In the aftermath of the government shutdown that ended Wednesday, President Barack Obama on Thursday blamed Republicans for creating a spectacle that “encouraged our enemies” around the world. As employees returned to work and parties assessed the damage of the 16-day shutdown, Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged the crisis might not be permanently resolved. The bill that passed Wednesday night was a temporary measure and only will fund the government until January and allow us to borrow above the debt ceiling until February. (read full story)

A powerful Syrian military officer was killed in fighting with extremists Thursday, state-run television reported. The cause of death for Maj. Gen. Jameh Jameh, who was the most senior officer to be killed in more than a year, was unclear because of conflicting reports. Syria recently has renewed its attempts to hold a peace conference between the rebels and the government to end the civil war that has been going on for several years.

The parents of a man with Down syndrome who suffocated while being removed from a movie theater in Maryland in January filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the sheriff’s deputies who tried to restrain him. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the theater and the deputies, who were trying to remove Robert Ethan Saylor, 26, because he had not paid for a second ticket to a showing. Saylor died when his larynx was crushed, but defense attorneys pointed out that there is no medical evidence the deputies put pressure on Saylor’s neck and that the deputies were cleared by a Frederick County grand jury in March. (read full story)

Ohio University said Thursday it is opening its own investigation into a student’s alleged rape Sunday but will continue to support the criminal investigation being conducted by Athens, Ohio, police. OU president Roderick McDavis said the university would, if necessary, hold those involved accountable. The case is unusual because onlookers posted photos of the incident to social media, which police said might have occurred because the witnesses did not know they were witnessing a possible assault; the photos now are being used in the city’s investigation.

Contact Carrie Blazina at [email protected].