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HAVANA (AP) — Three U.S. Marines who lowered the flag at the U.S. Embassy in Havana more than five decades ago have hoisted the stars and stripes today at the recently reopened American embassy. A brass band performed the national anthem as the banner was raised. Despite a thawing of relations after more than 50 years, Secretary of State John Kerry says major disagreements remain.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials say American hostage Kayla Mueller was repeatedly forced to have sex with the leader of the Islamic State group. Mueller's father says officials told them that his daughter was forced to marry IS leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi. Her death was reported in February. The Islamic State group claimed Mueller was killed in a Jordanian air strike near Raqqah.
CONROE, Texas (AP) — Black smoke can be seen for miles after a series of explosions at an oil field chemical supply firm north of Houston. Residents who live within two miles of the firm, DrillChem, have been told to stay indoors. The blasts happened in Conroe, about 40 miles north of Houston. There are no reports of injuries.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky county clerk who refuses to issue marriage licenses because she opposes gay marriage has been back before a federal judge. Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis stopped issuing all marriage licenses after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in June. Davis cites her religious beliefs. Two couples who sued want the judge not to stay his order to Davis to start issuing licenses.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas is ending its Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson ordered the termination of its contract with a Medicaid provider. Hutchinson is responding to the release of secretly-recorded videos by anti-abortion activists who oppose the use of fetal tissue for medical research. Federal officials have warned states that ending the payments to Planned Parenthood could violate the law.
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