NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 Police funeral: An Orlando police sergeant who was gunned down allegedly by a wanted fugitive was remembered Saturday at her funeral service for mentoring youth and her dedication to the community she grew up in. Hundreds of law officers and central Florida residents gathered to honor Master Sgt. Debra Clayton, who authorities say was fatally shot Monday by Markeith Loyd, a fugitive who is wanted for the killing of his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Hundreds of officers have been searching for him, and a $100,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to his arrest.
2 Moody’s settlement: Moody’s Corp. of New York City has agreed to pay almost $864 million to settle federal and state claims that it gave inflated ratings to risky mortgage investments in the years leading up to the financial crisis. The deal announced Friday was struck among the rating agency, the Justice Department and the attorneys general for 21 states, including California, and the District of Columbia. It calls for $437.5 million to go to the Justice Department and $426.3 million to be divided among the states.
3 Obama address: President Obama called Saturday on all Americans to “throw ourselves into the work of citizenship,” regardless of party. In the final radio and Internet address of his presidency, Obama said the country’s success depends on everyone participating — not just at election time, but during the course of one’s lifetime. Obama said every American holds the title of “citizen,” despite their many differences. He added that “citizen” is a title he’s looking forward to reclaiming after eight years as president.
4 Zion closure: A rockslide has closed about two miles of a scenic drive inside Zion National Park in southern Utah. No one was injured, but officials said Zion Scenic Drive is impassable just north of Zion Lodge and will remain closed until further notice. The slide occurred late Friday, covering both lanes of the road with about 200 tons of boulders and debris that stretch about four car lengths. It’s not known when the closed stretch of road will reopen. Park officials say workers and geologists must wait for the area to dry out and assess the damage before removing the debris.
5 Riverboat cruise: Missouri’s U.S. senators are trying to get the famous riverboat the Delta Queen cruising again on the Mississippi River. Legislation filed by Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Roy Blunt would reinstate an exemption for the Delta Queen to the federal Safety of Life at Sea Act, which prohibits overnight excursions on wooden vessels. The law was passed in 1966, but the Delta Queen was granted an exemption until 2008. It has been docked since then. The 285-foot-long vessel, immortalized in poems and songs, is in dry dock in Houma, La. Last year, the company opened a restaurant and gift shop in Kimmswick, Mo., 24 miles south of St. Louis, and plans to move the riverboat to the Missouri site if cruising is allowed.