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Russia-Ukraine live updates: Thousands evacuate Mariupol during pause in attacks

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Russian forces are continuing their attempted push through Ukraine from multiple directions, while Ukrainians, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are putting up “stiff resistance,” according to U.S. officials.

The attack began Feb. 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation.”

Russian forces moving from neighboring Belarus toward Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, have advanced closer to the city center in recent days despite the resistance, coming within about 9 miles as of Friday.

Russia has been met by sanctions from the United States, Canada and countries throughout Europe, targeting the Russian economy as well as Putin himself.

For previous coverage please click here.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Mar 15, 1:42 pm
Refugee numbers reach 3 million

Over 3 million refugees have now fled Ukraine, according to Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Over 1.5 million of those refugees are children, according to UNICEF spokesperson James Elder.

Mar 15, 1:26 pm
Thousands of civilians evacuate Mariupol during pause in attacks

A pause in Russian attacks on the besieged city of Mariupol has allowed for about 2,000 private vehicles to evacuate civilians on Tuesday, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereschuk said.

This is in addition to the 160 private vehicles that evacuated residents during a lull on Monday.

Russian attacks impeded previous efforts to get civilians out and to allow for humanitarian supplies to be brought in. The Mariupol City Council reported Sunday that 2,187 residents had been killed since the start of the invasion. Vereschuk said last week that the city was “beyond a humanitarian disaster,” with most roads destroyed, little communication with the outside and no power, gas or heat.

Mar 15, 1:14 pm
NATO leaders to meet March 24

NATO leaders will meet on March 24 to address the Russian invasion, NATO’s “strong support for Ukraine, and further strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted.

-ABC News’ Conor Finnegan

Mar 15, 1:06 pm
Russian TV anti-war protester fined and released

Anti-war protester Marina Ovsyannikova has been fined and released after crashing a Russian state news broadcast.

She told reporters she was interrogated for more than 14 hours and said she’d provide more comments on Wednesday.

-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell

Mar 15, 12:16 pm
Fox News cameraman killed in Ukraine

Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski has been killed in Ukraine, according to Fox News.

Zakrzewski, 55, was newsgathering with correspondent Benjamin Hall on Monday in Horenka, outside of Kyiv, when their vehicle was hit by incoming fire, the network said.

Hall was injured and hospitalized in unknown condition.

“Pierre jumped in to help out with all sorts of roles in the field – photographer, engineer, editor and producer and he did it all under immense pressure and with tremendous skill,” a statement from Fox News PR said. “He was a professional, he was a journalist, and he was a friend. We here at the Fox News Channel want to offer our deepest condolences to Pierre’s wife, Michelle, and his entire family.”

Mar 15, 11:34 am
US, EU, UK expand sanctions targeting Russia

The European Union Council on Tuesday imposed a fourth package of economic and individual sanctions, including restricting the export of luxury goods to Russia and banning new investments in Russia’s energy sector.

Sanctions also target “key oligarchs, lobbyist and propagandists pushing the Kremlin’s narrative on the situation in Ukraine,” the Council said in a statement.

“The aim of the sanctions is that President Putin stops this inhuman and senseless war,” Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement.

The United Kingdom is expanding sanctions targeting over 300 people including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and oligarchs with an estimated worth of more than $94 billion.

The U.S. is also expanding sanctions, including against Russian Ministry of Defense officials.

The State Department is also implementing a new visa ban policy against Russian officials who have “cracked down on Russian citizens who have taken to the streets to protest their government’s brutal campaign in Ukraine” and “are responsible for suppressing dissent in occupied areas of Ukraine.”

In retaliation for sanctions from the U.S., Russia’s foreign ministry has announced personal sanctions against President Joe Biden and many top administration officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The sanctions also target Biden’s son, Hunter, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

-ABC News’ Christine Theodorou, Tanya Stukalova, Patrick Reevell and Conor Finnegan

Mar 15, 7:51 am
Two killed in strike on Kyiv neighborhood

Two people were killed on Tuesday morning after Russian forces shelled residential areas in Kyiv, officials said.

