Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Friday, April 18, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. UKRAINIAN MILITIA DENIES CALLS TO FREE BUILDINGS
Pro-Russian insurgents in the east who have been occupying government buildings say they will only leave them if the interim government in Kiev resigns.
2. SEARCH CONTINUES FOR SURVIVORS OF SUNKEN SOUTH KOREAN SHIP
Officials say they’re looking at whether the third mate ordered a turn whose degree was so sharp that it caused the ship to list.
3. TRAGEDY ON THE WORLD’S HIGHEST PEAK
An avalanche on Mount Everest kills at least 12 local guides, and three more are missing in the deadliest disaster in the mountain’s history.
4. WHAT’S IN THE NEW OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PRIVACY POLICY
It explains how the government will gather the user data of online visitors to WhiteHouse.gov, mobile apps and social media sites. It also clarifies that online comments are in the open domain.
5. OBAMA TOUTS HEALTH CARE PROGRESS
New numbers on “Obamacare” enrollment are encouraging to the president, but still to be announced is how many of those were previously uninsured.
6. HOLY WEEK COMMEMORATIONS CONTINUE
Christians are marking Good Friday with prayers and processions through Jerusalem’s Old City, while Pope Francis joins a torch-lit Via Crucis procession later in the day.
7. HOW THE OFFICER KILLED AFTER BOSTON BOMBINGS IS BEING REMEMBERED
Sean Collier will be honored in a ceremony at MIT, and some 25 friends and family will run the marathon to raise money for a scholarship fund named for him.
8. CHINA SAYS ONE-FIFTH OF ITS FARMLAND IS POLLUTED
The admission by Beijing is a stunning indictment of unfettered industrialization under the Communist Party’s authoritarian rule.
9. NEW DETAILS ABOUT DEATH DURING A LONG 911 CALL
Search warrants say the man accused of killing his wife while she was on the phone with a dispatcher had eaten marijuana-infused candy from one of Denver’s pot dispensaries.
10. WHO IS NOT SINGIN’ THE BLUES
St. Louis outlasted the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in triple overtime to take Game 1 of its NHL playoff series.
