National News

Couple sentenced in trafficking involving disabled woman

by Associated Press

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) — A suburban Detroit couple has been sentenced after authorities say they hired out a woman with physical and mental disabilities for sex while forcing her to live in a shed.

Forty-year-old Michael Welch and 32-year-old Misty George of Macomb Township were charged in 2017 with human trafficking and prostitution-related counts. He was sentenced Thursday to five to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges including human trafficking.

George pleaded no contest to human trafficking and had agreed to testify against Welch. She sentenced to five years of

Leaping Lizards: Florida wildlife officials catch big lizard

by Associated Press

KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) — Wildlife officials have finally captured a large invasive Asian water monitor that had been running loose in the Florida Keys for more than a year.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials posted pictures on Facebook with this caption: “Elusive lizard captured!”

The lizard was more than 5 feet (1.52 meters) long and weighed 20 pounds (9 kilograms).

Crews of staff members and volunteers had been setting traps and searching for the lizard. Once it was caught, the lizard was removed from the wild. Wildlife officials say this helps prevent the establishment of a new nonnative

Internet sensation Grumpy Cat has died at age 7

by Associated Press

MORRISTOWN, Ariz. (AP) — Her owners say Grumpy Cat, whose sourpuss demeanor became an internet sensation, has died at age 7.

Posting on social media Friday, Grumpy Cat’s owners wrote that she experienced complications from a urinary tract infection and “passed away peacefully” Tuesday “in the arms of her mommy.”

Her owners said “Grumpy Cat has helped millions of people smile all around the world — even when times were tough.”

The cat’s real name was Tardar Sauce, and she rose to fame after her photos were posted online in 2012. She had more than 2 million followers on Instagram and more

Body of missing teen found, mother’s boyfriend charged

by Associated Press

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Authorities say they’ve found the body of a missing West Virginia girl and her mother’s boyfriend has been arrested.

News outlets report Morgan County Sheriff K.C. Bohrer said during a news conference Thursday that 15-year-old Riley Crossman’s decomposed body was found on an embankment near a road in rural Berkeley County by officers from the Division of Natural Resources. The Berkeley Springs High School student had been reported missing May 8 by her mother.

Bohrer said 41-year-old Andy J. McCauley Jr. was taken into custody hours after the body was found and

Investigators: Late Ohio State team doctor abused 177 men

by Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Investigators say at least 177 male students were sexually abused by an Ohio State University team doctor who died in 2005.

The university released findings Friday from a law firm that investigated claims about Richard Strauss for the school.

The report concludes that university personnel at the time had knowledge of complaints and concerns about Strauss’ conduct as early as 1979 but failed to investigate or act meaningfully.

The claims span from 1979 to 1997 and involve athletes from at least 16 sports, plus Strauss’ work at the student health center and his

Investigators: At least 177 male students sexually abused by now-dead Ohio State team doctor; officials were aware

by Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Investigators: At least 177 male students sexually abused by now-dead Ohio State team doctor; officials were aware.

Markets Right Now: Stocks drop on trade worries

by Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

9:35 a.m.

Stocks are falling on Wall Street Friday as investors again worry about whether the U.S. and China can settle their dispute over trade.

Technology and industrial companies dropped the most as the S&P 500 heads for a second straight weekly decline. That hasn’t happened so far in a year where the index is up about 14%.

Deere shares dropped 4.6% after the farm equipment maker’s second quarter earnings missed Wall Street expectations. Deere lowered its outlook for year due to the trade war and a

Prosecutors seek life term for ex-CIA man on spy conviction

by Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A former CIA officer could get up to life in prison when he’s sentenced on his conviction of spying for China.

The sentencing for Kevin Mallory of Leesburg, Virginia, has been delayed multiple times, in part because prosecutors and defense attorneys still disagree on the extent of Mallory’s misconduct.

A jury convicted Mallory last year under the Espionage Act for providing classified information to Chinese handlers in exchange for $25,000.

A judge ordered additional briefing on technical evidence about whether Mallory actually sent certain Top Secret documents to the