Nation & World Watch
vBismarck, N.D.: Judge won’t stop pipeline work
A federal judge declined Tuesday to temporarily stop construction of the final section of the disputed Dakota Access oil pipeline, clearing the way for oil to flow as soon as next week.
The Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux argued that a pipeline under the lake violates their right to practice their religion, which relies on clean water, and they wanted the work suspended until the claim could be resolved.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington ruled Tuesday said the tribes didn’t raise the religion argument in a timely fashion. He also questioned its merit.
vHutchinson, Kan.: Wildfires in 4 states kill 6
Emergency crews struggled Tuesday to contain deadly wildfires that have scorched hundreds of square miles of land in four states, killing six people and forcing thousands of others to flee their homes ahead of the wind-whipped flames.
Fires burned in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado, and warnings that conditions were ripe were issued for Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska, even after powerful thunderstorms moved through the middle of the country overnight, spawning dozens of tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.
vNew York: More Jewish centers receive threats
The Anti-Defamation League and several Jewish community centers across the country got a new round of bomb threats Tuesday, adding to the scores they have been plagued with since January. Two suburban Jewish community centers in upstate New York were shut down Tuesday when someone phoned in bomb threats, authorities said.
In New York, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said there were five threats made there, including to the New Yorkbased Anti-Defamation League, which also received threats to its offices in Atlanta, Boston and Washington, D.C. The ADL said threats were also made in Oregon, Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, Maryland and Toronto.
vPhiladelphia: Organizers call for women’s protest
Organizers of the January Women’s March are calling for women to take the day off and encouraging them not to spend money Wednesday to show their economic strength and effect on American society.
“A Day Without a Woman” is the first national action by organizers since the nationwide marches held the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration that drew millions of women into the streets in protest against misogyny, inequality and oppression.
Wednesday’s event coincides with the U.N.-designated International Women’s Day, and organizers say they want to “stand with women around the globe” who supported their efforts Jan. 21 with similar protests in cities around the world.
vSouth Africa: Cyclone lashes Madagascar
Heavy rains and strong winds from a cyclone hit northeast Madagascar on Tuesday, raising concerns about flooding and landslides. Aid workers were on alert as Cyclone Enawo lashed the coastline. The storm was expected to move south through the island nation for several days, affecting the capital of Antananarivo along the way.
Some of the worst weather occurred near Antalaha in the Sava area. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Enawo is the strongest storm to hit Madagascar since a tropical cyclone named Giovanna in 2012, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.