March Current Events 2023: U.S. News
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The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the U.S. news events you need to know so far for March 2023.
- Twelve States In The United States Sue To Have Access To Abortion Pill Expanded
- NTSB Says Medical Plane That Crashed In Nevada Broke In Mid-Flight
- Biden Administration Has Approved Potential Sales Of Missiles To Taiwan
- The United States Has Unveiled New Strategies For Cybersecurity
- Doctor Says A Skin Lesion Was Removed From President Biden’s Chest
- The United States CDC Issues Advisory After Confirmed Case Of Measles In Kentucky
- Texas Sued By Five Women Who Were Denied Abortions
- Gunman Shot Three Police Officers In Los Angeles
- Kansas Legislature Has Passed A Bill To Ban Transgender Athletes From Girls’ Sport
- Boat Capsize Off San Diego, Killing At Least Eight People
- President Joe Biden Has Approved A Massive Willow Oil Project
- U.S. EPA Has Finalized Rule To Tackle Interstate Smog
- Six Additional Senators Agree To Giving Biden Power To Ban TikTok
- Supreme Court Asked To Uphold Domestic Violence Gun Law
- Church In New Jersey Destroyed By A Massive Fire
- Two New Monuments Created In Nevada And Texas By President Biden
- Two People Were Killed And Five Others Missing After Chocolate Factory In Pennsylvania Exploded
- Train Derails In North Dakota, Spills Hazardous Materials
- Six People Killed In Nashville School Shooting By Former Student
- President Trump To Face Criminal Charges In New York
Twelve States In The United States Sue To Have Access To Abortion Pill Expanded
Photo Source: AP Photo/David A. Lieb
Friday, February 24, 2023 — Twelve Democratic-led states in the United States have argued that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hindered access to a known abortion pill. The drug, mifepristone, induced abortion and was approved in 2000, though with some restrictions to ensure its safe usage. The state, in the lawsuit, claimed that no evidence supports the limits on the drug.
Mifepristone, combined with another drug, misoprostol, is safe and very effective for abortion, provided the pregnancy is within the first 10 weeks. However, the F.D.A. has controlled the availability of the drug and who can prescribe and dispense the drug.
The plaintiffs wrote that the drug restrictions have made it harder for doctors to prescribe and pharmacies to fill.
Source: BBC
NTSB Says Medical Plane That Crashed In Nevada Broke In Mid-Flight
Photo Source: AP Photo/NTSB
Sunday, February 26, 2023 — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirms that the medical service plane that crashed in western Nevada, killing all the five people on board, appears to have broken mid-flight. The people killed in the crash include the pilot, the nurse and paramedic on board, the patient, and the patient's family members.
The organization said in a Facebook post that they “are heartbroken to report that they have received confirmation from Central Lyon County Fire Department that there was no survival.” They also confirm that they will soon notify their family members.
Care Flight confirms that the department of the Lyon County Sheriff, and the Central Lyon Fire Department, alongside the NTSB, are looking into the possible cause of the crash. NTSB Vice Chairman, Bruce Landsberg, said a team of 11 members would be on site for several days to gather evidence.
Source: CNN
Biden Administration Has Approved Potential Sales Of Missiles To Taiwan
Photo Source: AP Photo/Johnson Lai
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 — The Biden administration has approved a potential arms deal with Taiwan worth $619 million. The deal is to include F-16 fighter jets, which will increase high tension between the U.S. and Beijing. Congress has also been notified of the proposed deal.
An official from the State Department said, “the United States' support to Taiwan and the steps taken by Taiwan to enhance its self-defense capabilities contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region.”
China has always claimed that Taiwan Strait, which is a democratically ruled island with a population of 24 million, is part of its sovereign territory, even though they have never ruled the island. China keeps up the military pressure on the island by sending ships and aircraft to the region.
Source: CNN
The United States Has Unveiled New Strategies For Cybersecurity
Photo Source: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
Thursday, March 2, 2023 — The White House announced a new strategy for cybersecurity. The latest effort by the United States government to strengthen its cyber defense dues to increased hacking and digital crimes against the country.
