NASHVILLE (BP) – Two Southern Baptist pastors with recent leadership experience in addressing sexual abuse in the SBC will fill similar roles with the Abuse Response Implementation Task Force. Marshall Blalock, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charleston, S.C., will be chair while Mike Keahbone, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lawton, Okla., will serve as vice chair, SBC President Bart Barber announced Monday.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have lost defensive tackle Vincent Taylor to a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon. Coach Arthur Smith announced Taylor’s injury following practice. Following the retirement of Eddie Goldman before training camp, Taylor’s injury leaves the Falcons without two veterans who had been projected to play prominent roles on the defensive line.

ATLANTA –The Georgia Department of Revenue issued new guidance Tuesday explaining how the state’s new abortion law will affect taxes. The “heartbeat law” bans most abortions in Georgia after about six weeks of pregnancy, and also redefines “person” to include an unborn child, with implications for a number of areas of Georgia law, including taxes.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have acquired superstar outfielder Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals in one of baseball’s biggest deals at the trade deadline. The Padres vaulted their postseason chances by adding one of the game’s best young hitters. The Padres also obtained first baseman Josh Bell while sending a haul of players to Washington that included left-handed rookie MacKenzie Gore, first baseman/DH Luke Voit and prospects James Wood, C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III and Jarlin Susana.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) — Jeremy Pierre has seen Southern Seminary from virtually every side, as a student and a professor. Now, he is stepping into another important role at Southern. President Albert Mohler this week announced the appointment of Pierre as the sixth dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Ministry.

Native Americans called it, “The Year the Stars Fell.” A meteor shower in November 1833 was one of the most spectacular light shows in history. For nine hours, it's estimated between 50,000 and 150,000 meteors per hour lit the night sky. Newspapers reported that people thought it was the second coming. Many ran for cover and prayed. On the other hand, Native Americans considered meteors good luck and a shower like this was considered a good omen.

WASHINGTON (BP) — While the nation’s economic challenges are ongoing, GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck said the words of 1 Samuel 7:12 are guiding the GuideStone team. In the passage, as the prophet sets up the stone of help — Ebenezer — Samuel says, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

JENKINS, Ky. – Yards in this tiniest of Kentucky towns are piled high with soggy mattresses, sofas and other furnishings ruined by last week’s deadly flashfloods. Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief crews are in Jenkins and nearby Fleming-Neon helping victims with cleanup in the aftermath of the flooding that killed at least 37 people.

ATLANTA (AP) — The World Series champion Atlanta Braves have bolstered their starting staff ahead of the trade deadline by giving up a reliever who played a big part in their 2021 title. Poised for another postseason run, the Braves dealt former closer Will Smith to the Houston Astros for right-hander Jake Odorizzi.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky appeals court has reinstated a near-total abortion ban that took effect when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. That means most abortions are now illegal in Kentucky. Attorney General Daniel Cameron asked the state appeals court for an emergency stay, which blocked a lower court’s ruling. That ruling by a Louisville judge last month put two abortion bans on hold so the courts could determine if they violate Kentucky’s constitution.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has arrived in Taiwan despite threats from Beijing of serious consequences, becoming the highest-ranking American official in 25 years to visit the self-ruled island claimed by China. Pelosi’s visit has triggered increased tension between China and the United States. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and views visits by foreign government officials as recognition of the island’s sovereignty.

ST. SIMONS, Ga. - On a recent warm and clear evening on Coast Guard Beach on St. Simons, as beachgoers lounged in the sand and waded into the waves, a group of volunteers circled around the …

As I reflect on my summer as an intern with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and Mission Georgia, I can recount stories of both the miraculous and the mundane. Mission Georgia serves as a connection point to connect, collaborate with, and support churches as they seek to serve their community. The value and importance of connecting and networking were one of the very first things I learned during my time here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — American employers posted fewer job openings in June as the economy contends with raging inflation and rising interest rates. The Labor Department said Tuesday that job openings fell to a still-high 10.7 million in June from 11.3 million in May. In its monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, the Labor Department said that the number of Americans quitting their jobs fell slightly in June while layoffs fell.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The rain that unleashed massive floods in Appalachian mountain communities is diminishing, but now the people face a new threat: Baking in the heat as they try to recover. More bodies are emerging from the sodden landscape, and the death toll now stands at 37. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says more than 1,300 people have been rescued, and crews are still trying to reach some people who've been cut off by floods or mudslides.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Renowned author Stephen King is set to take the stand at a federal antitrust trial in Washington, D.C. King is scheduled to be a witness for the Justice Department on Tuesday as it bids to block the proposed merger of two of the world's biggest publishers, No. 1 U.S. publisher Penguin Random House and No. 4 Simon & Schuster.

ORLINDA, Tenn. (BP) — Bivocational Pastor Mark Carroll is the only paid staff member at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, a congregation of about 50 worshipers in the farming community of Orlinda, Tenn., where less than 1,000 people live. But the church is embracing its cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention in creating ministry spaces safe and free from sexual abuse, Carroll told Baptist Press.

CANTON, Ga. – Christian Brothers Automotive announced Friday that it will partner with American Legion Thomas M. Brady Post 45 and the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program to expand the shop’s already existing veteran vehicle donation program. The program provides donated vehicles to disabled veterans. This includes formerly homeless veterans who have demonstrated the need for a vehicle to get to and from work and single female veterans with the need to transport their children.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The U.S. drone strike that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri is intensifying global scrutiny of Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. They had pledged not to harbor members of the extremist group as they seek desperately needed international aid after overthrowing Kabul’s Western-backed government. Al-Zawahri’s killing raises questions about whether the Taliban leadership knew one of America’s most-wanted fugitives lived among their elite.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The seeds of the U.S. counterterrorism operation that killed al-Qaida's leader were planted over many months. Years of efforts by U.S. intelligence operatives under four presidents to track Ayman al-Zawahri paid dividends earlier this year, when they located him at a safe house in Kabul, Afghanistan.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The first cargo ship to leave Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor more than five months ago is sailing off the coast of Bulgaria as it heads toward Istanbul. The voyage puts to the test an agreement signed last month between Moscow and Kyiv that aims to help alleviate a global food crisis. Officials say the Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni is expected to reach Istanbul early Wednesday.

NEW YORK (AP) — Only two of the top 300 picks in baseball’s amateur draft failed to reach agreements by the deadline. The highest selection not to sign was Oklahoma State third baseman Nolan McLean, selected 81st by Baltimore with the first pick of the third round, which had a slot value of $794,000. Florida pitcher Brandon Sproat also failed to sign after the New York Mets selected him 90th, which had a slot value of $691,300.

ATLANTA (AP) — All-Star third baseman Austin Riley and the Atlanta Braves agreed Monday to a $212 million, 10-year contract that starts in 2023, the most lucrative deal in team history and a surprise given he had three additional seasons under club control. Additionally, the Braves acquired veteran corner outfielder Robbie Grossman and re-acquired infielder Ehire Adrianza in trades.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. drone strike has killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in Afghanistan, according to five people familiar with the matter. Current and former officials began hearing Sunday afternoon that al-Zawahri had been killed in a drone strike, but the administration delayed releasing the information until his death could be confirmed, according to one person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Another round of rainstorms is hitting flooded Kentucky mountain communities. The rain fell Monday as more bodies emerged from the sodden landscape, and the governor warned that high winds could bring another threat — falling trees and utility poles. Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll rose to 35, and hundreds of others remain unaccounted for.