National News

Owner of Branson duck boat that sank, killing 17, settles final lawsuit The owner of a tourist duck boat that sank in a Missouri lake, killing 17 people, has settled its final pending lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. by HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press - January 17, 2020

Dershowitz, Starr join Trump impeachment legal defense President Donald Trump's legal team for his upcoming Senate impeachment trial will include former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr... by ERIC TUCKER Associated Press - January 17, 2020

Agency: Withheld allotment broke law The White House violated federal law in withholding security assistance to Ukraine, an action at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment, a federal w... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - January 17, 2020

Senators sworn in to try Trump The U.S. Senate opened the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump with quiet ceremony Thursday -- senators standing at their desks to swear an oath of "imp... by LISA MASCARO The Associated Press - January 17, 2020

Chief Justice John Roberts to play proceedings ump Chief Justice John Roberts is likely to play a modest role when he presides over the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, in keeping with his fre... by MARK SHERMAN The Associated Press - January 17, 2020

U.S. Sen. John Boozman: Odds fair witnesses will testify The White House is predicting a speedy impeachment trial for President Donald Trump -- two weeks or less. U.S. Sen. John Boozman expects it will go on a good wh... by Frank E. Lockwood - January 17, 2020

Possible spying on U.S. envoy probed Ukrainian authorities announced an investigation Thursday into the possible surveillance overseas of U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch that a critic claimed to ... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - January 17, 2020

Keeper of writer Tolkien's legacy dies Christopher Tolkien, the son of the writer J.R.R. Tolkien who guarded his legacy and edited posthumous works such as The Silmarillion, died Wednesday in France ... by Alan Yuhas and Emily S. Rueb The New York Times - January 17, 2020

Truce offer pitched to U.S., Taliban say The Taliban have given the U.S. envoy their offer for a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan that would last between seven and 10 days, Taliban officials familia... by KATHY GANNON The Associated Press - January 17, 2020

On island, displaced awaiting housing The Antonetti family sat in the shade of a tree eating orange slices while contemplating the long day ahead of them in a dusty parking lot in southern Puerto Ri... by DANICA COTO The Associated Press - January 17, 2020

Anti-abortion measure's timing divides Kansans Supporters of a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution announced Thursday that they want to put the measure on the August primary ballot. T... by JOHN HANNA The Associated Press - January 17, 2020

Rift opens between Sanders, Warren Elizabeth Warren accused Bernie Sanders of calling her a liar before a national television audience during a tense, post-debate exchange in which she refused to... by WILL WEISSERT The Associated Press - January 17, 2020

FBI revises election-hack policy The FBI, in a change of policy, is committing to inform state officials if local election systems have been breached, federal officials said Thursday. by ERIC TUCKER The Associated Press - January 17, 2020

Chaos on view in immigration courts In a locked, guarded courtroom in a compound surrounded by razor wire, Immigration Judge Jerome Rothschild waits -- and stalls. by KATE BRUMBACK, DEEPTI HAJELA and AMY TAXIN The Associated Press - January 17, 2020

Touting religious liberty, Trump tweaks school-prayer rules President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to protect prayer in public schools and took new steps to give religious organizations easier access to federal program... by COLLIN BINKLEY and ELANA SCHOR The Associated Press - January 17, 2020