Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. OBAMA ISSUES WARNING TO KARZAI
The president threatens to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan if Kabul doesn’t sign a security pact giving the military a legal basis for staying in the country.
2. FEARED RIOT POLICE UNIT DISBANDED IN UKRAINE
The Berkut, whose name means “golden eagle,” are blamed for violent attacks on protesters during the country’s recent political turmoil.
3. FEW WOMEN WANT ARMY COMBAT JOBS
A Pentagon survey shows that soldiers of both genders are nervous about females entering battle.
4. HOW `EL CHAPO’ ELUDED CAPTURE FOR 13 YEARS
The AP learns that Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel leader employed the latest high-tech communications gadgetry and sophisticated counterespionage tools.
5. GLIMMER OF HOPE IN CHILD OBESITY BATTLE
U.S. researchers find that obesity among children ages 2 to 5 has decreased – to 8 percent, from 14 percent a decade ago, a 43 percent drop.
6. WHO’S BEING DOGGED BY MISSTEPS
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio may have worsened his series of blunders by stonewalling the media at every turn.
7. AN EVEN SMARTER PHONE
The AP’s Anick Jesdanum reports that Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S5 will have a fingerprint sensor for security – and for shopping, thanks to a partnership with PayPal.
8. WHAT’S RAISING AVALANCHE FEARS
New snow in the West threatens to increase this winter’s death toll. Already, 17 people have died in avalanches in the U.S., 11 of them since early February.
9. KERRY KENNEDY SET TO TESTIFY
The daughter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy is on trial for alleged drugged-driving after swerving her Lexus into a tractor-trailer.
10. CALIFORNIA COUPLE FIND `POT OF GOLD’
The husband and wife discover $10 million in rare, mint-condition gold coins dating from 1847 to 1894 buried in the shadow of an old tree in their backyard.