CALIFORNIA MAN KILLS EXWIFE, 4 OTHERS AND SELF

ANGELES» A gunman in

LOS

Southern California fatally shot his exwife and a man at a trucking company before chasing after another man, killing him, and then driving to a home where he shot dead a father and daughter in a nearly 40minute rampage.

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood identified the killer as 54yearold Javier Casarez at a news conference about the shootings that claimed five victims in Bakersfield, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles.

Casarez fatally shot himself as a deputy closed in on him shortly after the shootings.

Court records show Casarez filed for a divorce from his wife, Petra Maribel Bolanos de Casarez, in December.

U.S., Cuba meet on mysterious “health attacks” in Havana.

WASHINGTON» As American authorities search for answers into mysterious “health attacks” that began two years ago in Havana, U.S. and Cuban officials met Thursday to renew efforts to determine the method and motive behind incidents that have left some diplomats with brain injuries.

The talks at the State Department came as national security agencies and members of Congress express frustration about the lack of answers about what the U.S says were deliberate attacks on some two dozen staffers at the U.S. Embassy in the Cuban capital.

Recent reports have suggested investigators have narrowed their suspicions about the cause and culprit, although State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert denied that any conclusions had been drawn about either.

Senator gives feds “information” on Supreme Court nominee.

WASHINGTON» Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Thursday she has notified federal investigators about information she received — and won’t disclose publicly — concerning Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

The California Democrat said in a statement that she “received information from an individual concerning the nomination.” She said the person “strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision.”

Federal court rules against DeVos in forprofit fraud case.

WASHINGTON» A federal court has ruled that it was “arbitrary and capricious” for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to delay an Obamaera rule meant to protect students swindled by forprofit colleges. The decision is a significant blow to the Trump administration’s attempt to ease regulations for the industry.

A judge in the nation’s capital ruled Wednesday in favor of Democratic attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia and former students. They had sued DeVos over her decision last year to postpone the rules finalized under President Barack Obama.

Pope OKs probe into U.S. bishop as he meets with U.S. delegation.

VATICAN

» Pope Francis accepted CIT Y the resignation of a U.S. bishop Thursday and authorized an investigation into allegations that he sexually harassed adults, adding awkward drama to an audience with U.S. church leaders over the abuse and coverup scandal roiling the Catholic Church.

The resignation of West Virginia Bishop Michael Bransfield was announced just as U.S. delegation was sitting down with Francis in his private study in the Apostolic Palace. Among the four was Bransfield’s cousin, Monsignor Brian Bransfield, secretarygeneral of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.