AP-Newswatch

Post-Tropical Storm Hilary pushes into Nevada after drenching Southern California

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tropical Storm Hilary drenched Southern California from the coast to the desert resort city of Palm Springs, forcing rescuers to pull several people from swollen rivers, before heading east and flooding a county about 40 miles outside of Las Vegas. Hilary weakened to a post-tropical storm early Monday. The storm first made landfall in Mexico’s arid Baja California Peninsula on Sunday in a sparsely populated area about 150 miles south of Ensenada. One person drowned. It then moved through mudslide-prone Tijuana. The first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, Hilary dropped more than half an average year’s worth of rain on some areas.

Female soldiers in Army special operations face rampant sexism and harassment, military report says

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new report says female soldiers face rampant sexism, sexual harassment and other gender-related challenges in male dominated Army special operations units. The report on Monday comes eight years after the Pentagon opened all combat jobs to women. U.S. Army Special Operations Command reports a wide range of “overtly sexist” comments from male soldiers, including a broad aversion to females serving in commando units. It says the comments are “not outliers” but represent a common sentiment that females don’t belong on special operations teams. Several recommendations involving increased training to expand awareness of sexual harassment, mentorship, health care and other issues have been completed. Others are in progress.

British nurse Lucy Letby imprisoned for life in murders of 7 babies and attempted murders of 6

LONDON (AP) — A British judge has sentenced a former neonatal nurse to spend the rest of her life in prison for killing seven babies and attempting to kill six others at a hospital in northern England. Justice James Goss gave 33-year-old Lucy Letby the most severe sentence possible under British law on Monday. Following 22 days of deliberation, a Manchester Crown Court jury convicted Letby of murdering the seven babies over a yearlong period that saw her prey on the vulnerabilities of sick newborns and their anxious parents. Letby refused to appear in court to face her sentencing or to hear grieving parents share their anger and anguish.

A right-wing sheriffs group that challenges federal law is gaining acceptance around the country

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A national group of sheriffs that claims the top law enforcers in American counties are not bound by federal law has successfully spread its doctrine to dozens of states in recent years. A new investigation has found that this sheriffs group has mainstreamed its status in part by securing state accreditation for its taxpayer-funded law enforcement training.

The initial online search spurring a raid on a Kansas paper was legal, a state agency says

MARION, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Department of Revenue spokesperson says the initial online search of a state website that led a central Kansas police chief to raid a local weekly newspaper was legal. Spokesperson Zack Denney said Monday that it’s legal to access the agency’s driver’s license database using information obtained independently. The department issues licenses and its site requires a person’s date of birth and driver’s license number to get information. The Marion, Kansas, police chief led a raid Aug. 11 on the Marion County Record’s offices after a local restaurant owner accused the newspaper of illegally accessing information about her. The police chief has said he has evidence of possible identity theft and computer crimes.

Looking for a new car under $20,000? Good luck. Your choice has dwindled to just one vehicle

DETROIT (AP) — Just five years ago, a price-conscious auto shopper in the United States could choose from among a dozen new small cars selling for under $20,000. Now, there’s just one: The Mitsubishi Mirage. And even the Mirage appears headed for the scrap yard. At a time when Americans increasingly want pricey SUVs and trucks rather than small cars, the Mirage remains the lone new vehicle whose average sale price is under 20 grand — a figure that once marked a kind of unofficial threshold of affordability. With prices — new and used — having soared since the pandemic, $20,000 is no longer much of a starting point for a new car.

Putin was meant to be at a summit in South Africa this week. Why was he asked to stay away?

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Vladimir Putin will be the odd one out when leaders from the BRICS economic bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa meet in Johannesburg this week. While all the others are set to attend in person, Putin will dial in on a video call. That is because of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for the Russian president, which put summit host South Africa in a sticky situation and ultimately resulted in Putin staying at home. The group of emerging economies holds three days of meetings starting Tuesday, and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping is making a rare trip overseas for the bloc’s first in-person summit since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Angry reaction after Spanish soccer leader kissed a Women’s World Cup star on the mouth

MADRID (AP) — The leader of Spain’s soccer federation marred the country’s Women’s World Cup victory after kissing a player on the lips during the medal ceremony, drawing criticism for inappropriate conduct in a sport that has struggled to overcome sexism. The Spanish government and the world players’ union condemned the behavior of Luis Rubiales on Monday, a day after Spain’s 1-0 win over England. The soccer federation led by Rubiales sought to downplay the incident through a statement attributed to the player he kissed. The kiss was shocking given the sport’s long-standing allegations of sexual misconduct by male soccer presidents and coaches against female players on national teams.

USC’s Caleb Williams, Ohio State’s Harrison Jr. and Michigan’s Corum top AP preseason All-Americans

Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michigan running back Blake Corum are among the returning first-team All-Americans who were selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team. Notre Dame offensive tackle and Miami safety Kam Kinchens also followed up their All-America 2022 seasons by being named preseason All-Americans by AP Top 25 voters. Two-time defending national champion and No. 1 Georgia has the most players on the first team with four, including tight end Brock Bowers. Ohio State is next with three.