State regulators in Colorado are working out the details of how to tax marijuana now that it is legal in the state. Their goal is to have the revenue benefits shared statewide. A state panel met Thursday to begin work on a recommendation that asked for excise taxes up to 15 percent to fund school construction.

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French troops will stay in Mali until July to help support the nation as they combat Islamic fighters. The French government promised to leave the country within weeks of the conflict but changed plans to stop the al-Qaeda-supported radicals in the African nation. The French intervention began in Mali in January. France might withdraw at least 4,000 troops from the country in March.

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Ohio Gov. John Kasich rejected mercy plea from Frederick Treesh on Thursday. Treesh is a condemned killer who is scheduled to be executed next week for fatally shooting an adult bookstore security guard. The murder of Henry Dupree occurred during an August 1994 robbery in Eastlake. Treesh’s attorney said he was a cocaine addict who was high during the time and is deeply sorry for the incident. Prosecutors said Treesh has a violent streak and is also connected to another murder in Michigan.

During a flight from Colorado Springs to San Diego, a group of students started the Harlem Shake, a popular YouTube trend. One of the students involved said he asked a flight attendant for permission beforehand, but the Federal Aviation Administration is evaluating the situation and those involved could be fined. FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said Thursday that they are looking at what phase the flight was in during the dance. Frontier Airlines confirmed that the seatbelt sign was off.

Debi Austin, the woman who became famous through a California public service advertisement about smoking, died of cancer Feb. 22. A spokesperson for the family confirmed her death. She was 62. In the service advertisement, Austin smoked a cigarette through a hole in her throat to demonstrate her severe addiction to nicotine. Austin first appeared on TV in 1996.

All information is from the Associated Press.

Contact Maura Zurick at [email protected].