National News - The Morning Sun

FILE - Tenor Placido Domingo, left, appears with soprano Renata Scotto in a backstage dressing room prior their opening night performance of Vincenzo Bellini's "Norma" at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York on Sept. 22, 1981. Scotto, a soprano of uncommon intensity who became a successful director after her singing career, died Wednesday in her hometown of Savona, Italy. She was 89. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Richter, File)

Renata Scotto, soprano of uncommon intensity, dies at 89

Soprano Renata Scott has died at age 89, Scotto’s New York-based manager, Robert Lombardo, said she died Wednesday in her hometown of Savona, Italy. Scotto was a singer of uncommon intensity who … more

By RONALD BLUM | 8/16/23

Surgeons at NYU Langone Health prepare to transplant a pig's kidney into a brain-dead man in New York on July 14, 2023. Researchers around the country are racing to learn how to use animal organs to save human lives. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

Pig kidney works in a donated body for over a month, a step toward animal-human transplants

New York surgeons transplanted a pig's kidney into a brain-dead man and for over a month it's worked normally. The experiment at NYU Langone Health marks the longest a pig kidney has functioned in a … more

By LAURAN NEERGAARD | 8/16/23

This photo provided by The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology shows "Oetzi the Iceman," one of the oldest human glacier mummies. Decades after he was discovered in the Italian Alps, scientists determined that Oetzi was mostly descended from farmers from present day Turkey, and his head was balder and skin darker than what was initially thought, according to a study published Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, in the journal Cell Genomics. (Marco Samadelli, Gregor Staschitz/South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology/EURAC via AP)

Fresh look at DNA from Oetzi the Iceman traces his roots to present day Turkey

New research takes another look at the DNA of the famous glacier mummy to paint a better picture of the ancient hunter. Oetzi the Iceman died more than 5,000 years ago in the Italian Alps. His body … more

By MADDIE BURAKOFF | 8/16/23

The Goodhue council convenes for a special meeting to address the police department in Goodhue, Minn. The small town will soon be without a police department, an exodus spurred by low pay for the chief and his officers. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP)

Small Minnesota town will be without police after chief and officers resign, citing low pay

A small Minnesota town will soon be without a police department. The exodus was spurred by low pay for the chief and his officers. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Goodhue police chief … more

8/16/23

Charles McGonigal, former special agent in charge of the FBI's counterintelligence division in New York, arrives to Manhattan federal court in New York, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ex-FBI counterintelligence official pleads guilty to conspiracy charge for helping Russian oligarch

A former high-ranking FBI counterintelligence official has pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in a New York. He admited that he helped a Russian oligarch seek dirt on a wealthy rival, in … more

By LARRY NEUMEISTER | 8/16/23

FILE - North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper affixes his veto stamp to a bill banning nearly all abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy at a public rally, May 13, 2023, in Raleigh, N.C. Transgender rights take center stage in North Carolina again Wednesday, Aug. 16, as GOP supermajorities in the General Assembly attempt to override the governor's vetoes of legislation banning gender-affirming health care for minors and limiting transgender participation in school sports. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum, File)

North Carolina GOP seeks to override governor's veto of bill banning gender-affirming care for youth

Transgender rights are taking center stage in North Carolina as the GOP-controlled General Assembly plans votes Wednesday seeking to override the governor’s veto of legislation banning … more

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM | 8/16/23

This image provided by the Meriden, Conn., Police Department shows a kitten that was found in a stolen car that police were examining for evidence, and now they are looking for his owner. The gray-and-white male cat was perched under a seat in the stolen vehicle, which collided with a police car during a chase Thursday, Aug. 10, the Meriden Police Department said on its Facebook page Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. (Meriden Police Department via AP)

Cat's out of the bag: Kitten turns up in a stolen car in Connecticut

Police who were examining a stolen car for evidence made a surprising find: a kitten. Now they are looking for his owner. The Meriden Police Department said on its Facebook page Monday that the … more

8/15/23

FILE - This undated photo released by the County of Maui shows Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. Pelletier has been pleading for patience while bodies of victims of Hawaii’s deadly wildfires are found and identified. He has also recalled the excruciating experience of notifying relatives after another sudden and massive tragedy nearly six years ago, in Las Vegas. (Shane Tegarden/County of Maui via AP, File)

Maui police chief pleads for patience, recalls pain of victim IDs after deadly Vegas mass shooting

The police chief in Maui has been pleading for patience while bodies of victims of Hawaii’s deadly wildfires are found and identified. He has also recalled the excruciating experience of notifying … more

By KEN RITTER | 8/15/23

FILE- A front window is boarded up at the Planned Parenthood Health Center at 2709 Knoxville Avenue in Peoria, Ill., on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Tyler W. Massengill of Chillicothe, Ill. pleaded guilty Thursday, Feb 16, 2023, to “malicious use of fire” to damage the Planned Parenthood clinic last month, federal law enforcement said. (Matt Dayhoff/Journal Star via AP)

Man sent to prison for 10 years for setting a fire at an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic

A man who set a fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. A judge went slightly above the sentencing guidelines but below the possible maximum … more

8/15/23

HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on multifunction printers when ink runs low

HP Inc. has failed to shunt aside claims in a lawsuit that it disables scanners and other functions on its multifunction printers whenever the ink runs low. The suit claims that HP's so-called … more

By DAVID HAMILTON | 8/15/23

A man walks past a currency exchange office in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. Russia’s central bank made a big interest rate hike of 3.5 percentage points on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, an emergency move designed to fight inflation and strengthen the ruble after the country's currency reached its lowest value since early in the war with Ukraine. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russia's ruble has tumbled. What does it mean for the wartime economy?

