TOP HEADLINES provided by UPI©

• State Department: American tourists died of natural causes in Dominican Republican
  Toxicology tests on three Americans who died in the Dominican Republic earlier this year indicated they died of natural causes, the U.S. State Department said Friday.
• State Department finds violations in Hillary Clinton email probe, but no deliberate mishandling
  The State Department concluded its investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of private email server, finding there was no deliberate mishandling of classified information.
• Tropical Storm Nestor barrels over Gulf of Mexico toward U.S.
  Residents along part of the Gulf Coast are bracing for newly formed Tropical Storm Nestor, which is projected to make landfall early this weekend and unleash flooding rain and damaging winds.
• Rep. Elijah Cummings to lie in state at Capitol
  Rep. Elijah Cummings will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol next week before his funeral, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Friday.
• Johnson & Johnson shares drop after baby powder recall
  Shares of Johnson & Johnson plunged by 6.23 percent Friday after the company recalled baby powder tainted with asbestos.
• Firefly Aerospace partners with Aerojet Rocketdyne
  Rocket startup company Firefly Aerospace said Friday it will partner with Aerojet Rocketdyne -- a defense and aircraft contractor with roots dating back to 1942.
• Zantac OTC recalled over cancer-causing chemical
  Pharmaceutical company Sanofi announced Friday it's recalling over-the-counter Zantac a month after the Food and Drug Administration said the heartburn drug contains small amounts of a carcinogen.
• Donald Trump nominates Dan Brouillette to replace Rick Perry as energy secretary
  President Donald Trump nominated Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette to head the department Friday, one day after Rick Perry resigned the post.
• Five states reached all-time unemployment lows in September
  The unemployment rates for five states -- Alabama, California, Illinois, New Jersey and South Carolina -- have reached all-time lows, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday.
• In photos: Highlights from the week of October 14, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
  President Donald Trump meets with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the White House. The Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues visit. And officials testify in the impeachment inquiry into Trump's actions in Ukraine. Those are among the highlights from Washington, D.C., for the week of October 14, 2019.
• Robert Flaxman receives 1 month in prison in college admissions scandal
  A federal judge sentenced a California man Friday to one month in prison for paying a $75,000 bribe to doctor his daughter's ACT scores, to increase her changes of being admitted to college.
• Farmers upset over EPA's new biofuel plan
  Farm and renewable fuel groups are upset over an Environmental Protection Agency proposal that they say will reduce the amount of biofuels that oil refiners are required to use next year.
• More women in abortion-restricted states seeking drugs online, study says
  More women who live in states with restrictive abortion laws are looking for drugs online to terminate their pregnancy, according to new research.
• Oracle co-CEO Mark Hurd dies at 62 during health-related leave of absence
  Oracle co-CEO Mark Hurd died Friday, just one month after he stepped away from the post for health reasons. He was 62.
• Pew Research survey: Christianity, religious attendance on the decline in U.S.
  New research indicates Christianity is on a steep decline in the United States -- with just 65 percent of American adults now describing themselves as Christian.
• U.S. moves ahead with tariffs on European Union goods
  The United States imposed tariffs of 10 to 25 percent on a record $7.5 billion of European Union products Friday after the World Trade Organization ruled earlier this month to allow the economic sanctions.
• Migrants caught in third-country asylum rule could face deportation
  It wasn't the first time men with guns showed up at Elizabeth's door. But this time, they were coming for her.
• 2 critically hurt after plane crashes while landing at Alaska airport
  Two people are critically hurt in an Alaska hospital after a commuter plane they were on slid off the runway upon landing at Unalaska-Dutch Harbor Airport in the Aleutian Islands, authorities said.
• Trump says Texas 'not in play,' but campaign activity fuels talk to the contrary
  Is Texas in play? A pair of high-profile presidential campaign rallies there Thursday night offered starkly different answers to a question that is getting more and more attention.
• Washington fines three companies for Seattle crane collapse
  Washington state has fined three companies a combined $100,000 in connection to their roles in a fatal crane collapse in downtown Seattle in April.
• U.S. farmers losing out to cheaper Mexican produce
  The amount of U.S.-grown fruits and vegetables on the domestic market is shrinking because of a surge of cheap Mexican produce.
• Judge: Justice Department improperly redacted court filing linked to Mueller probe
  A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the Justice Department incorrectly redacted names from a court filing connected to former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
• Energy Secretary Rick Perry announces plans to resign amid Ukraine probe
  Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said Thursday that he plans to resign later this year.
• New York City Council votes to close Rikers Island, open four new prisons
  The New York City Council voted Thursday to approve a plan overhauling the city's corrections systems by opening four new jails and closing Rikers Island.
• Two men tied to Rudy Giuliani plead not guilty to conspiracy charges
  Two men with ties to Rudy Giuliani pleaded not guilty in a New York City court Thursday to charges they were involved in a campaign finance scheme.
• Impeachment witness Gordon Sondland: Using Ukraine to investigate Bidens 'would be wrong'
  U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified in the House Thursday in the impeachment inquiry for President Donald Trump he disagreed with Trump's order to work with attorney Rudy Giuliani on Ukraine.

