Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Thursday, March 20, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. WHERE SEARCH FOR FLIGHT 370 IS SHIFTING
Planes have been dispatched to a remote part of the Indian Ocean after Australian officials say possible debris for the missing Malaysian jetliner was spotted there.
2. EU MULLS FURTHER SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA OVER CRIMEA
German Chancellor Merkel also says the G-8 forum of leading economies scheduled for June in Sochi, Russia, has been suspended indefinitely.
3. HOW UKRAINIAN CRISIS MAY AFFECT AFGHANISTAN
With Russia pushing new hostilities to Europe’s doorstep, the West is assessing whether resources will be diverted from what has been a top security priority.
4. WHO DEEP SOUTH DEMOCRATS ARE BANKING ON
Obama’s party is running candidates with familiar names, like Carter and Nunn in Georgia, in hopes of rebuilding clout where Republicans rule.
5. BEFORE GULF OIL SPILL, THERE WAS ALASKA
For a generation of people around the world, the Exxon Valdez disaster is seared into their memories by images of fouled coastline and marine life soaked in petroleum.
6. WHAT YELLEN IS TELLING INVESTORS
With the job market still weak, she says the Fed intends to keep short-term interest rates near zero for a “considerable” time.
7. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING STATINS
New guidelines say nearly half of Americans ages 40-75 should be taking the drugs to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
8. GENERAL MOTORS, BEWARE
The announcement that Toyota will pay $1.2 billion to avoid criminal prosecution for hiding information in a recall case could be a warning for the auto giant.
9. WHO’S TAKING CLOSER LOOK AT OREGON CAT ATTACK
Jackson Galaxy, star of Animal Planet’s “My Cat from Hell,” is heading to Portland soon. He says cats don’t become ferocious felines that turn on their families for no reason.
10. HOOPS HYPE REACHING CRESCENDO
When Ohio State and Dayton and Duke and Mercer tip off just after noon Eastern time, March Madness will be underway in earnest.