The move came after several high-profile hacking incidents both domestic and foreign actors against the U.S. According to the strategy, China and Russia are identified as United States’ biggest cyber threats.
A United States official who prefers to remain anonymous said via phone call, "Russia is serving as a de facto haven for cybercrime, and ransomware is a predominant issue that is dealt with today.”
The strategy calls for improving the standards of patching vulnerabilities in computer systems, among several other things.
Source: Reuters
Doctor Says A Skin Lesion Was Removed From President Biden’s Chest
Photo Source: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Friday, March 3, 2023 – The white house confirmed that a skin lesion was removed from the skin of the President of the United States, Joe Biden. The president's doctor, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, further said no other treatment is required as all the cancerous tissue has been removed.
In the note written by Biden’s personal doctor to White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, he said the lesion was removed and tested. He said the type of cancer found was basal cell carcinoma.
In his letter, O’Connor also said, "Basal cell carcinoma lesions do not tend to spread or metastasize, as some more serious skin cancers such as melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma are known to do.”
A similar procedure to remove a similar lesion was done on the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, earlier this year. Dr. O’Connor said in his letter that Dr. Jill Biden had a Mohs surgery to remove and examine a lesion above her right eye discovered during a routine skin cancer checkup.
Source: CNN
The United States CDC Issues Advisory After Confirmed Case Of Measles In Kentucky
Photo Source: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Saturday, March 4, 2023 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has notified clinics and public health officials, through a health alert advisory, to be vigilant due to a case of measles that was confirmed at a large gathering in Kentucky. The CDC said Kentucky Department for Public health identified a confirmed case of measles on February 24, in an individual who is not vaccinated and with a history of international travel.
CDC asked that physicians should recommend measles, mumps, and rubella shots for patients who are not fully vaccinated. The advisory also asked professionals at healthcare to report any suspected cases of measles immediately to local or state health departments.
The World Health Organization and the CDC said there is now a very serious threat of measles spreading globally due to the reduction in vaccination due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Reuters
Texas Sued By Five Women Who Were Denied Abortions
Photo Source: AP Photo/Acacia Coronado
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 – Five women who claimed that they were denied abortions even when their lives or fetuses’ lives were threatened have sued Texas. The lawsuit asks a state court in the state’s capital, Austin, for a ruling that protects a doctor from possible prosecution after an abortion if the doctor realizes the abortion was necessary.
Texas allows expectations when a doctor discovers that there is a medical emergency. The lawsuit, however, said that the law is not clear, which caused doctors to refuse to perform abortions even when the exception is applicable.
Four out of the five women that filed the lawsuit had to travel out of Texas to carry out abortions to prevent serious medical complications. The fifth woman was admitted to the hospital due to a premature rupture of membranes.
Source: Reuters
Gunman Shot Three Police Officers In Los Angeles
Photo Source: AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu
Thursday, March 9, 2023 – Three police officers were shot and wounded in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed that the suspect was pronounced dead. The suspect was discovered unresponsive during a search by the police officers.
The police department said the Los Angeles Fire personnel treated the injured police officers. There was no statement concerning how the suspect died. Anonymous sources from the police said the three police officers that were shot were part of a canine unit and were looking for a suspect when the incident happened.
During a news conference, the Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, said: “he is relieved and grateful that the three brave police officers are in stable condition and was able to have a conversation with two of them when he checked in on them.”
Source: Reuters
Kansas Legislature Has Passed A Bill To Ban Transgender Athletes From Girls’ Sport
Photo Source: AP Photo/John Hanna
Friday, March 10, 2023 – A bill was passed by the Kansas legislature, led by the Republicans, which prevent athletes who are born male from participating in girls' or women’s sport. Laura Kelly, a Democratic Governor of Kansas, is expected to veto the bill. However, the governor's office did not give any immediate reply.
Those who support the bill said ensuring a leveled playing field in women’s sports is very important. On the other hand, those who opposed the bill believe that the laws are unnecessary, as the numbers of transgender athletes in school sports are relatively low.
Kansas Senate voted 28-11 to pass the bill. The house voted 82-40 on February 23 to pass the bill. For a veto to be overridden, two-thirds of each chamber would have voted against the actions of the Governor.