The Russian ruble has fallen a long way in recent months, and the country's central bank is stepping in to halt the slide. It also wants to stop the inflation that a weaker currency can cause. … more

By DAVID McHUGH | 8/15/23

Items are displayed in a boutique along Tennyson Street Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in northwest Denver. The Commerce Department releases U.S. retail sales data for July. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Retail sales rise 0.7% in July from June as inflation continues to ease

Americans increased their spending last month as inflation continued to ease on eggs, electronics, used cars and other items, and the job market remains healthy. Retail sales rose 0.7% in July from … more

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO | 8/15/23

Wildfire wreckage is seen Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Nearly a week after Maui wildfire, islanders survey the aftermath and look ahead to long recovery

The wildfire that swept across Maui nearly a week ago turned one of the nation’s most celebrated island vistas into an ashen moonscape and killed at least 99 people, a number that officials warn … more

By The Associated Press | 8/15/23

FILE - Ladies from the Queen of Peace Church walk to the stage to pray the rosary during the memorial service of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén at the Cesar Chavez High School on Aug. 14, 2020, in Houston. A federal judge has sentenced a Texas woman Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, to 30 years in prison for helping to dispose of the body of U.S. soldier Guillén. The 2020 killing led to changes in how women in the military can report sexual abuse. (Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle via AP, Pool, File)

Texas woman who helped hide US soldier Vanessa Guillén’s body sentenced to 30 years in prison

A federal judge has sentenced a Texas woman to 30 years in prison for helping to dispose of the body of a U.S. soldier. The 2020 killing led to changes in how women in the military can report sexual … more

By ACACIA CORONADO | 8/14/23

In this photo provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a woman looks over a flooded street in Marble Hill, Mo., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. Unconfirmed reports indicated that up to 8 inches of rain fell early Monday in a rural area of southeastern Missouri, forcing water rescues and shutting down several roads. No one died in the flooding. (Courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol via AP)

Water rescues, campground evacuations after rains flood parts of southeastern Missouri

A drenching storm has dropped several inches of rain in a short time in an area of southeastern Missouri, shutting down roads and prompting several water rescues. Unconfirmed reports of up to 8 … more

8/14/23

FILE - The logos of the Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS are pictured in Zurich, Switzerland, June 12, 2023. In an announcement made on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, UBS will pay U.S. authorities $1.44 billion to settle the last lingering legal case over Wall Street's role in the housing bubble of the early 2000s, which ultimately led to the 2008 financial crisis and Great Recession. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP, File)

UBS to pay $1.44 billion to settle 2007 financial crisis-era mortgage fraud case, last of such cases

UBS will pay U.S. authorities $1.44 billion to settle the last lingering legal case over Wall Street’s role in the housing bubble of the early 2000s, which ultimately led to the 2008 financial … more

By KEN SWEET | 8/14/23

A pilot and crew member escaped serious injury when they ejected from a vintage Soviet jet that crashed during a Michigan air show Sunday, officials said. (Aug. 14)

Pilot noticed loss of power before crash of Cold War plane at Michigan show

A pilot and a crew member are recovering from the crash of a Soviet Cold War-era fighter plane at an air show in Michigan. The National Transportation Safety Board says the pilot noticed a loss of … more

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER and ED WHITE | 8/14/23

FILE - U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland makes a point as he speaks to members of the house of delegates of the American Bar Association at the group's annual meeting, Aug. 7, 2023, in Denver. New guidance from the Biden administration on Monday urges colleges to use a range of strategies to promote racial diversity on campus after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in admissions. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Biden administration urges colleges to pursue racial diversity without affirmative action

New guidance from the Biden administration urges colleges to use a range of strategies to promote racial diversity on their campuses after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in … more

By COLLIN BINKLEY | 8/14/23

Deputy Chief Larry Snelling, center, talks with officers before a prayer service in memory of Officer Ella French outside the 22nd District, 1900 W. Monterey Ave., on Aug. 11, 2021, in Chicago. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, named Snelling, the police department's counterterrorism head, as his choice for police superintendent of the nation's third-largest city. (John J. Kim/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago mayor to introduce the police department’s counterterrorism head as new superintendent

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will introduce the police department’s counterterrorism head as his choice for police superintendent of the nation’s third-largest city. Larry Snelling is expected … more

8/14/23

CORRECTS SPELLING OF LAST NAME TO SAMISONI INSTEAD OF SAMISANI - Taufa Samisoni, right, and his wife Katalina speak after attending Mass at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua, Hawaii on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. Taufa Samisoni's uncle, aunt, cousin and cousin's 7-year-old son died in a wildlife that burned most of the Maui town of Lahaina. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)

A family of four, a retired fire captain and his dog. These are some of the lives lost in Maui

Wildfires have devastated parts of Maui in Hawaii this week, leaving a trail of destruction and devastation, decimating a historic town. While many wait in agony for news on whether their friends and … more

By PAT EATON-ROBB and BEATRICE DUPUY | 8/14/23