National-World

By Zenebou Sylla and Sabrina Souza, CNN (CNN) — Michael Skakel, whose murder conviction in the 1975 death of a teenager in Connecticut was overturned, has filed lawsuits against the lead police investigator in the case and the town of Greenwich alleging malicious prosecution, violation of his constitutional rights and other claims, according to court documents.

By Melissa Alonso and Nouran Salahieh, CNN (CNN) — A 19-year-old and his father have been arrested in connection with the killings of a pregnant Texas teen and her boyfriend after their bodies were found last week in a car in San Antonio, authorities said Wednesday. Christopher Preciado was arrested on suspicion of capital murder

By Nouran Salahieh and Samantha Beech, CNN (CNN) — Officials are searching for the shooter in the killing of an imam outside a Newark, New Jersey, mosque, as they work to determine what led up to the slaying of the man remembered as a beacon in his community. Imam Hassan Sharif was shot several times outside the

By Jamiel Lynch, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge on Wednesday ruled the United States Military Academy at West Point can continue to consider race as a factor for admissions, denying a request for a preliminary injunction from the same group that won the landmark Supreme Court case that gutted affirmative action. Students for Fair

By Rachel Ramirez, CNN (CNN) — A warm start to the winter season has left the Great Lakes virtually ice-free and with their lowest ice cover to kick off a new year in at least 50 years. On New Year’s Day, only 0.35% of the Great Lakes were covered in ice, the lowest on record

By Jamiel Lynch and Devon M. Sayers, CNN (CNN) — A fire that badly damaged the South Florida home of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was accidentally started by a child playing with a lighter, officials say. The fire started Wednesday afternoon in a bedroom at the home in Southwest Ranches, about 23 miles

CNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here’s a look at the life of Michelle Obama, wife of 44th US President Barack Obama. Personal Birth date: January 17, 1964 Birth place: Chicago, Illinois Birth name: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Father: Fraser Robinson, water filtration worker Mother: Marian (Shields) Robinson Marriage: Barack Obama (October 3, 1992-present) Children: Sasha, Malia

CNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here’s a look at the life of Dolly Parton, the Grammy Award-winning singer, song writer, producer, actress and entrepreneur. Personal Birth date: January 19, 1946 Birth place: Locust Ridge, Sevier County, Tennessee Birth name: Dolly Rebecca Parton Father: Robert Lee Parton, farmer Mother: Avie Lee (Owens) Parton Marriage: Carl Dean

By Chris Boyette, CNN (CNN) — The former Kentucky county clerk who in 2015 declined to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples must pay $260,000 in fees and expenses to the couple’s attorneys in addition to the $100,000 in damages awarded by a jury last year, a federal judge ruled. Kim Davis, ex–clerk of Rowan County in

By Andy Rose, CNN (CNN) — Capitol buildings in multiple states were temporarily shut down and evacuated Wednesday because of threats. “It was a mass email sent to several (Secretaries of State) and state offices across the country,” said Michon Lindstrom, a spokesperson for the Kentucky of Secretary of State’s office. A copy of an

By Ray Sanchez and Chris Boyette, CNN (CNN) — A popular forestry scientist, his wife and their two adult children – described as “ambassadors” of archaeology in Arkansas – were killed after a suspected gas explosion leveled a home while they visited Michigan for the holidays. Northfield Township Police identified the victims Tuesday as 51-year-old

By Alisha Ebrahimji, Melissa Alonso and Andy Rose, CNN (CNN) — A migrant surge continues to overwhelm authorities at the US-Mexico border — and in US cities where many asylum-seekers are being sent. Here are the latest developments: Leaders of several Chicago suburbs have voted to restrict buses from dropping off migrants without notice while officials in

By Celina Tebor, Mark Morales, Emma Tucker and Zenebou Sylla, CNN (CNN) — Hassan Sharif, an imam who worked to keep his community safe, has died after being shot outside his mosque in Newark, New Jersey, officials said Wednesday. Sharif died at about 2:20 p.m., hours after he was shot multiple times, officials said at

CNN Opinion by Jeremi Suri (CNN) — American universities are the envy of the world, but those who control them do not seem to understand why. Students and scholars from every continent make enormous personal sacrifices to gain admission to US campuses, and in recent years applications to the most prestigious schools have increased dramatically. The

By Alexandra Banner, CNN (CNN) — A storm headed for the Northeast and mid-Atlantic this weekend has the potential to offer the region its first decent snow in nearly two years. Before then, the storm will traverse through the South in the next few days, dumping largely beneficial rain after a summer of extreme heat.