TRIPOLI, Libya – Libyan officials say a rival jihadi group has driven an Islamic State affiliate from most of its eastern stronghold of Darna in fighting that killed 39 militants on both sides. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief reporters, said Thursday …

MARSTON, Mo. – A massive explosion rocked a southeast Missouri aluminum plant Tuesday, injuring some workers and creating a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles. The explosion and fire occurred around 12:30 p.m. at the Noranda Aluminum plant near the town of Marston in New Madrid County, …

BAYFIELD, Nova Scotia – A group of beached whales in eastern Canada has been helped back out to sea, marking the second time this week that concerned residents came together to save a stranded pod. Marine officials, firefighters and local residents joined forces on Thursday to rescue 14 pilot whales …

CLEVELAND – A spokeswoman for a Cleveland hospital says a woman has died from complications of community-acquired Legionnaires’ disease. Alicia Reale of the University Hospitals Case Medical Center says the 53-year-old Brunswick woman died Thursday morning from the disease. A spokeswoman from the Medina County Health Department says the agency …

UNITED NATIONS – A top United Nations human rights official says the situation in Burundi has not yet reached the point of no return but is spiraling in that direction. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic told The Associated Press after briefing the Security Council that the five assassinations …

Grace: (noun) An act or instance of kindness, courtesy or clemency. Mercy, pardon. Here in northwest Colorado we feel like we’re at the epicenter of federal policy actions with regard to land and the environment. When you think of the war on coal, we are the bullseye. The irony is …

THONOTOSASSA, Fla. – Authorities in Florida say a manhunt is underway after a Tampa Bay-area sheriff’s deputy was shot. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Larry McKinnon says the deputy is listed in stable condition after the early Thursday morning shooting in Thonotosassa. McKinnon says deputies were in the area because …

Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) – Danny O’Regan’s marker 2:18 into the second overtime sent Boston University over Harvard by a 4-3 count in the early semifinal of the 63rd annual Beanpot from TD Garden, spoiling a historic performance by Steve Michalek. Ahti Oksanen and Cason Hohmann added a goal and one …

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Leaders from the South Sudan’s warring factions are in Ethiopia in a last ditch effort to sign a peace deal ahead of Monday’s deadline to end the country’s civil war. Haile Michael, a spokesman for the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development that is mediating the talks, …

LONDON – An independent commission is urging the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland to offer an unequivocal apology to victims of sex abuse. The inquiry was set up in 2013 following a series of scandals. Disgraced Cardinal Keith O’Brien stepped down in February 2013 after three priests and a former …