The Dayton Daily News will keep you updated throughout the day day on the sequestration situation, both happenings in Washington DC and locally.

2:38 p.m.

From our partners at News Center 7: Col. Cassie Barlow, 88th Air Base Wing Commander at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, said her staff is still planning for sequestration but has no specifics to announce yet. Reduced hours for on-base facilities could come in the following days. Furloughs are still approximately 30 days away.

Barlow said there are dates set for certain events where decisions must be made. For example, the 88th must make a decision on the eighth annual Air Force Materiel Command Freedom’s Call Tattoo by the middle of April to determine if the June 29 event will go on.

One civilian base employee called people in Washington and Congress “babies” for not being able to work out a deal that affects so many people.

2:08 p.m.

From CNN: House Speaker John Boehner told reporters that the House will take up a measure next week to authorize federal funding beyond a March 27 deadline to prevent a potential partial government shutdown.

The funding measure is unconnected to the spending cuts, known in Washington jargon as sequestration, and Boehner reiterated his opposition to Obama’s call for more tax revenue to be part of any solution.

“I am hopeful we wont have to deal with the threat of a government shutdown while we are dealing with the sequester at the same time,” Boehner said.

12:16 p.m.

More info coming: Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter will brief the media on the status of the Department of Defense’s sequestration planning efforts at 3:30 p.m. EST, today, in the Pentagon Briefing Room.

12:15 p.m.

Obama name checks the Brent Spence Bridge, linking “John Boehner’s state” to “Mitch McConnell’s state.” The bridge, which takes Interstates 75 and 71 across the Ohio river, needs repair, Obama said.

Obama ends press conference

12:02 p.m.

Obama: The American people agreed with my approach. They want balanced deficit reform, but there is a gap between what Congress wants and what the American people want. When that happens, “eventually Congress catches up.”

“I can offer concessions and I can offer compromise. I can negotiate. What I can’t do is force Congress to do the right thing. The American people may have the capacity to do it.”

11:51 a.m.

Obama: we don’t want “dumb arbitrary cuts.”

He said he was prepared to do hard things, and to lean on Democrats to do hard things, but he will not allow middle class families, students and seniors to bear the total burden of debt reduction.

“It’s not fair, it’s not right. The American people don’t think it’s fair or right.”

He said he recognized that it’s hard for Republicans to be seen as making concessions to him, but he believed there is a genuine chance for compromise.

“It may be because of the politics in the Republican party, they cannot do it right.”

11:45 a.m.

Obama: “The longer these cuts remain in place, the larger the damage to our economy.”

Every time we get a piece of news about the economy in the coming weeks, it could have been better, had Congress decided to act.”

“Let’s be clear: None of this is necessary.”

He blamed Republicans, said they were unwilling to close tax loopholes that benefit the military.

Can’t let gridlock stop the business of government.

Will keep pushing for other measures, including “sensible” gun reforms.

Obama now taking questions from reporters

11:40 a.m.

Obama speaks on sequester, says Washington is not making things easy. Not everyone will feel the pain right away.

11:40 a.m.

Col. Cassie Barlow, 88th Air Base Wing Commander, will hold a press conference at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base at 2 p.m.

11:38 a.m.

President Barack Obama is expected to make a statement soon about the sequestration.