CBS©

• Democrats keep up impeachment pressure on the Hill
  Republican strategist Matt Gorman and Democratic strategist Isaac Wright joined CBSN to break down how Republicans and Democrats have been talking impeachment as we near one month into the inquiry.
• Mayor: Top cop said he was drinking before being found asleep
  Superintendent Eddie Johnson​ told reporters he felt he might faint as he was driving home from dinner, so he pulled over to rest not far from his home
• Tree of Life Synagogue to reopen as "symbol against hatred"
  Pittsburgh synagogue is the site of a 2018 mass shooting where 11 people were fatally shot.
• "'Ceasefire' is far from a victory": Top GOP senators slam Trump's strategy
  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said "America's wars will be 'endless' only if America refuses to win them"
• Trump faces attacks from top Republicans in Congress and former top military leaders
  President Trump on Friday faced attacks from the top Republicans in Congress over his decision to pull troops out of Syria. It followed harsh comments from top military officials. Paula Reid joined CBSN with the latest.
• Jury recommends death penalty for "The Hollywood Ripper"
  A Los Angeles jury recommended the death penalty Friday for Michael Gargiulo, 43
• Man on stepson's surprise play: "It took my voice away"
  Michael Musto describes what it was like to be honored by his stepson, a football player
• Football player surprises his step-dad with a new jersey
  Offensive lineman George Grimwade is a force on the football field. So when he decided to surprise his step-dad by changing his last name, he made sure to change his jersey too. Steve Hartman has their story on the road.
• Video shows Kamille McKinney moments before her disappearance
  Kamille "Cupcake" McKinney was last seen outside an apartment complex with another toddler
• Video shows Kamille McKinney before disappearance
  There is a critical new clue in the disappearance of a 3-year-old girl from Alabama. Police hope a newly released surveillance video helps lead them to her. Michelle Miller reports.
• Mattis roasts Trump after being called "overrated"
  Jim Mattis resigned in protest in December. Now the former defense secretary is firing back at his former boss a day after the president called him "overrated." Paula Reid reports.
• Kurdish children may be victims of possible chemical attack in Syria
  Fighting in Syria continued, despite a ceasefire deal maded between the U.S. and Turkey. Meanwhile, Kurdish children may be victims of a possible chemical attack. Charlie D'Agata reports from Iraq.
• Hillary Clinton says Russians are “grooming” a 2020 candidate
  The last Democratic presidential nominee made an extraordinary accusation about one of the current candidates. Hillary Clinton suggested Russians are “grooming” a 2020 Democratic candidate. Nancy Cordes explains.
• Washington man killed after plane crashes in Alaska
  A 38-year-old passenger on a flight in Alaska died after the plane went off the runway while landing. The plane was also carrying a high school team. Kris Van Cleave reports.
• Tropical Storm Nestor eyes the Gulf Coast
  Tropical Storm Nestor could strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane before it makes landfall along the Florida Panhandle. WCBS chief weathercaster Lonnie Quinn is tracking the storm.
• "CBS Evening News" headlines for Friday, October 18, 2019
  Here's a look at the top stories making headlines on the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell."
• 10/18: CBS Evening News
  Hillary Clinton calls Tulsi Gabbard a "favorite of the Russians"; Football player surprises his step-dad with a new jersey.
• Opioid epidemic cost U.S. more than $600 billion over 4 years
  Along with ruining lives, the public health crisis has had a devastating impact on the nation's economy
• 2020 Daily Trail Markers: 40% in U.S. say basic medical costs are a hardship
  Many Americans say they've had problems paying medical bills, and over a third say they've gone without medical treatment because of the costs, a new CBS News poll finds
• Michael Jordan opens health clinic in North Carolina
  The NBA legend donated $7 million to build two medical clinics in Charlotte

