Pope denounces Mafia, meets father of slain boy

CASSANO ALL’JONIO, Italy (AP) — Pope Francis journeyed Saturday to the heart of Italy’s biggest crime syndicate, met the father of a 3-year-old boy slain in the region’s drug war, and declared that all mobsters are…

Korean soldier said to kill 5 comrades

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean soldier killed five comrades Saturday night and wounded another five at the border with North Korea, a South Korean military official said.

Belarus rights chief freed from jail after 3 years

'Flowers for Algernon' author dies

Daniel Keyes, whose fascination with the workings of the mind drove a writing career that produced the classic 1966 novel “Flowers for Algernon,” died Sunday at his South Florida home of complications from pneumoni…

Arranger Johnny Mann dies

Grammy-winning conductor and arranger Johnny Mann, whose singing group was a staple of recordings and TV shows in the 1950s and ’60s, died Wednesday at his home in Anderson, S.C. He was 85.

Gund pledges $50 million for blindness research

COLUMBIA, Md. (AP) — Businessman and philanthropist Gordon Gund is pledging $50 million in matching donations as part of an effort to restore vision for some blind people.

Man thankful for deal in Central Park rape lawsuit

NEW YORK (AP) — One of five men exonerated in the Central Park jogger case is thanking New York Mayor Bill de Blasio for settling a lawsuit over their 1989 arrests.

Albuquerque protesters put chief 'on trial'

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Protesters advocating for drastic changes within a police agency criticized by the U.S. Justice Department over its use of force put the embattled police chief “on trial” during a rally Sat…

Outdoors writer lost on Mt. Rainier

Group challenges limit on what can be said about Ohio candidates

CINCINNATI (AP) — A national anti-abortion group wants a federal court to block an Ohio law barring people from knowingly or recklessly making false statements about candidates seeking elective office. 

Gay candidate in Maine leads pride parade

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Democratic candidate who reluctantly made public his homosexuality last year found himself serving as the grand marshal of Maine’s biggest gay pride parade and festival Saturday and urged a…

Fleeing Iraqis join large tide of refugees people

House backs limits on Obama's authority

 WASHINGTON (AP) — In an election-year challenge to President Barack Obama, the Republican-led House on Friday overwhelmingly approved a $570 billion defense bill that halts any Guantanamo transfers for a year amid…

Drones may be banned in 400 national parks

WASHINGTON — The National Park Service is taking steps to ban drones from 84 million acres of public lands and waterways, saying the unmanned aircraft annoy visitors, harass wildlife and threaten safety.

Obama expands federal benefits for gay couples

 WASHINGTON (AP) — A year after the Supreme Court struck down a law barring federal recognition of gay marriages, the Obama administration granted an array of new benefits Friday to same-sex couples, including thos…