Minnesota officer acquitted in shooting of black motorist

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A Minnesota police officer was cleared Friday in the fatal shooting of Philando Castile, a black motorist whose death captured national attention when his girlfriend streamed the grim aftermath on Facebook.

Castile’s family stormed out of the courtroom after the verdict was read, and the city of St. Anthony swiftly announced plans to dismiss Officer Jeronimo Yanez, despite his acquittal. Yanez was charged with manslaughter in the death of Castile, a 32-year-old school cafeteria worker, during a July 6 traffic stop that turned deadly seconds after Castile alerted the officer that he was carrying a gun. Castile had a permit for the weapon.

Castile’s shooting was among a string of killings of blacks by police around the U.S., including two other cases on trial this week in Ohio and Wisconsin. The livestreaming of its aftermath by Castile’s girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, who was in the car with her then-4-year-old daughter, attracted even more attention.

Uncertainty over Islamic State leader’s fate: Uncertainty and confusion surrounded the fate of the head of the Islamic State group Friday as Russia announced it may have killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in an airstrike targeting a meeting of Islamic State leaders just outside the group’s self-declared capital in Syria, but U.S. officials said there was no definitive proof of his death. His demise would be a severe blow to the extremist group as it fights to hang on to its strongholds in Syria and Iraq, although it was not clear how much operational control he retains over the organization whose capabilities keep evolving on the battlefield and beyond.

Southwest U.S. preps for 120-degree temps: A potentially record-shattering heat wave is rolling into the Southwest, threatening to bring 120-degree temperatures to parts of Arizona and California. Officials warned of excessive heat across southern Arizona and Nevada, and throughout California’s Central Valley. Officials urged people to stay hydrated, and residents said they’d be drinking lots of water and splashing in pools.