Alabama fire chief: At least 8 died in marina boat dock fire
By JAY REEVES Associated Press
The fire chief in Scottsboro, Alabama, says at least eight people were killed in an explosive fire that consumed at least 35 vessels at a marina along the Tennessee River. Chief Gene Necklaus said all eight people who were known to be missing are confirmed dead, and “that number could go up,” because they don’t know how many were on boats that sank. At least seven people were sent to hospitals suffering from exposure to the water or flames. The fire quickly consumed the dock as people were sleeping, cutting off their escape routes and raining debris into the water.

Investigators work scene of Kobe Bryant’s chopper crash
By STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press
Investigators and coroner’s personnel are working on a rugged hillside outside Los Angeles where a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and eight others crashed in foggy conditions considered dangerous enough that local police agencies grounded their choppers. About 20 investigators are on the scene Monday in Calabasas were Bryant’s helicopter crashed Sunday with an impact that scattered debris over an area the size of a football field and killed everyone aboard. The coroner’s office says three bodies were recovered Sunday afternoon. The accident unleashed an outpouring of grief from admirers of the basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is dismissing a claim by his former national security adviser that could play a major role in his impeachment trial as patently “false.” John Bolton writes in his forthcoming book that Trump told him that he wanted to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from Ukraine until it helped secure investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump and his legal team have repeatedly rejected that claim. A lawyer for acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney slammed the allegations Monday as having “more to do with publicity than the truth.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says that while the Palestinians have already rejected his proposed Mideast peace deal with Israel, he expects they ultimately will agree. The White House plans to announce details on Tuesday. Trump is meeting Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, separately, his chief challenger Benny Gantz. The Palestinians soundly rejecting the plan, but Trump said he expects that while the Palestinians will say no, they will quietly be negotiating a deal. It’s expected to be very favorable to Israel, and Netanyahu has hailed it as a chance to “make history” and define Israel’s final borders.

CALABASAS, Calif. (AP) — Investigators are working on a rugged hillside outside Los Angeles where a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and eight others crashed in foggy conditions considered dangerous enough that local police agencies grounded their choppers. About 20 investigators are on the scene Monday morning in Calabasas were Bryant’s helicopter crashed Sunday with an impact that scattered debris over an area the size of a football field and killed everyone aboard. The accident unleashed an outpouring of grief from admirers around the country who mourned the sudden loss of the all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. health officials say they have no evidence that the new virus from China is spreading in the United States and they believe the risk to Americans remains low. As of Monday, five Americans have been diagnosed with new virus, all of whom traveled to central China. Health officials are investigating who they’ve been in contact with. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say at least 32 people thought to be possible cases have been ruled out. The virus has sickened thousands of people mostly China. Dozens of people have died. The outbreak was first identified in the city of Wuhan in central China.