Judge blocks Trump administration’s efforts to defund Planned Parenthood

(AP) — A federal judge says Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide must continue to be reimbursed for Medicaid funding. The judged ruled Monday as the nation’s largest abortion provider fights President Donald Trump’s administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation. The new order replaces a previous edict that initially granted a preliminary injunction. That injunction specifically blocked the government from cutting Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood members that didn’t provide abortion care or didn’t meet a threshold of at least $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in a given year.

Shooter opens fire at Reno casino, killing 3 and injuring several others

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A suspect is in custody in Nevada and three people are dead following a shooting outside a casino in Reno. Officials say a gunman opened fire Monday morning just outside the Grand Sierra Resort. Three other people were wounded and taken to a hospital. Police spokesperson Chris Johnson says the suspect was taken into custody and also was being treated at the hospital. Authorities did not release the conditions of the suspect or the others who were injured. Hotel guests say they heard several shots coming from the resort’s valet area. One man says he saw people running and screaming.

Hurricane Iona forms after rapidly strengthening in the central Pacific Ocean

HONOLULU (AP) — A hurricane that developed rapidly Monday in the central Pacific Ocean is not expected to cause any issues for Hawaii, a federal meteorologist said, as Hurricane Iona trekked west over warm, open waters. “It’s pretty high confidence that it’s not going to have any direct impacts on the islands,” said Derek Wroe with the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Iona is the first named storm of the hurricane season in the central Pacific and emerged Sunday from a tropical depression to become a Category 1 hurricane in roughly a day. The hurricane is centered well south of Hawaii, however, an indirect impact will be downward pressure winds from the hurricane, creating dry and breezy conditions.

Police search for suspect who fatally attacked couple in Arkansas’ Devil’s Den State Park

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Police in Arkansas are searching for a suspect in the deaths of a couple who were attacked while on a wooded walking trail with their two young daughters. State police say Clinton David Brink and Cristen Amanda Brink were found dead Saturday at Devil’s Den State Park in Washington County in a suspected homicide. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt. Officials described the suspect as a white male wearing dark shorts, a dark ball cap, sunglasses and fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan with a license plate partly covered by tape.