Pope announces resignation of US bishop accused of embezzling $270K from Calif. parish

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pope Leo XIV says a Chaldean Catholic bishop has resigned after he was arrested while trying to leave the U.S. following accusations that he embezzled $270,000 from his parish near San Diego. The resignation was announced Tuesday by the Vatican after Bishop Emanuel Shaleta was charged with 17 felonies including money laundering. Shaleta, who pleaded not guilty Monday, was arrested at San Diego International Airport last week. His lawyer says the allegations are false and that the flight was pre-planned. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office says the arrest came after someone from Shaleta’s church provided documentation “showing potential embezzlement from the church.” The Chaldean Catholic Church represents more than a million Aramaic-speaking Christians.

FDA finds little evidence that a drug touted by Trump can help people with autism

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administation is approving a generic drug for a very rare genetic disorder, but not for autism. On Tuesday, the U.S. agency said the drug helps children and adults who cannot get enough folate into the brain. That’s a major turnaround from announcements made at a White House news conference in September. At that event, President Donald Trump and the FDA commissioner said the drug was under review for approval in patients with autism. FDA officials say they narrowed the review to the strongest evidence. They say that evidence supports use only in patients with a specific genetic mutation.

Alabama governor commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has commuted the death sentence of a 75-year-old inmate who was set to be executed this week even though he was not in the building when the victim was killed. Ivey on Tuesday reduced Charles “Sonny” Burton’s sentence to life in prison without possibility of parole. Burton was sentenced to death for the shooting death of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building. The shooter’s death sentence was later reduced on appeal to life imprisonment. Ivey said she thought it would be “unjust” to execute Burton, considering that the shooter was spared the death penalty.

Mayor: Baltimore police officer shot while responding to barricade situation at a home

BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore’s mayor says a police officer was shot Tuesday while responding to a barricade situation at a home in the city. Police separately said that a suspect was also shot during the “active shooter incident.” No other details were immediately available, though the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police, which represents officers, said “all involved members are in good spirits.” The officer was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma unit where officials planned to speak to reporters. Mayor Brandon Scott said on X, “As the situation develops, our hearts are with this officer, their family, and the entire department.”