First civilians leave Mariupol steel plant; hundreds remain

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — The first civilians evacuated from the bombed-out steel plant that has become the last stronghold of Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol are slowly making their way toward safety Monday, as others who managed to escape the city describe terrifying weeks of bombardment and deprivation. More than 100 civilians — including elderly women…

Missouri House, Senate GOP push to ban transgender athletes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican-led House has passed legislation aimed at restricting transgender kids’ participation in sports. House members voted 95-46 to require transgender public school students to play on teams that match the sex listed on their birth certificates. Senators also debated a proposal to strip funding from schools that don’t enact…