National News

National News

Crossing the border into Peace Arch State Park from Canada, at left, entails stepping across a ditch. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Couples And Families Separated By U.S.-Canada Border Closure Find Oasis At Peace Arch Park

This coming Sunday, March 21, will mark one year since the U.S. and Canada closed their shared border to nonessential crossings due to the pandemic. It’s anybody’s guess when the border might reopen for discretionary trips. In the meantime, every weekend rain or shine, Peace Arch State Park in Blaine, Washington, becomes a happening meetup point for couples and families separated by the northern border.

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Pope Francis holds a mass to mark 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, on March 14, 2021 at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / POOL / AFP) (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Vatican Says Catholic Church Cannot Bless Same-Sex Marriages

The Roman Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex marriages, no matter how stable or positive the couples’ relationships are, the Vatican said on Monday. The message, approved by Pope Francis, came in response to questions about whether the church should reflect the increasing social and legal acceptance of same-sex unions.

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Sisters Seri Sedlacek, left, and Susan Simpkins look in on their father, Chuck Sedlacek, at the Life Care Center, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, in Kirkland. Shuksan Healthcare Center in Bellingham is working to avoid what happened at the Kirkland facility. CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP

4 Ways Our Understanding Of The Coronavirus Has Changed A Year Into The Pandemic

This month marks one year since the coronavirus pandemic swiftly upended daily life in the United States. In 2020, March brought about emergency declarations and indefinite school closures, followed by record unemployment claims and dozens of stay-at-home orders. By the end of the month, millions of people were either told to stay inside under lockdown or continue carrying out work deemed essential to keep society running.

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