March 16 top stories
It is March 16. Here are today’s top stories.
Video showing attack on U.S. drone
The U.S. military released a video showing how Russian fighter jets attacked a U.S. drone that was flying over the Black Sea. The video shows that two Russian jets, at separate times, flew very close to the drone and released jet fuel on it. During the second fly-by, the jet flew so close that the signal went out, and when it came back on, it showed that its propeller was bent. The drone eventually crashed into the water.
[Video clip] Credit: ABC News
Russia’s military previously said they never attacked or touched the drone, saying the drone lost control because it was maneuvering too quickly. But the video contradicts that claim.
U.S. Army General Milley said he is not sure if the Russian jet intentionally hit the drone but they know that the aggressive behavior was intentional. Defense Secretary Austin said the U.S. military will continue to fly over international waters.
College student damages wheelchair
A video on Twitter shows a college student at a bar pushing an empty wheelchair down a flight of stairs. The person who posted the video said the wheelchair was left at the top of the stairs because the wheelchair user had to be carried down the stairs to use the restroom. The incident was captured in a security video.
[Video clip] Credit: Twitter/juliazukowski
People identified the college student as Carson Briere, who is a hockey player with a famous father, Daniel Briere, who played in the NHL and is the interim general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Carson said he is “deeply sorry for my behavior on Saturday. There is no excuse for my actions…” His father said he was shocked to see the incident and that it runs counter to their family’s values.
Carson and the wheelchair user were students at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. The university suspended Carson and two other people who were with Carson when he pushed the wheelchair.
The wheelchair user posted on Twitter to identify herself as Sydney. She said she is thankful for all the kind comments she’s seen.
An article on Pennlive.com explained that she lost both of her legs in a car crash in 2021 and has documented her recovery process on TikTok.
Maya site discovered at Guatemalan Rain Forest
Scientists working in Guatemala have discovered a huge, ancient Maya site that is hidden by a rainforest. The discovery was made through an aerial survey using lidar technology, which involves lasers being beamed out to create a type of topographic map.
The scan showed that there is a site of about 650 square miles with pyramids, large platforms, canals, and reservoirs used for water collection.
Scientists found many settlements around the site and causeways that the Maya used to travel on foot. The site dates back to about 1,000 B.C. to 250 B.C.
Researchers said the Maya probably settled in this region because it had uplands that provided dry lands and limestone for building materials and at the same time, having lowlands that were good for agriculture.
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NBA suspends Ja Morant 8 games over firearm
NBA star player Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies was suspended by the NBA for 8 games after he posted a livestream of himself at a nightclub holding a gun. The NBA did an investigation and found that he was “holding a firearm in an intoxicated state.” The suspension was for conduct detrimental to the league.
Morant hasn’t played a game in about two weeks since the incident, but he will be eligible to return next week.
Morant has apologized and gone to a counseling facility. He said in an interview that he realizes what he has to lose and will be more responsible, smarter, and stay away from bad decisions.
Poland to give Ukraine fighter jets
Poland said it would give Ukraine about 12 MiG-29 military jets. Polish President Duda said four jets would be handed over within the next few days with the rest of the planes to be handed after they get servicing.
AP News said Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has been pleading for Western supporters to share fighter jets but NATO countries are nervous about making the war escalate.
Poland will be the first NATO member to give Ukraine jets. Poland plans to replenish its military with new jets made by South Korea and the U.S.
Wellesley College students vote to allow trans men, nonbinary applicants
CBS News said students at the historically all-women Wellesley College in Massachusetts voted in favor of allowing transgender men and nonbinary applicants to apply to the college. The results of the vote is not binding, so it was more of a symbolic vote to express the students’ opinion and to put pressure on the school to make changes.
Wellesley administrators said they acknowledge the results of the vote but don't have a plan right now to “revisit its mission as a women’s college or its admissions policy.”
CBS said the college currently only considers an applicant if the prospective student lives as a woman and consistently identifies as a woman. The college has opened admissions to transgender women in 2015.
The college has about 2,500 students.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-military-releases-video-drone-showing-collision-russian/story
https://twitter.com/_legless_wonder
https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-poland-russia-war-jets-migs-6d843ccbd50fef5f96091a5bff8f3e01
https://apnews.com/article/ja-morant-suspended-nba-gun-video-8cc82061f6465f96d6c5d0806d92d7d0