Author: Chronicle Editor

Planned Parenthood on Thursday announced it will close four of its 12 clinics in Iowa, after the new Republican-led Legislature cut its state funding this year. Local affiliate Planned Parenthood of the Heartland said the closings will hurt access to reproductive health care in Iowa, especially in rural areas. More than 14,600 people visited the impacted clinics located around the state in the past three years. “This is a case of extreme Iowa politicians deciding they know what’s better for a woman’s health than the women actually seeking care, with devastating consequences,” said Suzanna de Baca, president and CEO of…

An 18-year-old woman was killed and at least 22 people injured Thursday when a speeding car plowed into pedestrians in Manhattan’s bustling Times Square, city officials said. Police identified the woman as Alyssa Elsman, a resident of Portage, Michigan. The driver of the 2009 Honda Accord — Richard Rojas, 26, of the Bronx — tested positive for PCP and told police that God made him do it, a law enforcement source told CNN. The suspect, who suffered from “psychological issues,” told police he expected officers to shoot him, according to the source. Rojas has been arrested twice in New York…

Iranians began voting Friday in the country’s first presidential election since its nuclear deal with world powers, as incumbent Hassan Rouhani faced a staunch challenge from a hard-line opponent over his outreach to the wider world. The election is largely viewed as a referendum on the 68-year-old cleric’s more moderate policies, which paved the way for the nuclear accord despite opposition from hard-liners. Economic issues also will be on the minds of Iran’s over 56 million eligible voters as they head to more than 63,000 polling places across the country. The average Iranians has yet to see the benefits of…

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs says it has commenced investigation into the alleged lopsidedness in the recruitment of Cadet officers in the Department of State Services (DSS). The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Tijjani Kaura, who said this in a Point-of-Order at plenary on Thursday, promised that the committee would soon come up with its recommendations. Quoting Order 43 of the Senate Standing Order, to buttress his point, Kaura said the committee was prompted to commence investigation into the matter following petitions from some concerned Nigerians. He assured that the committee would stop at nothing to…

The artifact that represented goddess of fruitfulness reluctantly released by Nupe people to Niger State Museum and stolen some decades ago, has been found in Italy.‎ The Executive Director, Niger State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Emmanuel Zhiri, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna on Thursday. “This artifact was found in Italy recently by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Jonathan Vatsa’’, Zhiri said. Zhiri added that it would cost the state a “huge fortune,” to retrieve it.‎ Zhiri spoke on the sidelines of the 2017 Commemoration of the World Museum Day‎ with the theme:…

Harry Kane scored four times as Tottenham produced another superb performance to sweep aside Leicester City. Though Chelsea ended their Premier League title hopes last week, there was no let-up from Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who won for the 25th time in the league this season. Kane helped himself to two predatory goals from close range before rattling in twice from 20 yards in the last few minutes to move to 26 league goals for the campaign – two clear of Everton’s Romelu Lukaku. Son Heung-min also scored fine goals either side of half-time, volleying in Dele Alli’s masterful pass, and…

Screening points, detecting machines, hand sanitisers and other measures to prevent an Ebola outbreak in the country have yet to be provided at the Seme border. The World Health Organisation (WHO) last week announced the outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), prompting countries to raise their level of alertness. Several measures have been put in place at major airports in Nigeria to prevent the dreaded disease, but no such action was seen to prevent the disease at the border. Checks conducted by NAN showed that there were no screening points, sanitisers and detecting machines at…

Google says Nigerians searched mostly on the true status of President Muhammadu Buhari’s health, Mother’s Day celebrations and Bob Marley remembrance from May 11 to May 18. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager for Anglophone West Africa, said this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday. He said that the week under review had searches ranging from the health status on Buhari, Eugene Anenih’s wife and son’s deaths and Bob Marley’s day of remembrance. He said that others such as Chelsea FC, Mother’s Day celebrations and Runtown’s new hit song also trended on Google Nigeria search. Kola-Ogunlade…

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, May 18, signed three executive orders. The orders are to ease business, fast-track budget submissions and to promote Made in Nigeria products. A statement issued by the spokesman for the Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said the move will “significantly change some of the ways government business and operations are conducted in the country forthwith.” Before the signing, Osinbajo was said to have held an interactive session at the old Banquet Hall of Presidential Villa with all relevant government officials. The officials included ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of departments and agencies…

The Police Command in Kebbi has arrested a 37-year-old man, Danbaba Umar, in Kaoje, Bagudo Local Government Area, who specialises in exhuming corpses from graves for ritual purposes. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ibrahim Kabiru, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday that the arrest of the suspect followed a tip-off. He said Umar was arrested at about 3:30 a.m. at the Kaoje graveyard while attempting to exhume a male corpse for ritual purposes. He said the suspect confessed to the crime and revealed that he was sent to commit the act by one, Malam Muhammadu from…