WOODSTOCK, Ga. (AP) — The Ford Motor Co. says it plans to appeal a $1.7 billion verdict against the automaker after a pickup truck crash claimed the lives of a Georgia couple. A Georgia jury returned the verdict late last week. Lawyers for the couple confirmed the verdict. The civil case involved what the plaintiffs’ lawyers called dangerously defective roofs on Ford pickup trucks.

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta outfielder Marcell Ozuna was booed by the home fans in his return, Kyle Tucker singled to drive in Yordan Alvarez for the go-ahead run in the eighth and the Houston Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 to avoid a three-game sweep. José Urquidy won his 12th game for the AL-leading Astros.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — Kyle Larson beat Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott on a restart with five laps to go and won the weather-delayed NASCAR Cup race at Watkins Glen International on Sunday. Elliott had control of the race late, but a caution gave Larson a chance and he took advantage, moving Elliott to the left coming out of the first turn and pulling away for a weekend Xfinity-Cup sweep.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Juan José Purata scored in the 77th minute to offset a second-half brace by Columbus’ Cucho Hernández, helping Atlanta United earn a 2-2 draw with the Crew. The two teams waited out a lengthy rain delay before Atlanta United (7-10-9) went out and failed to win for an 11th straight time on the road, three off the team record.

KABUL, Afghanistan (BP) – Christians in Afghanistan are forced into greater secrecy and largely cut off from humanitarian aid, International Christian Concern  said in its report on the first anniversary of U.S. withdrawal from the Muslim country.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The United States and South Korea began their biggest combined military training in years Monday as they heighten their defense posture against the growing North Korean nuclear threat.

COMMERCE, Ga. – If Pastor Chuck Cook had to put his finger on just one factor that has led to the revitalization of Beaverdam Baptist Church, he would point to a palpable feeling of love that visitors experience when they walk through the doors. “Everyone who visits, they feel that love,” Cook said. “The congregation has such a welcoming nature about them. A high percentage of our first-time visitors come back. They get plugged in. And they invite their friends to come. The excitement is contagious.”

At least 40 people have died and others are missing in flash floods triggered by intense monsoon rains in northern India over the past three days. An official government release Sunday said …

VILLA RICA, GA – Those who attended the annual session of the Georgia Baptist Convention last year will remember that one of the most thrilling aspects of the meeting was the music of the choir of First Baptist Church of Villa Rica, where GBC president Kevin Williams is pastor. Georgia Baptists will gather in Augusta at Warren Baptist Church November 13-15 to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of our state convention and once again the music should be spectacular.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Islamic militants have stormed a hotel in Somalia’s capital, engaging in an hours-long exchange of fire with the security forces that left at least 20 people dead. That's according to police and witnesses, who said, in addition, at least 40 people were wounded in the late Friday night attack. They said Saturday that security forces rescued many others, including children, from the scene at Mogadishu’s popular Hayat Hotel.

ATLANTA — A federal judge ruled Friday that the federal government should not have blocked a proposal to reform Georgia Medicaid. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and other leaders had sought permission from the federal government to change Georgia’s Medicaid program.

Walmart, the nation’s largest employer, is expanding its abortion coverage for employees after staying largely mum on the issue following the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. In a memo sent to employees on Friday, the company said its health care plans will now cover abortion for employees “when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability.”

MATTAPOISETT, Mass. (AP) — Several boats, buildings and vessels were destroyed by a large fire at a Massachusetts boatyard. Aerial video taken by WCVB-TV on Friday showed several boats and vehicles at the boatyard in Mattapoisett either burned out shells or being consumed by flames.

NEW ORLEANS - Jamie Dew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College president, welcomed new and returning students during Convocation and urged them to remember that worship is an encounter with God. “Never forget, when we deal with the things of God, we deal with the Almighty, the One who created with the simple word … when we come into His presence, acknowledge Him for who He is,” Dew said Tuesday at Leavell Chapel.

WAKE FOREST, N.C.  -  Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern President Danny Akin charged students to be faithful to the Great Commission and to remain content in Christ, at the schools' 2022 convocation. Akin challenged students, staff, and faculty to be content in Christ wherever God calls them, narrating the life and ministry of Betsey Stockton as an inspiring story of faith in Christ and faithfulness to the Great Commission. 

ATLANTA – Georgia’s plan for a network of electric vehicle charging stations crisscrossing the Peach State is in the hands of the Federal Highway Administration. But the state won’t be able to start tapping into $135 million in federal funds set aside to build EV charging stations in Georgia until the General Assembly sets rules for what is now a fledgling industry.

ROME, Ga.  – Shorter University begins celebrating its 150th anniversary year this Fall, having completed several major capital improvements just in time for students’ arrival back on campus. Building projects, including dorm renovations, new science labs, and athletic facility upgrades, are being completed in time for the University’s sesquicentennial academic year.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A British man nicknamed one of the Beatles by his captives because of his English accent has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the deaths of four U.S. hostages captured by the Islamic State. Prosecutors say El Shafee Elsheikh is the most notorious member of the Islamic State ever to be convicted at trial in a U.S. court. A jury found him guilty of hostage-taking resulting in the deaths of Americans James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller.

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. It was the second arrest in as many years for Ozuna. He was arrested on May 29, 2021, on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery. Those charges were dropped after he completed a pretrial diversion program. Now Ozuna is facing more legal problems after his DUI arrest.

ATLANTA (AP) — A man who opened fire after being robbed outside a mall has been convicted of murder in the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl. Kennedy Maxie was struck while riding in a car with her family after a day of Christmas shopping in Atlanta. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Daquan Reed faces sentencing on August 29 after being found guilty Thursday by a Fulton County jury.

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas (BP) – The new school year can be especially tumultuous for children in foster care, Union Baptist Church Senior Pastor Jacob Smith learned as the church prayed about the viability of a foster care ministry. Seeing God affirm the ministry, Smith contacted Journey Road, a new non-profit, nondenominational foster care ministry in Pickton, Texas, to learn about current needs.

SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington Supreme Court says that under state law, it’s OK for judges to award extraordinary damages in so-called “wrongful life” cases where a child has birth defects that require extensive care. The unanimous decision Thursday came in the case of a woman who became pregnant after a federally funded health clinic mistakenly gave her a shot of flu vaccine instead of a contraceptive. Her child was born with severe disabilities and a federal judge awarded the family $10 million.

PARIS (AP) — Violent thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds in France and Italy have left at least eight people dead. The winds uprooted trees and ripped away a restaurant roof on Thursday. The French weather service says the storm produced gusts of more than 135 mph in some areas.

MADRID (AP) — Authorities say a large wildfire burning out of control in Spain's eastern Valencia area has become one of the country's biggest wildfires of the year. The blaze has already scorched 47,000 acres along an 85-mile perimeter. As the blaze raged for a fifth day Friday, 35 aircraft were deployed to fight the flames from the air.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Two planes collided in Northern California while trying to land at a local airport and at least two of the three occupants were killed. Officials say multiple fatalities were reported but it was not immediately clear whether anyone survived.