Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including Russia's army is regrouping its forces for an assault on eastern Ukraine; President Biden announced the largest-ever release of oil from the U.S. strategic reserves; Los Angeles County employees marched to demand substantial salary increases amid spiking inflation, and more.

National

Biden to release 180M oil barrels to lower gas prices

President Joe Biden announced the largest-ever release of oil from the nation’s strategic reserves Thursday as part of the administration’s strategy to lower gas prices, which have faced escalatory pressure since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last month.

President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to combat rising gas prices in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Justices limit federal court review of arbitration cases

In an 8-1 opinion released on Thursday morning, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of an employee in a gender-based discrimination claim and settled a jurisdictional issue in an arbitration dispute.

The Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Sept. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate confirms federal judges to seats in Georgia, New Jersey

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Sarah Elisabeth Geraghty and Georgette Castner as federal district court judges, the latest of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees to make it on to the federal bench.

Sarah Elisabeth Geraghty testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 1, 2021. Geraghty was confirmed as a district judge for the Northern District of Georgia on March 31, 2022. (Screenshot via Courthouse News)

Regional

LGBTQ group files suit against Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

Just three days after Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis passed a state law stifling public school discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity, a group of students, parents and educators filed objections to the legislation Thursday, citing violations to their due process, equal protection and First Amendment rights.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs the Parental Rights in Education bill at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills on March 28, 2022. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

LA County workers threaten strike, citing inflation

More than a thousand Los Angeles County employees rallied in downtown LA on Thursday, demanding substantial salary increases amid spiking inflation.

Nurses and other LA County employees at a rally in Downtown Los Angeles, hours before their contract is set to expire (Hillel Aron)

International

Russia moves to seize eastern Ukraine, Europe faces gas shortages

The war in Ukraine appears to be entering a new decisive phase as Russia’s army seeks to regroup and reinforce its troops in the long-running and entrenched battle over eastern Ukraine, which has been raging for eight years between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists.

A Ukrainian soldier stands on top of a destroyed Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Top EU court says vouchers can suffice after Covid concert cancellations

The EU’s top court sided with a German ticket seller on Thursday, finding a woman who wanted a refund for a canceled concert was only entitled to a voucher.

EU jobless rate dropped to 6.2% in February

Unemployment across the European Union continued to decline in February, hitting a 14-year low of 6.2%, the EU statistics agency Eurostat reported Thursday.