manhunt for Magnotta after a severed hand was sent to Canada's Liberal Party, a foot, to the Conservatives and a torso was stuffed in a suitcase and tossed in the trash of the Montreal apartment building where he lived.

INTERNATIONAL

Canada-Body-Parts-Investigation

Authorities launched an international manhunt Thursday for a Canadian man suspected of dismembering an acquaintance and mailing body parts to political party headquarters.

Argentina-Baby-Survivor