National News - The Morning Sun

A sign for SLB, formerly Schlumberger, is displayed at the building on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Houston. Major American providers, the largest being SLB, of oilfield services supplied Russia with millions of dollars in equipment for months after its invasion of Ukraine, helping to sustain a critical part of its economy even as Western nations launched sanctions aimed at starving the Russian war effort. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Top US firms supplied equipment to keep Russian oil flowing after Ukraine invasion

America's top oilfield services companies sold millions of dollars in vital oil equipment to Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. The largest, SLB, maintained and even grew its business after others … more

By ED DAVEY | 7/18/23

Shoppers glide past a display of big-screen televisions in a Costco warehouse on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Sheridan, Colo. On Tuesday, July 18, the Commerce Department releases U.S. retail sales data for June. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Americans increase spending modestly in June as inflation eases and the job market remains strong

Americans increased their spending modestly last month as inflation eased in many areas and the job market remains remarkably strong. Retail sales rose 0.2% from May to June, following a revised 0.5% … more

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO, PAUL WISEMAN and DEE-ANN DURBIN | 7/18/23

Gray Tarry, bottom left, an archeological field technician for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, digs on an archeological excavation site in Kisatchie National Forest, La., Wednesday, June 7, 2023. This summer, archaeologists have been gingerly digging up the ground at the site in Vernon Parish to unearth and preserve the evidence of prehistoric occupation. The site was found by surveyors in 2003, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Hurricanes Laura and Delta uprooted trees and exposed some of the artifacts. Further damage has been done by looters making unauthorized digs. Forest officials say the site shows evidence of generations of people living in the area going back 12,000 years. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Archaeologists in Louisiana save artifacts dating back 12,000 years from natural disasters, looters

Archaeologists have been gingerly digging up the ground at a site in central Louisiana this summer to unearth and preserve evidence of prehistoric occupation. The U.S. Forest Service.says the site in … more

By STEPHEN SMITH and KEVIN McGILL | 7/18/23

No injuries as jetliner's evacuation slide falls in Chicago neighborhood near O'Hare, officials say

Authorities say an emergency evacuation slide fell from an airliner and landed in the backyard of a home near Chicago's O’Hare International Airport on Monday. There were no reports of injuries. … more

7/17/23

A hiker photographs the sun rising over the Valley atop South Mountain, Monday, July 17, 2023 Phoenix. Phoenix is set to break its own record for consecutive days of highs of at least 110 degrees. Around one-third of Americans are under some type of heat advisory, with the most blistering temperatures in the South and West, where even the regular simmer has turned up a notch. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Phoenix's long simmering heat poised to break records for relentless high temperatures

A relentless, dangerous streak of temperatures hitting 110 degrees or more is poised to smash a record for Phoenix and for major U.S. cities showing that Earth’s summer swelter is as persistent as … more

By SETH BORENSTEIN and ANITA SNOW | 7/17/23

Activist Hannah Riley works on her laptop at Muchacho, a local taco restaurant, while gathering signatures from fellow voters, in Atlanta, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Organizers are trying to force a referendum that would allow voters to decide the fate of a proposed police and training center, but attorneys for the city say the petition drive is invalid. (AP Photo/R.J. Rico)

Atlanta petition drive to stop 'Cop City' is 'futile,' city's attorneys argue

Attorneys for the city of Atlanta say an ongoing petition drive to halt the construction of a police and firefighter training center is “futile” and “invalid." In a court filing Monday, city … more

By R.J. RICO | 7/17/23

Citing Trump case, Pentagon leak suspect Teixeira urges judge to release him while he awaits trial

The Massachusetts Air National Guard member accused of leaking secret military papers is challenging a judge’s decision that he remain behind bars. Jack Teixeira is pointing to the pretrial release … more

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER | 7/17/23

FILE - A Portland police vehicle is parked at a crime scene in Portland, Ore., on March 12, 2014. Authorities in Oregon say the deaths of four women whose bodies were found over three months starting in February 2023, with the last one found in May, are linked and that at least one person of interest has been identified. In Portland, the Multnomah County District Attorney's office says no charges have been filed against anyone but added that the community is not currently in any danger. (Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian via AP, File)

Deaths of four Oregon women over three months are linked, authorities say

Authorities in Oregon say the deaths of four women whose bodies were found over three months are linked and that at least one person of interest has been identified. In Portland, the Multnomah County … more

By ANDREW SELSKY | 7/17/23

A Star of David hangs from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the day a federal jury announced they had found Robert Bowers, who in 2018 killed 11 people at the synagogue, eligible for the death penalty. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Jurors weighing fate of Pittsburgh synagogue killer hear of the devastation he left behind

A prosecutor is asking jurors to impose a death sentence on the gunman who killed 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue, saying Robert Bowers targeted them because of their faith and has never … more

7/17/23

A youth jumps in the water to cool off on a sweltering hot day in the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

AP PHOTOS: Around the world, millions feel the heat of an unrelenting summer

Heat records are being shattered all over the world and the summer swelter keeps coming. Around one-third of Americans are under some type of heat advisory, with the most blistering temperatures … more

