AP National News

Feds detain ex Russian Olympic official in South Florida

by Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — Federal authorities have arrested a former Russian Olympic Committee official for an alleged immigration violation.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Tammy Spicer said in a news release that 48-year-old Akhmed Bilalov was arrested at his condo in Sunny Isles Beach on Tuesday. He remains in the agency’s custody pending removal proceedings.

The agency says Bilalov entered the United States for a temporary stay on May 2, 2016, but “failed to depart in accordance with the terms of his admission.”

The Miami Herald reports Bilalov had been living in Florida with

Lawmaker ignores call to give up position after Omar post

by Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Senate’s top Republican says a fellow state senator is refusing to step down from a leadership position after posting on Facebook a long-debunked photo that claims to be Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar holding a weapon at an al-Qaida training camp.

Majority Leader Rich Wardner and GOP Gov. Doug Burgum have called on state Sen. Oley Larsen to apologize and relinquish his position as president pro tempore.

Wardner says he spoke with Larsen on Tuesday night. He says Larsen told him he would fight any attempt to be removed from the leadership position.

First lady speaks on opioids in only solo trip to Congress

by Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump is marking the one-year anniversary of a federal law that that increases access to treatment for people addicted to opioids.

The first lady made her only solo trip to Capitol Hill so far to thank Congress for passing the bipartisan SUPPORT Act her husband signed into law a year ago. She said that because of the law, “we are able to look at ways to reduce opioid use during pregnancy.”

Her event drew a small crowd, including President Donald Trump’s senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, and Republican members of the House and Senate. Also attending was Democratic

Court documents show Missouri farmer Garland Nelson is charged with murder in the deaths of 2 brothers from Wisconsin

by Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Court documents show Missouri farmer Garland Nelson is charged with murder in the deaths of 2 brothers from Wisconsin.

Trump Organization scrubs name from Central Park skate rinks

by Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Skaters in New York’s Central Park may notice something missing from the park’s two ice rinks this winter — President Donald Trump’s name.

The Trump Organization still operates the rinks under a concession from the city but it has rebranded them.

The Washington Post first reported the new look at the park’s Wollman and Lasker rinks.

The Trump name in all capital letters used to mark the outer boards at Wollman Rink, and signs at the skate rental and refreshment counters bore the name.

But the Trump name is almost entirely gone as skating season starts.

City parks

California deputy fatally shot, ride-along passenger injured

by Associated Press

SOMERSET, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California sheriff’s deputy has been shot to death while responding to a call in the rural Sierra Nevada foothills.

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Brian Ishmael was fatally shot early Wednesday in the community of Somerset and a that ride-along passenger with him was injured.

A statement from the sheriff’s office says two men were detained and that a large contingent of law enforcement officers and a helicopter remained at the scene in about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Sacramento.

The statement provided no details about how the

The Latest: GOP politician defends Facebook in hearing

by Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony before Congress (all times local):

11 a.m.

An unusual partisan divide has quickly opened during Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s hearing in front of Congress.

From President Donald Trump on down, Republicans have been among Facebook’s sharpest critics, complaining that the social network is biased against them — generally without offering evidence.

But the ranking Republican member of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, charged that today’s hearing was “an attack on

Elijah Cummings lies in repose; visitors pay respects

by Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) — The body of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings is lying in repose at a historically black college in Baltimore ahead of the first in a series of services.

A tan hearse with a U.S. House of Representatives seal carrying Cummings’ body arrived Wednesday morning at Morgan State University’s Murphy Fine Arts Center. A group of mourners led by Cummings’ widow, Maya Rockeymoore, followed pallbearers who wheeled the black casket with silver trimmings into the building.

The auditorium opened to the public shortly after 10 a.m. and a large group of people waiting in line have begun to enter

Hollywood said ‘no’ to Deon Taylor, so he made his own path

by Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Director Deon Taylor is used to hearing the word “no” when it comes to his movies. But his refusal to be dissuaded is a large part of the reason the self-taught filmmaker from Gary, Indiana was able to become a director in the first place.

And after making successful movies independently for 15 years, Hollywood is starting to take notice. This year Taylor has two major films in theaters. “The Intruder” became a solid hit in May, and his police thriller “Black and Blue” opens nationwide Thursday.

“Black and Blue” star Naomie Harris calls Taylor a “maverick.”

Harris plays a

Police sergeant testifies he was told to tone down ‘gayness’

by Associated Press

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A St. Louis County police sergeant has testified that he was told to “tone down his gayness” to secure a promotion to lieutenant.

Keith Wildhaber testified at trial Tuesday that former St. Louis County Police Board of Commissioners member John Saracino issued the guidance in 2014.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Wildhaber says the remark made him feel like he had “been punched in the gut.” He testified that he thought he would be evaluated for the position based on his body of work, “not the fact that I was gay.”

Saracino has denied he made the comment.