Month: March 2022

Ukraine side cited progress in establishing humanitarian corridors, despite negotiators from Ukraine and Russia failing to reach a breakthrough during a third round of peace talks on Monday.  Safe corridors meant to allow Ukrainian civilians to flee the country, which were negotiated in the second round of talks, failed to materialize earlier in the day. The cease-fire began early Monday to allow refugees to flee in four Ukrainian cities — Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy and the southern port city of Mariupol — but was quickly shattered.

Lead Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said there had been small but “positive” movement in “improving the logistics of humanitarian corridors” under which local cease-fires could be set up to facilitate the evacuation of civilians as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its 12th day. Podolyak said in a Twitter post: “Intensive consultations have continued on the basic political block of the regulations, along with a ceasefire and security guarantees.” 

His Russian counterpart, Vladimir Medinsky, however, said no substantial progress had been made in Monday’s talks, telling reporters: “Our expectations from negotiations were not fulfilled. We hope that next time we will be able to take a more significant step forward.”  Medinsky said he “hoped there would be progress” in an upcoming fourth round of talks at an unspecified date and location.

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Florida state officials said Sunday that two wildfires in the Florida panhandle have burned nearly 10,000 acres collectively.  The Florida Forest Service said The Bertha Swamp Fire, which began in Gulf County, has spread to 8,000 acres and pushed into Bay and Calhoun counties, and was 10% contained as of Sunday morning, while the Adkins Avenue Fire held at 1,400 acres and was 35% contained.  Overall, 150 wildfires are currently burning more than 12,100 acres throughout the state.

Residents in the Bear Creek area were put under mandatory evacuation orders in response to the Bertha Swamp Fire and all existing evacuation orders from the Adkins Avenue Fire remained in place. Overall about 600 homes have been evacuated. The Florida Forest Service said there was no timeline for when residents will be allowed to return home.

A total of 17 tractor-plow units are combatting the Bertha Swamp Road Fire, while 25-tractor-plow units have been sent to build fire lines around the Adkins Avenue fire and more than 103,000 gallons of water have been dropped on the blaze since Friday. Officials said that both fires have been intensified by strong winds and dry conditions that are expected to persist throughout the region as fire danger levels remain elevated.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that a state of emergency declared in response to the fires had been expanded to include Calhoun and Gulf counties, saying:  “Right now, the main focus is, of course, getting the fire contained, but we are marshaling assets and we will provide whatever the folks here in northwest Florida need.”

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Officials confirm that at least seven people were killed by tornadoes near Des Moines, Iowa, late Saturday as damage suggested possible tornadoes reached at least an EF-3 status.  Six deaths were reported, consisting of four adults and two children under the age of five, on Madison County.

Diogenes Ayala, the director of the Madison County Emergency Management Agency, said at a news conference that the victims were identified as Melissa Bazley, 63, Rodney Clark, 64, Cecilia Lloyd, 72, Michael Bolger, 37, Kenley Bolger, 5 and Owen Bolger, 2.  Six other people were injured in Madison County; three of them are in serious condition and one who was transferred to a hospital in Des Moines with life-threatening injuries. The sheriff’s office said in a news release that a seventh death was reported in Chariton, a city in nearby Lucas County, while two additional people suffered injuries in Polk County.  Officials said that dozens of homes were lost to damage from the tornados which also downed power lines in the area leaving some without power. Ayala said:  “The best thing the community can do is just to not go to these areas. Let people that are living there. Let them clean up and give them some space. This is pretty devastating for our community.”

The National Weather Service said in a statement that Iowa had at least three thunderstorms producing tornados, but it remains unknown exactly how many tornadoes occurred. The NWS said: “Initial interrogation of photos and videos from around Winterset suggests at least EF3 tornado damage occurred late Saturday afternoon. NWS survey teams will be out Sunday to thoroughly investigate the damage and further assess a potential rating.”

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Madison County in response the tornados that will allow for state resources to be used to assist with response and recovery efforts, adding: “Our hearts go out to all those affected by the deadly storms that tore through our state today. Kevin and I join with Iowans in prayer for those that lost their lives and those injured. Our hearts ache during this time, but I know Iowans will step up and come together to help in this time of need — they already are.”

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The Biden administration asked Congress to immediately approve $32.5 billion in emergency funding to support Ukraine, as well as to bolster the United States’ COVID-19 response.

The Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) requested $10 billion in new humanitarian, security and economic aid to Ukraine and its central European partners, saying that $22.5 billion would go toward securing the supply of Covid antiviral treatments, funding testing and vaccination and developing vaccines that protect against future variants.  OMB Acting Director Shalanda Young said in a statement that the $22.5 billion in COVID funding plus $10 billion in emergency military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine should be included in Congress’ larger spending bill to fund the U.S. government expected to come by March 11.

Regarding the crisis in Ukraine, Young wrote: “Given the rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine, I anticipate that additional needs may arise over time.” Young added that the current request is based on “the administration’s best information on resource requirements at this time.”  The request also includes $5 billion for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development to boost security and economic assistance to Ukraine and regional allies, of which $2.75 billion would provide humanitarian assistance.

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At least ten people were taken to hospitals, some with critical injuries, after an explosion and fire at a Maryland apartment building Thursday morning. Firefighters responded around 10:30 a.m. after 911 callers reported an explosion at the four-story building in Silver Spring, less than a mile north of Washington, D.C.

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service Chief Scott Goldstein said during a news conference that crews arriving on the scene found significant fire and evidence of an explosion, and immediately went to work battling the flames, helping several people get out before the building was completely consumed by fire and collapsed.

People were evacuated from adjacent buildings, and crews continued to search the buildings a second time to make sure no one was missed. , Goldstein said that it was unknown how many people are unaccounted for and how many people will be displaced, and it was not clear where the fire began and too early to say how it started.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan tweeted that his team has been in contact with county officials about the explosion and fire and state fire marshal, state police and state emergency management officials are offering their support.

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