STILLWATER, Minn. (AP) — An inmate accused of using a hammer to kill a Minnesota prison guard has been indicted on first-degree murder charges.A grand jury returned the indictment Tuesday against 42-year-old Edward Muhammad Johnson. He's accused of killing Department of Corrections Officer …

MILAN (AP) — The latest developments following the deadly collapse of a highway bridge in Italy (all times local):4:40 p.m.Italian authorities have lowered the confirmed death toll in Genoa's bridge collapse to 38 from 39.Genoa Prefect Office official Raffaella Corsaro told The AP on …

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a group of Michigan parents who alleged that the state didn't obtain proper consent to draw or store their newborns' blood for medical research.An attorney for the parents tells WOOD-TV an appeal is planned.The …

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — The parents of offensive lineman Jordan McNair say suspended University of Maryland coach DJ Durkin should be fired.McNair collapsed during a preseason conditioning drill May 29 and died two weeks later. Durkin was placed on administrative leave Saturday after ESPN …

NEW YORK (AP) — Aretha Franklin, the undisputed "Queen of Soul" who sang with matchless style on such classics as "Think," ''I Say a Little Prayer" and her signature song, "Respect," and stood as a cultural icon around the globe, has died at age 76 from pancreatic cancer.Publicist Gwendolyn …

CORBIN, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky woman has been accused of staging her own kidnapping and sending her father fake ransom notes demanding $400.News outlets report 19-year-old Abbygail Farley's father had reported her missing. Court documents say he received text messages Tuesday from her phone …

MILTON, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia wedding planner came in handy for one couple who nearly had more than $2,000 stolen from their reception.News outlets report Kristina Dardo was arrested Saturday after planner Ashley Baber noticed her among the wedding guests, "holding a jacket in an odd …

DETROIT (AP) — Early in 1967 when she was already a music industry veteran but had only a few minor hits to show for it, Aretha Franklin recorded "Respect" and sent herself into superstardom. The song was released as a single and was the lead track on her breakthrough album, "I Never Loved …

FREDERICK, Colo. (AP) — The Latest on the arrest of a Colorado man in the disappearance of his family (all times local):8:30 a.m.A social media account of a pregnant Colorado woman whose husband has been arrested in the disappearance of her and her two young daughters paints a portrait of a …

BALTIMORE (AP) — An independent review panel is considering subpoenaing the Baltimore Police Department for withheld cases.Civilian Review Board chair Bridal Pearson tells The Baltimore Sun the police department's internal affairs division used to forward eight to 15 cases for review each …

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's finance chief tried to reassure thousands of international investors on a conference call Thursday, in which he pledged to fix the economic troubles that have seen the country spiral into a currency crisis.The national currency recovered somewhat from record …

DETROIT (AP) — A timeline of major events in the life and work of Aretha Franklin:March 1942 — Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, a prominent Baptist minister with gospel-music connections, would move the family briefly to Buffalo before settling in Detroit …

LONDON (AP) — A Scottish man with far-right views has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to build a bomb that prosecutors say could have caused carnage.A search of Peter Morgan's home found explosive substances, propellants, fireworks and a bottle with ball bearings and …

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Federal officials will investigate Ohio State University's response to allegations against a team doctor now accused of sexual misconduct against scores of athletes and other male students in the 1980s and 1990s.The school says the U.S. Department of Education Office …

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are surging Thursday morning as China and the U.S. prepare to hold their first trade discussions in months, a potential sign of progress toward ending the trade war between them. Walmart is surging after the retailer said its sales climbed in second …

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. housing starts ticked up just 0.9 percent in July, a sign that higher construction costs might be weighing on homebuilders.The Commerce Department said Thursday that housing starts last month rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 million, not nearly enough …

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kroger will begin testing grocery deliveries using driverless cars outside of Phoenix.The biggest U.S. grocery chain said the project will begin Thursday in Scottsdale at a Fry's supermarket, which is owned by Kroger.Same-day or next-day delivery orders can be made …

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese provincial deputy governor and the mayor of a major city were fired Tuesday as the ruling Communist Party tried to defuse public outrage over revelations of misconduct by a major vaccine producer.The officials were among four people ordered dismissed following a …

MIDFIELD, Ala. (AP) — Police say a woman who was being beaten and robbed at an Alabama shopping center was rescued by passersby who pulled the attacker out of her car and held him until authorities arrived.Midfield police and witnesses tell news outlets the 74-year-old woman was punched by a …

NEW YORK (AP) — "Saturday Night Live" cast member Pete Davidson says he's the "luckiest guy in the world" after wasting little time pursuing Ariana Grande.In September's GQ magazine, Davidson says he told Grande on the day he met her, "Hey, I'll marry you tomorrow." He says she was calling …