Mexican mother bravely shields son as bear leaps on picnic table, devours tacos, enchiladas

Groups of teenagers swarmed into stores in Philadelphia’s Center City on Tuesday, stuffing plastic bags with merchandise and fleeing, although police made arrests, authorities and witnesses said. (Sept. 27)

President Joe Biden joined United Auto Workers strikers on their picket line Tuesday as their work stoppage against major carmakers hit day 12, a demonstration of support for organized labor apparently unparalleled in presidential history. (Sept. 26)

A judge has dismissed all charges, including a murder count, against a Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a driver on Aug. 14. The defense has asserted that Officer Mark Dial was acting in self-defense when he fired into Eddie Irizarry’s car during a traffic stop. (Sept 26)

Residents were allowed to return to their properties for the first time since the devastating wildfire leveled the Hawaii town of Lahaina. At least 97 people were killed and 2,000 buildings were destroyed in the August fire. (Sept. 25) (AP Video by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Mengshin Lin)

Salt water creeping up the Mississippi River is threatening drinking water supplies in some Louisiana communities, including New Orleans. (Sept. 26)

The federal government is heading toward a shutdown at month’s end that will disrupt many services, squeeze workers and roil politics. (Sept. 26)

Taylor Swift joins literary greats on university literature course

U.S. wildlife officials have finalized an agreement with Ted Turner’s Endangered Species Fund regarding the release of more Bolson tortoises on the media mogul’s Armendaris Ranch in central New Mexico. (Sept. 25) ( AP Video: Susan Montoya Bryan)

Masterpiece by Italian female artist rediscovered in British Royal Collection