Source: Reuters
Boat Capsize Off San Diego, Killing At Least Eight People
Photo Source: AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Sunday, March 12, 2023 – Authorities confirm that one of two suspected smuggling boats approaching a beach in San Diego capsized, killing at least eight people.
Richard Brahm, United States coast guard petty officer, said a woman in one of the boats called 911 to report that the other boat had capsized. He also said he could not confirm whether anyone on the second boat was injured or whether the U.S. border patrol apprehended them.
Coast guard and San Diego fire-rescue crews retrieved eight bodies from the water. However, their search was disturbed by a thick fog, and they hope to continue their search when the weather improves.
Another coast guard petty officer said eight had died, and teams were still searching the water for at least seven more. He does not know what kind of boat was involved in the crash.
Source: The Guardian
President Joe Biden Has Approved A Massive Willow Oil Project
Photo Source: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Monday, March 13, 2023 – The United States Interior Department announced on Monday that the administration of Joe Biden had approved a $7 billion oil and gas drilling Willow project in Alaska. The move draws criticism from environmental advocates while also getting commendation from Alaskan officials and the oil industry.
The officials elected in Alaska said the project would provide hundreds of jobs for people and also bring billions of dollars in revenues to state and federal coffers. One of the officials in Alaska also said the burden of solving the global warming issues could not be solved only by Alaska.
The project was criticized by the United Nations, which has urged that nations should speed up the transition from fossil fuels. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, when asked about the Willow project, said, “they are not the type of project that moves them forward.”
Source: Reuters
U.S. EPA Has Finalized Rule To Tackle Interstate Smog
Photo Source: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 – The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States has finalized a rule requiring power plants and industrial facilities in 23 states to cut their smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. 23 states, according to the EPA’s final “Good Neighbor” plans, are required to make sure that they curb emissions of NOx from facilities that produce across state lines.
The administrator of the EPA, Michael Regan, said: “EPS’s ‘Good Neighbor’ plan will lock in significant pollution reductions to ensure cleaner air and deliver public health protection for those that have suffered far too long from air-quality related impacts and illness.”
According to the EPA’s final rule estimate, NOx emissions are expected to reduce by 70,000 tons during the 2026ozone season. Emissions of carbon dioxide are also expected to reduce by 16 million tons.
Source: Reuters
Six Additional Senators Agree To Giving Biden Power To Ban TikTok
Photo Source: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Friday, March 17, 2023 — Six more senators backed bipartisan legislation that would give the President of the United States, Joe Biden, the power to ban TikTok, a video app owned by a Chinese. Twelve senators, led by Mark Warner, a Democrat and Republican, John Thune, revealed legislation backed by the White House to enable the Commerce Department to regulate TikTok.
While speaking to reporters, Maria Cantwell, the Senate Commerce Committee chair, said she agrees with the Warner-Thune bill. TikTok said this week that the Biden administration demanded that the Chinese owners of TikTok divest their stake in the app or face a potential ban in the United States.
Donald Trump attempted in 2020 to ban TikTok, but United States courts blocked it.
Source: Reuters
Supreme Court Asked To Uphold Domestic Violence Gun Law
Photo Source: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Saturday, March 18, 2023 — The Justice Department in the United States has asked the Supreme Court to allow a federal law that makes it a crime for people under domestic violence restraining orders to own a firearm stand.
In February, three judges of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that the ban was unconstitutional. It was the most recent victory for gun rights advocates.
The petition of the Justice Department to the matter was posted o Twitter by Jakes Charles, a professor of law at Pepperdine University who is an expert on gun control issues. It was written in the petition that “more than a million acts of domestic violence occur in the United States every year, and the presence of a firearm increases the chance that violence will escalate to homicide.”
Source: Reuters
Church In New Jersey Destroyed By A Massive Fire
Photo Source: Getty Images
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 — A large church was burnt to the ground in Burlington, New Jersey. More than 100 firefighters were reported to have been battling the flames. The fire started at the Fountain of Life Center in Florence Township, New Jersey.
Russell Hodgins, a senior pastor at the church, described the incident as a great loss. He added that the crew was also trying to save a school building attached to the church.