By The Associated Press | 7/17/23

In this handout photo taken from video released by Investigative Committee of Russia on Monday, July 17, 2023, investigators work at an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait not far from Kerch, Crimea. Traffic on the key bridge connecting Crimea to Russia's mainland was halted on Monday, July 17, after reports of explosions that Crimean officials said were from a Ukrainian attack. (Investigative Committee of Russia via AP)

The bridge that links Russia to Crimea is key to supplying the Ukraine war and for asserting control

The bridge connecting Russia-annexed Crimea to Russia carries heavy significance for Moscow both logistically and psychologically, as a key artery for Russian military and civilian supplies bound for … more

The Associated Press | 7/17/23

In this photo taken from video released by Belarusian Defense Ministry via VoenTV on Friday, July 14, 2023, Belarusian soldiers attend a training by mercenary fighters from Wagner private military company near Tsel village, about 90 kilometers (about 55 miles) southeast of Minsk, Belarus. Mercenary fighters from the Wagner private military company are training Belarusian soldiers in Belarus, the country's Defense Ministry said Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he offered the Wagner private military company the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under their same commander. (Belarusian Defense Ministry via VoenTV via AP)

Flying Russian flags, more Wagner troops roll into Belarus as part of deal that ended their mutiny

More mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner military contractor have rolled into Belarus, continuing their relocation to the ex-Soviet nation following last month’s short-lived mutiny. Belaruski Hajun, … more

By The Associated Press | 7/17/23

This photo released by Ostorozhno Novosti on Monday, July 17, 2023, reportedly shows damaged parts of an automobile link of the Crimean Bridge connecting Russian mainland and Crimean peninsula over the Kerch Strait not far from Kerch, Crimea. Traffic on the key bridge connecting Crimea to Russia's mainland was halted on Monday, July 17, after reports of explosions that Crimean officials said were from a Ukrainian attack.(Ostorozhno Novosti via AP)

Traffic on key bridge from Crimea to Russia's mainland halted after attack that kills 2

Traffic on the key bridge connecting Crimea to Russia’s mainland has been halted after one of its sections was blown up in what Russian officials say was a Ukrainian attack that also killed a … more

By The Associated Press | 7/17/23

In this image from video provided by the U.S. Senate, Aileen M. Cannon speaks remotely during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight nomination hearing to be U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on July 29, 2020, in Washington. The judge presiding over the federal prosecution of former President Donald Trump, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, takes the bench in the case for the first time this week as she and lawyers for both sides discuss the procedures for handling classified information in the case. (U.S. Senate via AP)

Judge in Trump documents case under the spotlight as arguments near

A month after former President Donald Trump was charged with mishandling classified documents, the judge presiding over the case is set to take on a more visible role as she weighs competing requests … more

By ERIC TUCKER and ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON | 7/17/23

Flowers rest near the scene, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Fargo, N.D., where one police officer was fatally shot and two others were critically wounded Friday, July 14. Authorities have said the suspect was also killed in the shooting, and a civilian was injured. (AP Photo/Jack Dura).

Many questions after police say gunman fired on officers in North Dakota, killing 1 and wounding 2

Many questions remain about what led a gunman in Fargo, North Dakota, to open fire on police as they were responding to a traffic crash. One officer was killed and two others were critically wounded … more

By HANNAH FINGERHUT | 7/16/23

A flash flood on a Pennsylvania road claims 4 lives; 3 others, including a baby, are missing

A sudden flash flood swamped a southeastern Pennsylvania road, sweeping several cars away and claiming at least three lives. Four other people, including a 9-month-old child, remained missing, … more

The Associated Press | 7/16/23

FILE - Evan Milligan, center, plaintiff in Merrill v. Milligan, an Alabama redistricting case that could have far-reaching effects on minority voting power across the United States, speaks with reporters following oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Washington, Oct. 4, 2022. Alabama lawmakers convene Monday, July 17, 2023 to draw a new congressional map. The directive comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the lower court’s ruling that Alabama’s existing congressional map — with a single Black district — likely violated the Voting Rights Act. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Alabama rushes to adopt new congressional map amid disagreement on what district should look like

Alabama lawmakers convene Monday to draw a new congressional map. The directive comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the lower court’s ruling that Alabama’s existing … more

By KIM CHANDLER | 7/16/23

2024 GOP candidates desperate to make debate stage are finding creative ways to boost donor numbers

With six weeks until the first 2024 Republican presidential debate, some hopefuls are finding creative ways to boost their donor numbers and ensure they make it on stage. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek … more

By MEG KINNARD | 7/16/23

Ukraine bides its time in its counteroffensive, trying to stretch Russian forces before striking

The first phase of Ukraine's counteroffensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory after more than 16 months of war began weeks ago without fanfare. Kyiv has claimed that its troops are edging … more

By The Associated Press | 7/16/23

FILE - Law enforcement and emergency personnel examine an object on the side of the road, center, near Jones Beach on April 11, 2011, in Wantagh, N.Y. A Long Island architect has been charged, Friday, July 14, 2023, with murder in the deaths of three of the 11 victims in a long-unsolved string of killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Arrest of suspect in Long Island serial killings brings both pain and relief to victims' families

Families of several women who were slain and dumped along the coastline of New York's Long Island are trying to find closure after the capture of a man who authorities say is responsible. Police on … more

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN | 7/16/23