Mixed message in Ukraine...Direct talks with Iran ahead...Oprah: Angelou my spiritual queen mother

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's new president is calling for pro-Russian rebels in the country's east to lay down their arms and welcoming dialogue with the insurgents. But in his inaugural address today, Petro Poroshenko says he won't negotiate with "gangsters and killers." He also struck a defiant tone on the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, insisting it "was, is and will be Ukrainian."

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is reassembling key members of the diplomatic team that held secret negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, sending them to Geneva for direct talks with representatives from Tehran in hopes of making progress toward a comprehensive final deal. An interim deal reached in November limited Iran's uranium enrichment program in exchange for easing sanctions.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Oprah Winfrey says she struggled to put what Maya Angelou (MY'-uh AN'-juh-loh) meant into words, then realized she owed the poet not words, but actions. Speaking at a memorial service today at Wake Forest University, a sometimes tearful Winfrey called Angelou her spiritual queen mother, saying she always took notes when they spoke on the phone. Winfrey concluded that while she cannot fill Angelou's shoes, she can walk in her footsteps.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gay couples in Wisconsin are taking advantage of what may be a small window in which to get married. A federal judge overturned the state's same-sex marriage yesterday. But the state's attorney general has sought an emergency order to stop more marriage licenses from being issued. Dozens of gay couples got married at courthouses in Milwaukee and Madison this morning.

BOYERTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania school district has suspended a part-time aide after she tricked students into eating pet snacks by telling them they were cookies. About 75 fourth-graders at New Hanover-Upper Frederick Elementary School received the pet treats during recess Thursday. School officials haven't disclosed the type of pet treat but say the ingredients would only be harmful to people with certain food allergies.