BBC America©

• Hillary Clinton: Russia 'grooming' Democratic candidate
  Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard accuses Mrs Clinton of a campaign to "destroy my reputation".
• US black school aide fired for rebuking boy's use of n-word
  A school guard was fired for using a racial slur while telling a student not to use the same word.
• Turkey Syria offensive: Mitch McConnell attacks Trump
  Republican Mitch McConnell calls Turkey's Syria offensive and the US troop withdrawal a "nightmare".
• Nasa astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir in all-women spacewalk
  Two female astronauts made history as they replaced a power unit on the International Space Station.
• James Mattis mocks Donald Trump at gala dinner
  The former US defence secretary hits back after the president described him as "the world's most overrated general".
• This gran picked up roadkill to create the perfect armchair
  How Nanny Pat's homemade labour of love made her the internet's favourite grandmother.
• Trump impeachment: White House admits aid held up partly over Democrats
  A US official says aid to Ukraine was held up to force it to probe Democrats, but later backtracks.
• Lady Gaga plummets off stage in a fan's arms during Vegas show
  The star falls off stage during her Las Vegas show after jumping into a fan's arms.
• Rick Perry: US energy secretary quits amid Trump inquiry
  President Donald Trump confirms the former Texas governor will depart his administration.
• Asbestos discovery triggers Johnson & Johnson baby powder recall in US
  The firm recalls one batch after regulators find trace amounts of asbestos in a bottle bought online.
• Wine and cheese from EU hit by US tariffs
  Wine, cheese and cashmere jumpers are among the EU items that have gone up in price in the US.
• Getty Museum banned from buying British masterpiece
  The government says it is important the 18th Century painting by Joseph Wright stays in the UK.
• New York's infamous Rikers Island jail is to close
  Lawmakers say its closure will mark an end to a system of "brutality and inhumanity".
• UK teenager's parents expect US crash suspect to be charged
  Harry Dunn's family say US officials are "ruthlessly" protecting Anne Sacoolas from facing justice.
• 'A stray baseball cracked my skull'
  Fans have been left permanently disabled or even killed by rogue baseballs. So what's to be done?
• Is the Trump campaign spending $1m a week on ads?
  Elizabeth Warren made the claim and accused Facebook of taking cash, "no questions asked".
• Canada election: Your questions answered
  We answer a sample of readers' questions about Canada's federal election.
• What happened this week in Trump's impeachment saga?
  From quid-pro-quo to arrests, we catch you up on the latest developments.
• A Canadian election looms - seven charts explain all
  Climate change, gender balance and Quebec - the issues facing Canadians this election.
• From the inner city to the polo field
  A scheme in Philadelphia takes inner-city youths and gives them the chance to play polo.
• What do Canadians think of Trudeau's record?
  The BBC travelled around Canada to talk to voters ahead of the federal election on 21 October.
• Savile Row in firing line as US tariffs hit the UK
  British luxury goods are targeted by the US as new taxes on exports take effect.
• Is Canada taking more migrants than other Western nations?
  A contender to become Canada's next PM says it's taken more migrants than other Western nations - is that right?
• Terminal cancer patient's voting plea from hospital bed
  A student with only days left to live has cast her first vote in an election and wants others to do the same
• Why this woman hates to hear about 'big bad wolf'
  The leashed beasts may look like large powerful dogs, but they still have the wild heart of a wolf.
• Why won't Democrats vote to authorise impeachment?
  Republicans have demanded a full House vote to initiate the impeachment inquiry. They're backed by history.
• What Trump supporters think of impeachment
  The president fights back against the inquiry at a raucous rally - what do his biggest fans think?
• Trump impeachment: Democrat Elaine Luria defends backing inquiry
  Democrat Elaine Luria has backed the inquiry - but do all of her Virginia constituents back her?
• Trump impeachment inquiry: The short, medium and long story
  The US president is embroiled in controversy over a phone call with Ukraine's president. Here's why.
• Viewpoint: White House letter is self-inflicted wound
  White House lawyers reject the impeachment inquiry as "baseless" - legal scholar Jonathan Turley gives his view.
• Trump impeachment: Did the whistleblower rules change?
  President Trump claims rules for whistleblowers were changed just before his Ukraine phone call.
• Trump impeachment: Who's who in whistleblower story?
  It's the story that kickstarted impeachment moves against Donald Trump. But who are the main players?
• Republican Jeff Flake - election the answer, not impeachment
  Former US Senator Jeff Flake has spoken about his dismay that Republicans are supporting the president.
• Trump asked Australian PM to help investigate Russia inquiry
  PM Scott Morrison agreed to assist with an investigation into the Mueller inquiry, Canberra confirms.
• What do we know about Bidens in Ukraine?
  Donald Trump asked Ukraine's president to investigate his rival Joe Biden. What are the allegations?
• Nasa Mars 2020 Mission's MiMi Aung on women in space
  At 16, MiMi Aung travelled alone to the US for an education. Now she's a project lead on Nasa's Mars mission.
• US astronauts complete first all-women spacewalk
  Nasa astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir spent over seven hours outside the ISS.
• Trump on Turkish-Kurdish conflict: 'Sometimes you have to let them fight'
  President Trump gives his reaction after a ceasefire is agreed in northern Syria to let Kurdish-led forces withdraw.
• Harry Dunn: Donald Trump meets with parents at White House
  Harry Dunn's mother said Mr Trump held her hand and said he would "try to push this from a different angle".
• Utah patrol officer saves driver from oncoming train
  A Utah officer is being hailed a hero after rescuing a driver who crashed onto train tracks.
• Trump 'celebrating undoing a problem he created'
  Democratic Congressman and former Marine officer Seth Moulton on Turkish ceasefire in Syria.
• Salvador Dali etching stolen from US art gallery
  Footage shows the thief leaving the San Francisco gallery with the artwork worth $20,000.
• California energy facility explosion
  Two large fuel tanks were destroyed after an explosion at the facility in northern California.

