National News

Homeland Security waives contracting laws for border wall The Trump administration said Tuesday that it will waive federal contracting laws to speed construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. by The Associated Press - February 18, 2020

Boy Scouts file for bankruptcy due to sex-abuse lawsuits Barraged by hundreds of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth vict... by The Associated Press - February 18, 2020

Taliban: Pact signing before month is over The Taliban said Monday that a peace deal with the United States will be signed by the end of the month, with the top U.S. negotiator describing himself as "ca... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - February 18, 2020

Virginia assault weapons bill halted A Virginia Senate committee blocked a bill on Monday that would have banned the sale of assault-style weapons and possession of high-capacity magazines. by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - February 18, 2020

River's crest raises hope of relief The swollen Pearl River appeared to have crested Monday in Mississippi's capital, but authorities warned the hundreds of evacuees in the Jackson area not to rus... by ROGELIO V. SOLIS and MELINDA DESLATTE The Associated Press - February 18, 2020

Raid shows darker side to pot business To marijuana industry boosters and Santa Barbara County officials, Barry Brand was one of the "good players," a longtime Gerbera daisy grower who pitched cannab... by Joe Mozingo The Los Angeles Times - February 18, 2020

Rocket booster’s landing a failure A rocket booster that SpaceX hoped would make its 50th successful landing after launch on Monday missed the autonomous ship in the Atlantic Ocean where it was s... by The Washington Post - February 18, 2020

Flu hits at least 22 million people in U.S. Four months into the flu season, at least 22 million U.S. residents -- and possibly as many as 31 million -- have contracted influenza, according to the Centers... by Linda Searing The Washington Post - February 18, 2020

Bloomberg spends $124M in 14 key states Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has spent more than $124 million on advertising in the 14 Super Tuesday states, well over 10 times what his ... by Michael Finnegan The Los Angeles Times - February 18, 2020

Pompeo praises Angolan for graft fight U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in his latest Africa stop on Monday praised Angola's president for his dramatic actions to recover billions of dollars loot... by CARA ANNA The Associated Press - February 18, 2020

The nation in brief Pipeline ignites at refinery in Texas by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - February 18, 2020

Names and faces Elton John intends to play his remaining shows in New Zealand and Australia, his tour promoters said Monday, a day after illness caused the singer to lose his v... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - February 18, 2020

In the news Brad Pennington, a park ranger in California, said a 6-year-old girl escaped with minor injuries, including a couple of puncture wounds in her leg, after she wa... February 18, 2020

Deaths continue President Donald Trump stood in a misty drizzle at Dover Air Force Base, Del., as the remains of America’s latest two casualties in the long war in Afghanistan ... by MUJIB MASHAL, KATIE ROGERS, ZABIHULLAH GHAZI AND THOMAS GIBBONS-NEFF NEW YORK TIMES - February 18, 2020

Museum uses technology to verify Rembrandt painting Thanks to modern technology and some expert detective work, a nearly 400-year-old painting that had long been attributed to an unknown artist in Rembrandt’s wor... by The Associated Press - February 18, 2020