California lawmakers vote to fast-track low-income housing on churches’ lands (apnews.com)
Religious institutions and nonprofit colleges in California could soon turn their parking lots and other properties into low-income housing to help combat the ongoing homeless crisis, lawmakers voted on Thursday....
Police in Ohio fatally shot a pregnant shoplifting suspect (apnews.com)
Police in a Columbus suburb fatally shot a pregnant woman in an Ohio supermarket parking lot after she accelerated her car toward an officer, police officials said....
Japan plans to release Fukushima water as early as August 24th (apnews.com)
Australian ex-priest has prison sentence extended to 40 years for molesting 72nd child victim (apnews.com)
An Australian ex-priest convicted of sexually abusing children had another 12 months added to his 39-year prison sentence on Tuesday for molesting a 72nd victim.
AP: Utah man suspected of threatening President Joe Biden shot and killed as FBI served warrant (apnews.com)
The Associated Press: A teen was falling asleep during a courtroom field trip. She ended up in cuffs and jail clothes (apnews.com)
A teenager on a field trip to see a Detroit court ended up in jail clothes and handcuffs because a judge said he didn’t like her attitude....
Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan clinches first Olympic medal amid outcry tied to gender misconceptions (apnews.com)
Boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan clinched her first Olympic medal Sunday in front of a crowd that chanted her name at the Paris Games, one day after fellow boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria secured one as well following days of online abuse and intense scrutiny about their participation....
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is killed in Iran by an alleged Israeli strike, threatening escalation (apnews.com)
Fisker files for bankruptcy protection, the second electric vehicle maker to do so in the past year (apnews.com)
Electric vehicle maker Fisker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the second electric startup to do so in the last year as even industry leaders struggle to lure more buyers beyond the early adapters of the technology....
Israel threatens to strike Iran directly if Iran launches attack from its territory (apnews.com)
Israel’s foreign minister threatened Wednesday that his country’s forces would strike Iran directly if the Islamic Republic launched an attack from its territory against Israel, as tensions between the rival powers flare following the killings of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria....
No charges to be filed in fight involving Oklahoma nonbinary teen Nex Benedict, prosecutor says (apnews.com)
An Oklahoma district attorney said Thursday he doesn’t plan to file any charges in the case of Nex Benedict, the nonbinary 16-year-old Owasso teenager whose death following a fight in a high school bathroom was ruled a suicide....
Colorado man died from pet Gila monster's venomous bite, autopsy shows (apnews.com)
A Colorado man who was placed on life support after he was bitten by his pet Gila monster died of complications from the desert lizard’s venom, an autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press on Friday confirmed....
Trump wants to install new RNC leadership, including his daughter-in-law as co-chair (apnews.com)
Current RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel says she has no plans to leave the committee until at least after South Carolina’s Feb. 24 primary election....
As police lose the war on crime in South Africa, private security companies step in (apnews.com)
The right to protest is under threat in Britain, undermining a pillar of democracy (apnews.com)
Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, has died at 93 (apnews.com)
The court says she died in Phoenix on Friday, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness....
Federal agency sues Chipotle after a Kansas manager allegedly ripped off an employee's hijab (apnews.com)
A federal agency has sued the restaurant chain Chipotle, accusing it of religious harassment and retaliation after a manager at a Kansas location forcibly removed an employee’s hijab, a headscarf worn by some Muslim women....
A 96-year-old federal judge is barred from hearing cases in a bitter fight over her mental fitness (apnews.com)
A 96-year-old U.S. federal appeals court judge was barred Wednesday from hearing cases for a year after a panel said she refused to undergo medical testing amid concerns that she is no longer mentally fit to serve on the bench....
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs law restricting release of her travel, security records (apnews.com)
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law Thursday restricting release of her travel and security records after the Legislature wrapped up a special session marked by a fight to more broadly scale back the state Freedom of Information Act....
After nearly 30 years, Pennsylvania will end state funding for anti-abortion counseling centers (apnews.com)
Pennsylvania plans to end on Dec. 31 its longstanding contract with the nonprofit Real Alternatives, the first organization in the nation to secure significant state and federal subsidies to support anti-abortion counseling centers. Under the program, Real Alternatives distributed the state and federal funds to dozens of...
Olympic triathletes swim in Seine River after days of concerns about water quality (apnews.com)
After days of water-quality concerns caused by heavy rains last week put the swimming portion of the Olympic triathlons in doubt, the women dove into the Seine River on Wednesday under gray skies that lingered following an early-morning drizzle, followed by the men a few hours later....
Beryl bears down on Texas, where it’s expected to hit Monday and regain hurricane strength (apnews.com)
Israel's high court orders the army to draft ultra-Orthodox men, rattling Netanyahu's government (apnews.com)
Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition as Israel continues to wage war in Gaza....
Families of Uvalde school shooting victims are suing Texas state police over botched response (apnews.com)
The families of 19 of the victims in the Uvalde elementary school shooting in Texas on Wednesday filed a $500 million federal lawsuit against nearly 100 state police officers who were part of the botched law enforcement response to one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history....