Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. NUCLEAR TALKS GO INTO OVERTIME
Negotiations between Iran and six world powers resume hours after the parties abandoned a self-imposed deadline to produce the outline of an agreement.
2. CORONER: DEATH OF ANDREW GETTY APPEARS NATURAL OR ACCIDENT
The Getty oil fortune heir was 47 and part of one of the wealthiest and best-known American families.
3. HOW INDIANA DEBATE IS EXPOSING REPUBLICAN DIVISIONS
The backlash over the contentious religious freedom law in Indiana is forcing the GOP’s presidential contenders to weigh in.
4. TIKRIT TO BE RECAPTURED ‘WITHIN THE COMING HOURS’
Iraq’s interior minister says security forces are battling the last remaining pockets of Islamic State militants and full control of the city is imminent.
5. WHO IS VISITING FRENCH ALPS CRASH SITE
Lufthansa’s CEO refuses to say what the airline knew about the mental health of the co-pilot suspected of deliberately destroying the plane.
6. PALESTINIANS WANT LEVERAGE ON ISRAEL IN ICC
Their formal acceptance into the International Criminal Court is part of a broader effort to put global pressure on the Jewish state and exact a higher price for its occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state.
7. ON THE MENU: PINK PINEAPPLES, PURPLE TOMATOES
These cancer-fighting, heart-healthy foods are among the genetically engineered foods that could receive government approval.
8. JONI MITCHELL HOSPITALIZED IN LOS ANGELES
The Grammy-winning folk singer is in intensive care, but it’s not clear what has stricken the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
9. CREATOR OF THE PET ROCK DIES
Gary Ross Dahl, who invented the smooth stones that were packed in a cardboard box containing a tongue-in-cheek instruction pamphlet for “care and feeding, was 78.
10. WHY GETTING TO THE FINAL FOUR WON’T BE AS COSTLY FOR PARENTS
That’s because the NCAA is helping pay for families of athletes to travel and see their sons and daughters play in the biggest college basketball games of the season.