The sound of large explosions echoed across Kyiv before dawn from what Ukrainian authorities said were artillery strikes. The shelling ignited a huge fire and a frantic rescue effort in the Svyatoshyn neighborhood.

Shockwaves from an explosion also damaged the entry to a downtown subway station that has been used as a bomb shelter. City authorities tweeted an image of the blown-out facade, saying trains would no longer stop at the station.

Mar 15, 5:51 am
Residents protest in Russian-occupied cities: UK military

Residents of Kherson, Melitopol and Berdyansk, cities occupied by Russian forces, have held “multiple” demonstrations protesting the occupation, the U.K. Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

Protests in Kherson came as Russia may be making plans for a “referendum” to legitimize the region as a Russian-backed “breakaway republic,” similar to Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea, the Ministry said.

“Further protests were reported in the city yesterday with Russian forces reportedly firing warning shots in an attempt to disperse peaceful protesters,” the Ministry said.

Russia is likely to “make further attempts to subvert Ukrainian democracy,” the update said.

“Russia has reportedly installed its own mayor in Melitopol following the alleged abduction of his predecessor on Friday 11 March,” the update said. “Subsequently, the Mayor of Dniprorudne has also reportedly been abducted by Russian forces.”

Mar 14, 9:56 pm
Latest talks with Russia went ‘pretty good,’ will continue tomorrow, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy updated the status of negotiations with Russia in his latest address Monday, saying the latest talks went “pretty good” and will continue tomorrow.

Zelenskyy also addressed Russian troops, telling them they would be treated “decently” should they surrender.

“On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I give you a chance — chance to survive,” Zelenskyy said. “You surrender to our forces, we will treat you the way people are supposed to be treated. As people, decently.”

Zelenskyy also thanked the producer at a Russian state news channel who appeared on camera behind an anchor and held up an anti-war sign. She was later arrested.

“I am grateful to those Russians who do not stop trying to convey the truth,” he said. “To those who fight disinformation and tell the truth, real facts to their friends and loved ones. And personally to the woman who entered the studio of Channel One with a poster against the war.”

Rush’s Alex Lifeson selling guitars and memorabilia collection at May auction in NYC

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

A collection of guitars and other instruments and memorabilia belonging to Rush‘s Alex Lifeson will be up for bid at a May 22 auction held at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City.

The sale, hosted by Julien’s Auctions, will feature over 100 artifacts, including more than 60 guitars.

Perhaps the main highlight of the auction is the custom-built 1976 Gibson ES-355TD electric guitar known as “Whitie,” which was Lifeson’s main guitar from 1976 until 2015. Alex played “Whitie” on all of Rush’s albums, from 1977’s A Farewell to Kings through 1996’s Test for Echo. It also was one of his preferred touring instruments. It’s estimated to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000.

Another notable guitar being sold is a 1980 custom-built Hentor Sportscaster electric model that Lifeson used to record many classic Rush songs, including 1981’s “Limelight.” It’s estimated to sell for between $100,000 and $200,000.

Others instruments up for bid include a 1981 Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion electric guitar played on the 1981 Moving Pictures tour; a 1971 Jose Ramirez acoustic guitar used on all of Rush’s classical-style recordings starting with the band’s 1978 album, Hemispheres; a 1976 Gibson Dove acoustic that Alex used to write “Closer to the Heart” and other tunes from 1977’s A Farewell to Kings album; and a 1970 Gibson Les Paul electric model that Lifeson played on most of the band’s albums and tours during the mid-to-late 1970s. All of these guitars are estimated to bring between $100,000 and $200,000.

The Lifeson auction is part of Julien’s Auctions’ next “Musical Icons” sale, scheduled for May 20-22. Bidding will take place in person and online at JuliensLive.com.

President Obama starring in Netflix documentary ‘Our Great National Parks’

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Former President Barack Obama will headline and narrate Our Great National Parks, a documentary from Netflix celebrating the protected splendor of the country, which debuts April 13.