NPR©

• California Can Expect Blackouts For a Decade, Says PG&E CEO
  PG&E is under fire for its management of last week's planned power outages that left about 800,000 customers in the dark. CEO Bill Johnson admits the company was ill-prepared for the operation.
• Boeing Pilots Detected 737 Max Flight Control Glitch Two Years Before Deadly Crash
  One pilot messaged that the problem was "egregious" and he had "basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly)" when he had told the FAA that the flight control system was safe.
• White House Adviser Peter Navarro Calls Fictional Alter Ego An 'Inside Joke'
  Peter Navarro, a key architect of President Trump's trade policy, made up one of the people the adviser repeatedly quotes in his nonfiction books. Navarro's publisher is not amused.
• 'We Didn't Believe We Would See The Sun Rise': Refugees From Syria Arrive In Iraq
  More than 2,000 refugees have crossed into Iraq since Turkey began its assault on northeastern Syria last week. Aid groups are bracing for as many as 50,000 refugee arrivals.
• New Orleans Will Use Explosives To Topple Cranes At Hard Rock Hotel Collapse Site
  A tropical storm will bring gusty winds to the area, threatening the stability of two towering cranes that remain unstable following last weekend's disaster.
• Some Fighting Continues In Northern Syria Despite Turkish 'Pause'
  There are a lot of unanswered questions, like whether Kurdish forces are actually withdrawing from the border. The Pentagon says U.S. ground forces won't be involved in enforcing a "safe zone."
• Explosions At Mosque Kill At Least 62 People In Afghanistan
  It's the most serious militant attack against civilians in weeks. And it continues an alarming trend of rising casualties among the public in Afghanistan.
• What's Behind The Research Funding Gap For Black Scientists?
  Black scientists more often seek grants for community health studies, but molecular-level research proposals win more funding. More diversity throughout the process could help close the gap, says NIH.
• Forget About The Tap: A City Of 2 Million Has Virtually No Running Water
  Democratic Republic of Congo is the scene of the world's second deadliest Ebola outbreak. But in the city of Goma, some 250 miles from the hot zone, residents have other concerns.
• The Long, Strange Journey Of 'Gung-Ho'
  The word "gung-ho" used to mean "industrial cooperative." So, how did it come to describe that overeager middle-schooler taking high school math? On today's edition of Word Watch, we explore.
• Hear Prince's Acoustic 'I Feel For You' Demo, Fresh From The Vault
  "I Feel for You" was a smash for Chaka Khan in 1984. Five years earlier, it existed only as a solo demo by a 20-year-old Prince.
• In Virginia, 2 Young Candidates Vie To Be First Black GOP Lawmakers In 15 Years
  Since Reconstruction, Virginia has elected only two African American Republicans to the legislature. This year, two young black men running against Democrats might change that.
• Massive Gun Battle Erupts In Mexico Over Son Of Drug Kingpin 'El Chapo'
  Security forces came under attack and were forced to withdraw after they sought to arrest Ovidio Guzmán López, who is thought to have been running the Sinaloa cartel since his father's arrest in 2014.
• Get Caught Up: 4 Big Questions About The Trump-Ukraine Affair
  Although new pieces of the puzzle are added all the time, some of the biggest questions about the Ukraine pressure campaign — and what Congress may do about it — aren't yet resolved.
• Drone Delivery Is One Step Closer To Reality
  Walgreens is testing out delivery from store to door by drone in Virginia, and UPS won approval to expand air delivery of medical supplies.

