Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers.
1. WORLD LEADERS MEET AT UN FACING MULTIPLE CRISES
The issues certain to top the agenda are Islamic extremists intent on erasing borders, Ebola and the plight of millions of civilians caught in ongoing conflicts.
2. OBAMA TO ADDRESS UN AMID NEW MIDEAST STRIKES
The president is expected to cast the U.S. as the linchpin in efforts to defeat Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
3. JORDAN ACQUITS RADICAL CLERIC OF TERRORISM CHARGES
The court finds no sufficient evidence against Abu Qatada, who was charged with involvement in plans to target Israeli and American tourists and Western diplomats in 2000.
4. INDIA DECLARES MARS MISSION SUCCESS
Placing a satellite into orbit around the red planet catapults the country into an elite club of deep-space explorers.
5. WHO STEPS ONTO BIGGER POLITICAL STAGES
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s profile is on the rise both nationally and internationally and he is increasingly viewed as a rising star.
6. WIND ENERGY PROPOSAL WOULD LIGHT LOS ANGELES HOMES
A new $8 billion project aims to use turbines on a Wyoming wind farm to send electricity to over 1 million households in Southern California.
7. WHAT WORSENS CHINA’S WATER CRISIS
After a season of record-breaking drought across the nation, groundwater levels hit historic lows in northeast and central parts of the country.
8. NOT ONLY GARDENERS NOW SEE DEER AS BANE
The animals are also a nuisance for airports and a threat to pilots, especially at this time of year, according to aviation and wildlife experts.
9. BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT COUNTS ON POOR FOR SUPPORT
Dilma Rousseff hopes generous welfare programs that have helped slash extreme poverty under her watch will convince their beneficiaries to re-elect her.
10. WHY ACTIVISTS CALL FOR NEW FDA CHIEF
Anti-addiction groups urge Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg to resign over the agency’s approval of “dangerous, high-dose opioid analgesics.”