In an eye-popping new trailer for the five-part series, Mr. Obama celebrates the “journey of the natural wonders of our shared birthright,” highlighting its curious creatures and their habitats, and how both they can help humanity as more than just eye candy for HD TVs.

“When humanity started to protect these wild places,” the former president says, “we did not realize how important they would become. They’re a haven for endangered species, and a hot bed for scientific research.”

Our Great National Parks isn’t the first time Obama showcased these protected, precious environments. When he was in office, he helped celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service by starring in a virtual reality video set at Yosemite. The 11-minute-long, immersive film called Through the Ages celebrated both the agency and its efforts to preserve our national parks.

How to talk to kids about the war in Ukraine

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — In a digital age, children have access to around-the-clock news coverage of frightened refugees, gunfire and talk of a nuclear attack.

Many American parents are wondering how media coverage of the war in Ukraine may be impacting their children.

“We tend to believe that children are not aware of what’s happening, but in fact they are,” said Dr. Stephenie Howard, a licensed clinical social worker and assistant professor at Norfolk State University.

“They’re always listening. They pick up on bits and pieces of information and they’re left to put the pieces together by themselves, which can be worse,” she added.

Although the events in Ukraine are a continent away, children in the U.S. might experience vicarious trauma, which happens when people are impacted by someone else’s adversity even if they do not directly experience it themselves. Children may also misinterpret public crises often in ways that are unexpected.

“Kids will hear about these things. Their fears and worries may be distortions of the reality … and when there’s this much coverage, they might think there’s a war in their own city,” Dr. David Schonfeld, director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, told Good Morning America.

Below are five steps parents can take to help children navigate turbulent times.

1. Initiate the conversation.

Experts agree that families should feel empowered to ask about their child’s understanding of an event, correct misinformation and provide reassurance.

Schonfeld, who recently published an article for the American Academy of Pediatrics on this subject, recommends starting the conversation as soon as children are old enough to talk.

“It may very well be a one- or two-minute conversation with a 6-year-old where you say, ‘Did you hear anything about the fact that in the country far away from here called Ukraine, there’s a war?” Schonfeld said.

Added Dr. Micki Burns, a licensed psychologist and chief clinical officer at Judi’s House, an organization that provides grief counseling for children and families: “Come into that conversation and allow your child to drive the direction that it goes in… and allow them to teach us what’s going to be most helpful to them.”

When talking to your child, focus on active listening. There is often a tendency to try to “fix” scary situations, but it is important to avoid providing false promises. Give developmentally appropriate answers to their questions and remind them that you will help keep them safe.

2. Monitor for signs of stress or anxiety.

Children at different ages may process scary events on the news in different ways. Some may show changes in appetite, sleeping habits, or seem withdrawn. Dr. Kimberly Clinebell, a child and adolescent psychiatrist with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital, adds that young child may even regress.

If you notice concerning changes in your child’s behavior, talk to their pediatrician as they can often help explore these behaviors and connect your child to mental health providers.

3. Check in with your own emotional well-being.

“The first thing for all parents in all situations is to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself. I know it’s such a cliché but … put the oxygen mask on yourself first before you go to help your children,” said Burns.

Self-care can look like many things, like taking a break from news coverage.

“I just tell people if you’re watching, viewing, listening to or reading [the news] and you’re not feeling reassured and you’re not learning practical new information, then unplug,” said Schonfeld.

Reducing exposure to graphic videos and images can be protective for both you and your child.

4. Model compassionate behavior.

It is also critical for parents to recognize that wartime can bring about misunderstandings and prejudices surrounding different groups of people. Many Americans have family in Russia and Ukraine.

“There’s a tendency for us to say things which are really discriminatory because we think it’s safe among friends. But we really don’t know all of the history of all of our friends and acquaintances,” said Schonfeld.

He recommends modeling kind words, especially during tense times.

5. Identify practical ways to help with the crisis abroad.

Lastly, watching conflict unfold on TV can make kids feel helpless.

“Try to think of ways to make a positive impact in the world, whether that’s with Ukraine or some other way that they feel like their passions and their skills could be put to good use,” said Dr. Maria Rahmandar, an adolescent medicine professor at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Sophia Gauthier, MD, is a pediatric resident physician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia as well as a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.