The administrator of the Florence Township Fire Districts, Robert Tharp, commended the fire firefighters and said they did a very wonderful job trying to stop the fire interiorly. But they had to switch their operations to a defensive operation because of the size of the building and the amount of fire.
No injuries have been reported; it is unclear what started the fire.
Source: Reuters
Two New Monuments Created In Nevada And Texas By President Biden
Photo Source: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 — On Tuesday, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, created two new national monuments in Nevada and Texas. He also launched an effort to consider expanding protection for all waters around remote Pacific islands southwest of Hawaii.
The national monuments will conserve 514,000 acres (208,008 hectares) of public land, which include Avi Kwa Ame, the Mojave name for Spirit Mountain in southern Nevada. The other new national monument is Castner Range in El Paso, Texas, a formal training and testing facility for the United States Army.
President Biden also issued a directive to begin a process of renaming the monuments and islands to honor the native heritage in the area and also recognize the native Hawaiians who secured U.S. territorial claim to the islands.
Source: Reuters
Two People Were Killed And Five Others Missing After Chocolate Factory In Pennsylvania Exploded
Photo Source: AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam
Saturday, March 25, 2023 — Two people were killed, and another five were declared missing after an explosion rocked a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania. Emergency services confirmed that rescue workers searched through debris for survivors.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the explosion happened at the R.M. Palmer Company plant in West Reading, a town approximately 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. PEMA also added that seven other injured people had been transported to nearby hospitals.
R.M. Palmer Company said the email and phone systems are down due to the explosion. They also added that “they will be providing additional information and making contact with employees, impacted families, and the community as soon as possible.”
According to the websites of R.M. Palmer Company, it was founded in 1948. It employs about 850 people and creates 500 unique chocolate and candy product.
Source: Reuters
Train Derails In North Dakota, Spills Hazardous Materials
Photo Source: AP Photo/Matthew Brown
Monday, March 27, 2023 — United States was hit by another railway accident as a train conveying hazardous materials derailed in North Dakota. The train incident involved a Canadian Pacific freight train, which affected 31 out of the train's 70 cars. Petroleum used to make asphalt was part of the cargo spilled from the train.
The rail company said emergency response and hazmat experts were at the crash scene in Richland County. There was no report of fire breaking out, and the spill occurred in a cold and snowy area, which minimized the threat to public safety. The spilled materials will be left to freeze to aid in the cleanup. The freezing is expected to take up to seven to 10 days.
Critics said there are insufficient safety regulations for transporting hazardous material due to the outcry after the derailment in East Palestine earlier this year.
Source: The Guardian
Six People Killed In Nashville School Shooting By Former Student
Photo Source: AP Photo/Wade Payne
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 — A heavily armed 28-year-old in a private Christian school fatally shot three children and three adults. Authorities said the suspect was once a student in the school.
However, it is not clear what the motive was, but it was discovered that the suspects had drawn detailed maps of the school, which included entry points for the building, and also left behind a manifesto and other writings that investigators are examining.
The Police Chief, John Drake, said the suspect was identified as Audrey Elizabeth Haley, who is 28 years old and a resident of the Nashville area. The chief also said the suspect was identified as transgender, but not further detail was provided.
The police department later released a video showing the suspect blasting through glass doors with gunfire.
Source: Reuters
President Trump To Face Criminal Charges In New York
Photo Source: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
Friday, March 31, 2023 — A grand jury in New York has charged Former U.S. President Donald Trump on charges of hush money given to former porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Mr. Trump will be the first ex-President of the United States to face criminal proceedings. He will be the first past president to be fingerprinted, photographed, and forced to appear in court as a suspected defendant.
Prosecutors in New York are still discussing details with Trump's staff, but he must journey from Florida to New York for his scheduled court appearance on Tuesday. It is unclear what accusations Trump is facing, but according to U.S. media, he is facing more than two dozen charges related to corporate fraud.
Trump has categorically refuted this, calling the charge "political persecution." Republicans, including his opponents, have also banded together to support and criticize their former president. Democrats' reaction has been cautious, highlighting that no one is above the law.
Source: BBC
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