PBS NewsHour

The Department of Education published a report that shows sweeping patterns of disparity by race in public schools across the country, including fewer advanced classes available to students of color and a disproportionately high percentage of suspensions. Hari Sreenivasan gets reaction from Catherine Lhamon, assistant secretary in the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education.

The overflow of information generated during a crisis like the Malaysian airliner gone missing can be just as paralyzing as the absence of information for those officials charged with searching. A crowdsourced search for Flight 370 harnesses the energy and time of the more than 3 million people who have volunteered to scour satellite imagery. Science correspondent Miles O’Brien reports.

In our news wrap Friday, the European Union strengthened ties with Ukraine by signing an agreement with that includes defense and trade cooperation, as well as imposing sanctions on officials in Russia and Crimea. Meanwhile, Putin completed the annexation of Crimea. Also, search planes scoured the Southern Indian Ocean in hopes of finding sign of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370.

The sluggish health care rollout, a president with struggling approval ratings and the influence of outside money all have Democrats worried about midterm elections. They could have a tough time taking back control of the House in November, while their hopes of holding onto their advantage in the Senate have dimmed. Gwen Ifill gets analysis from Amy Walter and Stuart Rothenberg.

Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair, the highest ranking U.S. military officer ever court martialed for sexual assault, pleaded guilty on charges of sexual misconduct and was fined $20,000, but will serve no jail time. Judy Woodruff gets details from Paul Woolverton of The Fayetteville Observer about the trial and the decision to pursue a plea deal.

There’s a multi-billion-dollar market that has been largely overlooked by Silicon Valley. But a new wave of tech startups have begun developing products for seniors and their caregivers, from redesigning canes and pill boxes, to a web-based app that helps keep an eye on elderly relatives. The NewsHour’s Cat Wise has the story.

Satellite cameras recorded two objects about 1,400 miles off the coast of Perth, Australia, in the Southern Indian Ocean, raising the possibility that they may be part of the missing Malaysian Airlines jet. But even with a more targeted area to focus on, the challenges of locating the aircraft are daunting. Gwen Ifill learns more from Andy Pasztor of The Wall Street Journal.

Debate is growing in Washington about the Obama administration’s response to the Ukraine crisis. Some argue the U.S. should have stood up more firmly to Putin, while others suggest that American actions may have provoked Russia. Judy Woodruff gets views on the efficacy of U.S. sanctions from David J. Kramer of Freedom House and Richard K. Betts of Columbia University.

President Obama announced new, expanded economic sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. In turn, the Kremlin announced sanctions against nine U.S. officials, including prominent politicians. Undeterred by Western pressure, the Russian parliament began approving the treaty to annex Crimea while pro-Russian forces seized Ukrainian war ships. Judy Woodruff reports.

In our news wrap Thursday, search aircraft and boats are investigating two objects spotted via satellite in the southern Indian Ocean. Officials warn they are “hopeful but cautious” that the debris could have come from the missing Malaysian Airlines plane. Also, California’s attorney general reported that the state leads the country in cyber hack attacks and identity theft.

Sixty works produced during the last two decades of Joan Miro's long life, never before exhibited in the United States, are currently on show. The famous abstract artist's late works feature the mixture of painting and sculpture and assemblages that conjure playful monsters. Chief arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown visits the Seattle Art Museum.

Each generation leaves a unique imprint. “The Next America: Boomers, Millennials, and the Looming Generational Showdown” sheds light on how today’s youngest adults differ from and clash with their parents and grandparents. Author Paul Taylor of the Pew Research Center joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what distinguishes today’s Americans aged 18-33.

In her first news conference, Janet Yellen announced that the Federal Reserve will continue its suppression of short-term interest rates. Yellen, who was the Fed’s vice-chair under Ben Bernanke, also discussed how her role has changed. Gwen Ifill gets an assessment of Yellen’s remarks from David Wessel of the Brookings Institution.

In recent years, increased flooding has been a stark wake up call for people living in South Florida. Projections calculated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicate sea levels will rise 9 to 24 inches by 2060 in that vulnerable region. Special correspondent Kwame Holman narrates this look by WPBT at how local governments are trying to prepare for the effects of climate change.

Chief foreign correspondent Margaret Warner is in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, where fierce street battles have erupted between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian supporters. Judy Woodruff interviews Margaret about Kiev’s plan to pull its troops from Crimea, and the biggest challenges Ukraine’s new government faces in garnering support across the country.