Biden to head to Brussels next week for show of unity with NATO leaders

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden will to travel to Brussels next week to meet with NATO leaders in his first visit to Europe since Russian President Vladimir Putin began his violent invasion of Ukraine, the White House announced Tuesday.

At the show of unity on March 24, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, Biden will “reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our NATO allies.”

His trip follows the prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic heading to Kyiv on Tuesday, as shelling continues there, in a show of support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy despite the danger on the ground.

Just before the White House announcement, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted, “I have convened an extraordinary Summit on 24 March at #NATO HQ. We will address #Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine, our strong support for Ukraine, and further strengthening NATO’s deterrence & defence. At this critical time, North America & Europe must continue to stand together.”

Biden will also join a scheduled European Council summit “to discuss our shared concerns about Ukraine, including transatlantic efforts to impose economic costs on Russia, provide humanitarian support to those affected by the violence and address other challenges related to the conflict,” Psaki said.

The goal of Biden’s trip to Brussels will be to meet “face-to-face” with his European counterparts to assess Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she said.

“We’ve been incredibly aligned to date. That doesn’t happen by accident,” she said. “The president’s a big believer in face-to-face diplomacy. So, it’s an opportunity to do exactly that.”

She added that the NATO meeting is the “real focus right now,” and wouldn’t say if Biden will be making additional stops in Poland or to meet with refugees.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Cargo ship stuck in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay presenting Coast Guard ‘logistical challenge’

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(BALTIMORE) — A loaded 1,095-foot cargo ship remained stuck Tuesday morning in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, presenting Coast Guard officials with what they described as a “logistical challenge” to free the vessel without polluting the environment.

The container vessel, named Ever Forward, ran aground Sunday night after leaving Baltimore, Petty Officer 1st Class Steve Lehmann, a spokesman for the Coast Guard’s Mid-Atlantic district, told ABC News Tuesday morning.

Lehmann said the ship is stuck in about 23-feet of water but is not blocking traffic in the bay’s deep-water channel.

“It’s a pretty big logistical challenge,” Lehmann said about freeing the ship.

Lehmann said a Coast Guard environmental team boarded the ship to make an assessment of its condition and determine how to safely get it towed off what is believed to be a sandbar without polluting the water or causing harm to the crew.

“We’re making sure all boxes are checked,” said Lehmann, adding that a timeline has not yet been established on when an attempt to free the vessel will be made.

Lehmann said no one was injured and no pollution has been detected as a result of the mishap.

He said the Coast Guard was notified of the incident around 9 p.m. Sunday. The vessel was headed to Norfolk, Virginia.

Coast Guard officials said the ship was apparently traveling outside the deep-water channel when it got hung up.

Lehmann said the ship is believed to be owned by Evergreen Marine Corp., noting the company’s name on the side of the vessel. Evergreen Marine, based in Taiwan, is also the owner of a cargo ship Ever Given, which got stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal in March 2021, blocking the world-famous waterway for six days and causing massive delays in global shipping.

ABC News has reached out to Evergreen Marine Corp. for comment but has received no immediate response.

Britney Spears claims her father “stripped” away her womanhood during conservatorship

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Britney Spears spoke out against her father, Jamie Spears, in a new Instagram post that detailed some new allegations of abuse fueled by her 13-year conservatorship. The post has since been deleted.

On Monday, the “Toxic” singer remarked, “I actually think my dad always played the kid as his role.”

“I mean, the first day my dad became my conservator I will never forget!!!,’ Britney further stated. “He said ‘Sit down in that chair… We’re going to have a talk.’ He said ‘I’m Britney Spears and I call the shots from now on’ and ever since that day I felt a huge part of my womanhood stripped from me… I was never the same.”

Britney’s remarks echo the findings Ronan Farrow uncovered in his bombshell The New Yorker report from last summer about Britney’s conservatorship. The reporter spoke with former family friend Jacqueline Butcher, who claimed Jamie Spears would scream, “I am Britney Spears!” Butcher also claimed he would belittle and insult his daughter, such as calling her a “terrible mother.”

