Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Friday, March 21, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. PUTIN: NO NEED FOR FURTHER RETALIATION AGAINST US
The Russian president spoke after Obama ordered a second round of sanctions targeting about two dozen members of Putin’s inner circle and a major bank supporting them.
2. SEARCH CONTINUES FOR JET DEBRIS IN VAST INDIAN OCEAN
Planes flying deep into rough seas have found nothing so far that could be from the missing Malaysian airliner.
3. GUNMEN ATTACK FOREIGNERS IN KABUL
The restaurant inside a luxury hotel — considered one of the safest places to stay in Afghanistan — was the scene of a bloody assault that left nine people dead, including four foreigners.
4. BLACK PRESCHOOLERS MORE LIKELY TO BE SUSPENDED
The racial disparities in American education are highlighted in a new report released by the Education Department’s civil rights arm.
5. MT. GOX FINDS 200,000 OF ITS MISSING BITCOINS
The bankrupt exchange says it found them in disused electronic wallets. Another 650,000 still remain unaccounted for.
6. WHO DISCOVERED THE “LOST WORLD”
Outsiders — from fishermen and poachers to developers and tourists — and they’re flocking to the Mergui archipelago in Myanmar where peaceful nomads have lived for centuries.
7. WHERE COPS CAN HAVE LEGAL SEX WITH PROSTITUTES
Honolulu police officers have urged lawmakers to keep an exemption that allows undercover officers to have sex with prostitutes during investigations.
8. VIRULENTLY ANTI-GAY PASTOR LEAVES COMPLEX LEGACY
Some believe that the Westboro Baptist Church’s Fred Phelps, who died Wednesday, actually helped the cause of gay rights by serving as such a provocative symbol of intolerance.
9. HOW GOOGLE IS GUARDING AGAINST SPYING
The company has improved the encryption technology for its flagship email service — making it harder for the NSA to intercept messages.
10. QUICK UPSETS BLEMISH NCAA BRACKETS
After the tournament’s first afternoon, about 95 percent of people who filled out brackets had missed at least one game.