Pope Francis urges open dialogue on family issues
VATICAN CITY — Setting the tone for a two-week meeting of Roman Catholic bishops, Pope Francis on Monday urged participants to speak openly and clearly, without fear of censure. He also called on the participants to listen to each other with humility and to respect differing opinions.
Virginia issues licenses to same-sex couples
ARLINGTON, Va. — Virginia began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Monday, hours after the Supreme Court’s surprise decision letting such marriages stand in five states.
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The University of Florida announced Monday that quarterback Treon Harris, a true freshman who came off the bench to lead the Gators to a victory Saturday, had been suspended “from all team activities” after a female student accused him of sexually assaulting her early Sunday morning in a residence hall.
New Wal-Mart program aims to enhance food sustainability
Walmart announced an initiative Monday to reduce the environmental impact of the food it sells and help its customers improve the nutrition in their diets.
Bad news for those sick of rain
Last night, the high pressure system that gave us sunny weather over the past two days slid offshore, taking the clear skies and dry weather with it. The dominant feature over the next two days will be a low pressure system currently spinning over Ontario, trailing a cold front to its south. Rain will be likely tonight and tomorrow morning ahead of this front. Otherwise, today and tomorrow you can expect cloudy skies and a high temperature around 70°F (21°C).
Infected nurse in Spain shows faults in Ebola defense
BARCELONA, Spain — A nurse in Spain has become the first health worker to be infected with the Ebola virus outside of West Africa, raising serious concerns about how prepared Western nations are to safely treat people with the deadly illness.
Rainy Saturday could dampen weekend plans
There is a chance of rain this weekend as a Low in the Great Lakes region sweeps cold air in our direction. The most rain (up to 0.50 in) is likely to hit late in the evening Saturday and pass by Sunday morning, so don’t completely write off your outdoor weekend plans yet. Clear skies and a moderately warm day (mid/upper 60s °F) should follow the wet weather on Sunday. This kind of weather associated with the passing of fronts is likely to be the norm over the coming weeks.
Refiners say they can handle light, sweet crude from US wells
WASHINGTON – Refiners opposed to oil exports said Thursday they have more than enough plants and equipment to process the light, sweet crude flowing out of U.S. wells, countering the chief argument of oil producers hoping for a new era of overseas sales.
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DONETSK, Ukraine — Rocket fire slammed into an elementary school and a city bus here on Wednesday morning, killing nine people, while fighting continued to rage at the Donetsk airport.
FDA finds antibiotics use in livestock is rising
The amount of antibiotics sold for use in livestock rose substantially in recent years, according to the Food and Drug Administration, a pattern that experts said was troubling given the efforts to battle antibiotic resistance in humans.
Satellite shows North Korea has upgraded launch station
SEOUL, South Korea — Recent commercial satellite imagery indicates that North Korea has finished upgrading its main satellite launching station, which is widely believed to be a test site for its intercontinental ballistic missile program, a U.S. research institute said Wednesday.
US to increase production of experimental Ebola drug
U.S. federal officials are planning to sharply increase production of ZMapp, which is viewed by many experts as the most promising experimental drug for treating people stricken by Ebola in West Africa.
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On Sept. 27, a pilot spotted a semicircular mass of moving bodies near Point Lay, Alaska. Pacific walruses, an estimated 35,000 of them, had pulled up tusk to tail on the beach. These animals like to come together in large numbers for protection and proximity. But scientists who study them are worried by gatherings like these because land is not the walrus’ preferred place to rest.
Protests erupt in Syria over bombings that killed children
BEIRUT — Protesters in the western Syrian city of Homs on Thursday demanded the ouster of the provincial governor and posted images of their demonstrations on social media — just as in the early days of the Syrian upheaval in 2011, before protests and crackdowns turned to war.
Arrival of October heralds transition to autumn
As September ends, the weather patterns in New England are undergoing a transition from a summer-like pattern, in which forecasts are dominated by sunshine and sea breezes punctuated by occasional showers, to a more fall-like pattern, in which temperatures and precipitation begin to fluctuate more wildly with the comings and goings of frontal systems. October also signals a general cool-down: While temperatures in Boston reached 87°F (31°C) this past Sunday, normal high temperatures will dip down to the mid-50s °F by the end of the month.
Vatican investigating convicted US bishop
The only U.S. bishop ever convicted of shielding a pedophile priest is now under investigation by the Vatican.
SCOTUS blocks order restoring early voting in Ohio
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday blocked an appeals court ruling that would have restored seven days of early voting in Ohio.
Deaths tied to flawed GM ignition rise to 23
The number of deaths linked to General Motors’ defective ignition switch has risen again — to 23, according to figures posted Monday by the program set up to compensate victims.
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Fifteen people were shot and wounded, one critically, at a nightclub in Miami early Sunday, officials said.
Hong Kong protesters defy officials’ call to disperse
HONG KONG — A wave of protest in Hong Kong further engulfed the city Monday as thousands of residents defied a government call to abandon street blockades, students boycotted classes and the city’s influential bar association added its condemnation of a police crackdown on protesters.