Britney added, “If I told you when you were 17 that 9 years from now your dad is going to take over your whole career if you do this record … What the hell do you think [I] would have said ???? Not NO BUT HELL NO !!! Everything happens for a reason … I’m not so sure about that.”

The Grammy winner also included the lyrics of Meredith Brooks‘ 1997 hit “B****” when telling fans not to “forget” who she is.

Britney’s conservatorship was terminated in November. Since then, she has made numerous allegations against family members, including her sister, Jamie Lynn Spears.

Wolf Alice expands North American tour with fall leg

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Wolf Alice‘s tour in support of their latest album Blue Weekend just got bigger.

The British band has added a fall leg to its North American tour, which gets underway September 25 in New York City and wraps October 17 in San Francisco.

The new leg starts just a few days after Wolf Alice plays the Firefly Festival in Dover, Delaware and ends a few days before they appear at the We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas. Tickets for the new dates go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

The band’s spring tour of North America kicks off March 21 in Atlanta, GA; in June, they’ll open for Halsey at the Hollywood Bowl and for Bleachers at Colorado’s Red Rocks. They’re also joining Harry Styles on his European tour this summer.

Alice Cooper hosting CoopStock 2 benefit event in April with Rob Halford, Mike Mills, Scott Stapp & more

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Judas Priest‘s Rob Halford, R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills and Creed‘s Scott Stapp are among the guest performers at Alice Cooper‘s upcoming benefit event CoopStock 2, scheduled for April 30 at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.

The event will feature a night and music and comedy. Other performers on the bill include No Doubt drummer Adrian Young, Collective Soul‘s Ed Roland and comedian Larry the Cable Guy. Alice himself will also perform, and so will musicians and dancers involved in his Solid Rock Teen Centers, the beneficiary of the event.

The Teen Centers provide free music, dance, arts and vocational training programs for young people aged 12 to 20. For more details and to buy tickets to CoopStock 2, visit AliceCooperSolidRock.com.

The fundraiser will takes place after Alice wraps up his upcoming spring North American tour. The new trek kicks off this Friday, March 18 in Mashantucket, Connecticut, and runs through April 24, wrapping at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Buckcherry will open all of Cooper’s shows from a March 19 gig in Hanover, Maryland, through an April 20 performance in Seattle, while founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley will serve as the support act at the final three concerts of the tour: April 22 in Reno, Nevada; April 23 in Paso Robles, California; and the LA show.

Track list unveiled for Phife Dawg posthumous album, ‘Forever’

March 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The estate for the late MC Phife Dawg has unveiled the track list and the cover art for the rapper’s upcoming posthumous album, Forever.

The album will feature 13 songs, including the title track, which is being released on March 19. The single was recorded on that same day in 2016, marking the last song the Tribe Called Quest member ever recorded before his death.

The track list also features guest appearances by Busta Rhymes, Redman, Rapsody and more.

Forever officially drops on March 22, the sixth anniversary of Phife’s passing. In celebration, his estate will host a Q&A and album listening event at SOBs in New York City on Wednesday, March 23. Tickets are on sale now for the intimate event.

Phife Dawg passed away at age 45 on March 22, 2016, due to complications from diabetes.

Here is the album track list:

“Cheryl’s Big Son (Intro)”
“Only a Coward”
“Fallback” ft. Rapsody & Renée Neufville
“Nutshell Pt. 2” ft. Busta Rhymes & Redman
“Sorry” ft. V.Rich
“Dear Dilla (Reprise)” ft. Q-Tip
“Wow Factor” ft. Maseo of De La Soul
“Residual Curiosities” ft. Lyric Jones
“God Send” ft. Dwele
“Round Irving High School” ft. Cheryl Boyce-Taylor & Angela Winbush
“French Kiss Trois” ft. Redman & Illa J
“2 Live Forever” ft. Pos of De La Soul, Little Brother & Darien Brockington
“Forever”

+ More