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August 16, 2017

First Line News Articles for Wednesday, August 16 2017

Top Stories

Federal court: Arkansas can block Planned Parenthood money

A federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday that Arkansas can block Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, two years after the state ended its contract with the group over videos secretly recorded by an anti-abortion group.

Army, Coast Guard launch search for missing Black Hawk crew

The U.S. Coast Guard and Army are searching for five missing service members off the coast of Hawaii after losing communication with a Black Hawk helicopter, the Coast Guard said Wednesday.

Hope Hicks Will Be Trump’s Interim Communications Director

President Trump’s longtime aide Hope Hicks will serve as the interim White House director of communications and will help the president find a permanent person for the job, the administration said Wednesday.

Trump Says North Korea Made ‘Wise’ Choice by Forgoing Strike

President Donald Trump said Kim Jong Un made a “very wise” decision after the North Korean leader opted to hold off on a missile strike near Guam.

LDS News

LDS Church issues statement of support to LOVELOUD Festival

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Wednesday regarding the upcoming LOVELOUD Festival, a concert event aiming to curb teen suicides and raise awareness of LGBTQ issues.

Local Mormons, Muslims learn from each other’s religions

As Antioni Parker approached the dais inside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Marietta, he carefully spoke the Arabic words “As Salaam Alaikum,” words that he had undoubtedly practiced multiple times before pronouncing them in public.

The Day Elvis Presley Attended Early-Morning Seminary

Deeply religious and a heavy reader of spiritual topics, Elvis showed considerable interest in the LDS Church and maintained many close connections with Mormons.

‘The Time Is Now,’ Tucson temple district youth declare at cultural celebration

For more than 2,100 Latter-day Saint youth in the new Tucson Arizona Temple district, “The Time Is Now!”

How an LDS mission helped Daniel Summerhays’ golf game

During his time on the PGA Tour, 33-year-old Daniel Summerhays has fielded numerous questions about how he was able to take two years off from golf.

National

California farmer to pay $1.1 million in fines for plowing wheat field without permit

President Trump has sought to help farmers by rolling back the Obama administration’s hotly contested Waters of the United States rule, but it didn’t happen soon enough to help John Duarte.

Strange, Moore head to GOP primary runoff in Alabama for Senate seat

Sen. Luther Strange and former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore are headed to a Republican primary runoff to fill the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Texas governor signs bill to limit insurance coverage for abortions

The Republican governor of Texas signed into law on Tuesday a measure that will restrict insurance coverage for abortions, compelling women to buy a supplemental plan if they want coverage for the procedure.

Texas transgender ‘bathroom bill’ dies for second time this year

The Texas legislature concluded its special session late Tuesday without passing the so-called “bathroom bill” — controversial legislation aimed at limiting public restroom access to transgender persons.

Moderate mayor wins Republican primary to replace Rep. Chaffetz in Utah

John Curtis, the mayor of Provo, Utah, won the Republican primary in his state’s third congressional district Tuesday, capping a campaign that will see him advance to November’s general election after he collected over 15,000 signatures from party members simply to make the primary ballot.

Trump announces end to manufacturing council amid resignations

After several business leaders announced their resignations from the White House’s American Manufacturing Council in recent days, President Donald Trump announced he was ending the panel Wednesday, along with the separate Strategy and Policy Forum.

Delta plane collides with American plane, causing damage and lengthy delay

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737 struck an American Airlines plane waiting to depart at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport Tuesday evening, delaying passengers and causing damage to the aircraft.

U.S. Adopts Combative Tone as Talks Begin on Revamped Nafta

President Donald Trump isn’t looking for a “mere tweaking” of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and will be seeking a major overhaul to a deal he believes has failed Americans, Trump’s top trade official said as talks began with Mexico and Canada to revamp the accord.

In the dark of night, Baltimore quietly removes its Confederate statues

The rally over the past weekend of what is believed to be the largest gathering of white supremacists in a decade in Charlottesville, Va., prompted another Southern city to take down its Confederate statues without delay.

Ex-Presidents Bush: America must reject hatred

Former President George H.W. Bush and his son, former President George W. Bush, issued a joint statement on Wednesday condemning the violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., saying America must reject “hatred in all forms.”

World

HMS Queen Elizabeth: Carrier arrives in Portsmouth

The UK’s new £3bn aircraft carrier has docked in its home port.

MH370 revealed? New analysis of satellite photos may reveal crash site in Indian Ocean

A new analysis of satellite photos taken two weeks after Flight MH370 mysteriously vanished may help scientists narrow the search area for the missing Malaysian Airlines aircraft to three regions in the southern Indian Ocean.

India and China troops clash along Himalayan border

A confrontation occurred between Indian and Chinese soldiers along a disputed border in the western Himalayas, Indian officials said on Tuesday.

More than 300 bodies recovered from Sierra Leone mudslide

Rescuers have recovered over 300 bodies following Monday’s deadly mudslide on the outskirts of Sierra Leone’s capital, the country’s tourism minister said Wednesday.

Kenya’s opposition leader vows court challenge over election loss

Kenya’s opposition leader doubled down Wednesday on his claim that this month’s presidential election was rigged in favor of President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying he would take his allegations of fraud to the country’s supreme court.

US Adds Kashmir Militant Group to Terrorism Blacklists

The Trump administration has added a Kashmiri militant group fighting to end Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region to several terrorism blacklists, blocking any assets it may have in U.S. jurisdictions.

Business

China overtakes Japan as largest U.S. creditor with $1.1T owed

China has once again become the United States’ largest creditor, Treasury Department figures released Wednesday indicate.

Union Pacific lays off 500 managers, 250 other rail workers

Union Pacific is laying off 500 managers and 250 other workers to reduce costs and eliminate about 8 percent of the railroad’s managers.

Science

Why NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has to die at Saturn

Cassini will soon destroy itself in Saturn’s atmosphere, but its dramatic death plunge is all for the good of science.

Health

Express Scripts to limit opioids; doctors concerned

The nation’s largest pharmacy benefit manager will soon limit the number and strength of opioid drugs prescribed to first-time users as part of a wide-ranging effort to curb an epidemic affecting millions of Americans.

Japanese fungus spreading in UK hospitals

More than 200 patients in England have been infected or contaminated with a drug-resistant fungus first found in Japan, health officials have confirmed.

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