Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Wednesday, March 26, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. HUNT FOR MALAYSIAN JET RESUMES IN CALMER SEAS
The hunt for Flight 370 resumes across a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean after fierce winds and high waves forced a daylong halt.
2. MORE BODIES RECOVERED FROM WASHINGTON MUDSLIDE
Rescuers searching for survivors after a massive landslide recover two more bodies for a total of 16 and believe they have located another eight.
3. PANEL CONSIDERED PHONE COMPANY OPTION
AP’s Eileen Sullivan reports that the Senate Intelligence Committee three years ago secretly considered – but rejected – alternate ways for the NSA to collect and store Americans’ phone records.
4. HEALTH CARE ENROLLMENT EXTENDED AFTER GLITCHES
The Obama administration is granting more time for people to apply if they started the process but were unable to complete it before the March 31 deadline.
5. WHAT OBAMA’S CONCEDING ABOUT UKRAINE FOR FIRST TIME
The president acknowledges that Russia is unlikely to surrender control of Crimea – while insisting that the international community will never recognize the takeover.
6. WHO’S BEING BENCHED ON OBAMA TRIP
The Secret Service sends three agents home from the Netherlands just before the president’s arrival after one agent was found intoxicated in an Amsterdam hotel.
7. WHO IS GOING HI-TECH IN TACKLING DROUGHT
NASA is taking snow surveys off the ground, saying it can measure snowpack and water content from planes flying over California’s and Colorado’s mountains.
8. BARS, STUDIOS OFFER NOVEL APPROACH FOR “ARTISTS”
“Social painting” enables people to imbibe and relax while rediscovering their creative side.
9. WHO IS BECOMING MORE PET FRIENDLY
A growing number of cities are allowing pets to join families wanting to take refuge in domestic violence shelters.
10. NEW KING OF THE BASEBALL HILL
The Dodgers are ending the Yankees’ 15-year streak as baseball’s biggest spenders with a projected payroll this season of $235 million, an AP study shows.