CNN©

• Johnson & Johnson recalls baby powder
  Johnson & Johnson announced on Friday that it's initiating a voluntary recall in the United States of its popular Johnson's Baby Powder due to low levels of asbestos contamination.
• Coasters given out to detect date-rape drugs
  College-aged women are as much as four times more susceptible to sexual violence than women of all ages. With that in mind, the University of New Mexico is hoping some drink coasters can potentially prevent the nightmare of sexual assault for students.
• An Alabama 3-year-old has been missing nearly a week. Police hope a new video helps lead them to her
  An Alabama 3-year-old has been missing for nearly a week and -- though there have been moments of hope and anticipation -- no arrests have been made and there is still no sign of the toddler.
• One dead after a plane carrying a high school swim team goes off the runway in Alaska
  One person has died after a plane carrying 42 people, including a high school swim team, went off an airport runway while trying to land Thursday in Alaska.
• Supreme Court to consider rights of asylum seekers to challenge expedited removal orders
  The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to take up a major immigration case concerning the rights of undocumented immigrants seeking asylum to challenge their expedited removal proceedings.
• Pompeo feels frustrated and victimized amid impeachment controversy
  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has become increasingly frustrated in recent weeks by the departure of top State Department officials and claims that he failed to defend the former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, from a smear campaign against her, according to three sources familiar with the situation.
• The guardrails are off the Trump presidency
  Get over it.
• Has the White House tainted Barr's investigation of the Russia probe?
  The Justice Department's investigation into the origins of the Russia election interference probe keeps getting unwanted assists from the White House, raising questions of how the department will be able to defend the legitimacy of any of its eventual findings.
• Sales of tiny Coke cans are soaring. Here's why
  Good things came in small sizes for Coca-Cola last quarter. The company reported sales that topped forecasts, thanks in part to a double-digit increase in volume for its 7.5-ounce mini cans.
• World's largest brewer says rival tried to steal its secret Bud Light recipe
  Anheuser-Busch InBev has accused rival brewer Miller Coors of obtaining the secret recipes for Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, the latest shot in a long running legal dispute.
• Bees are dying. This startup is trying to save them
  One company wants to help farmers adapt to a world of rapidly declining bee populations.
• If you own this phone, remove your screen protector
  Samsung's new high-tech fingerprint reader on the latest Galaxy smartphones has a major flaw: It can be fooled by the residue left by your fingers on a screen protector. The company is warning customers who own the latest Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 phones to remove their screen protectors until Samsung releases a software update.
• Microsoft CEO gets a 66% raise
  Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella got a 66% raise in the company's latest fiscal year.
• NC Zoo's Riley the lion hits an astounding 20 years old
• Bank account set up for woman who lost cash
• Thousands still without power after storm
• One-armed football player nominated for award
• Man pleads guilty to stealing gov. funds
• Teen recounts saving young girl hit by car
• Catholic school turned into haunted mansion
• Train slams into semi-truck
• Double shooting leaves two dead in Baltimore
• Fourth graders run a kind kids compliments business
• Will things return back to normal after partial Hard Rock collapse?
• Man tries to base jump off cell tower, gets caught
• Man arrested after police find sign wedged in car
• Concrete truck rolls over in west Tulsa
• Man, woman arrested after K-9 finds fentanyl
• Kids' play areas vandalized with swastikas