‘Two and a Half Men’ star Conchata Ferrell dies at 77
By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Conchata Ferrell, who became known for her role as Berta the housekeeper on TV’s “Two and a Half Men,” has died. Ferrell was 77.  A publicist says the actor died in Los Angeles following cardiac arrest, with her family at her side. Ferrell gained fame on the sitcom after a long career as a character actor on stage and in movies, including “Mystic Pizza” and “Network.”  Ferrell received two supporting actress Emmy nominations for “Two and a Half Men,” and an Emmy nod for her role as Susan Bloom on “L.A. Law.” She is survived by her husband, Arnie Anderson, and her daughter, Samantha.

Fighting in swing states, Trump also forced to play defense
By JONATHAN LEMIRE, WILL WEISSERT, KEVIN FREKING and BILL BARROW Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is being forced to play Electoral College defense with a trip to Iowa, a state he won handily in 2016 but where Democrat Joe Biden is making a late push. Trump’s heavy travel this week, including his rally Wednesday in Des Moines, reflects his uphill climb three weeks before the election. Trump has visited Pennsylvania and Florida and will head to another battleground state, North Carolina, that he likely can’t win without. Also on Trump’s schedule is Georgia, another state he once thought was in his grasp but where recent polling shows Biden improving. Biden doesn’t have any public campaign events scheduled Wednesday.

Supreme Court halts census in latest twist of 2020 count
By MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press
The Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration can end census field operations early, in a blow to efforts to make sure minorities are properly counted in the crucial once-a-decade tally. The decision is not a total loss for plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to end the count early. They managed to get nearly two extra weeks of counting people as the case made its way through the courts. However, it increased the chances of the Trump administration retaining control of the process that decides how many congressional seats each state gets — and by extension how much voting power each state has.

Retiree checks to rise 1.3% in 2021 amid coronavirus fallout
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Social Security recipients will get a modest 1.3% cost-of living-increase in 2021, but that might be small comfort amid worries about the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences for older people. Government estimates released Tuesday show the increase amounts to $20 a month for the average retired worker. The estimated average Social Security payment for a retired worker would be $1,543 a month. The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, affects the personal finances of about 1 in 5 Americans. The economic fallout from the virus reduced tax collections for Social Security and Medicare. But there’s been no real discussion of either program in the election contest between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

NASA moon-landing tech hitches ride to space on Bezos rocket
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Bezos’ space company has launched a rocket with NASA’s newest moon-landing tech on board. The New Shepard rocket blasted off from a remote corner of Texas on Tuesday. The entire flight by the company Blue Origin lasted just 10 minutes, barely skimming space with a peak altitude of 66 miles. The booster landed vertically back at the launch complex, giving NASA the opportunity to test navigation equipment that could help put astronauts back on the moon by 2024. This particular rocket has now launched seven times, a record for Blue Origin. The capsule, meanwhile, parachuted onto the desert floor with science experiments, including 1.2 million tomato seeds that will be distributed to schoolchildren.

FBI: Groups also discussed kidnapping Virginia governor
By DAVID EGGERT and KATHLEEN FOODY Associated Press
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — An FBI agent testified during a court hearing in Michigan that members of anti-government paramilitary groups discussed kidnapping Virginia’s governor during a June meeting in Ohio. Special Agent Richard Trask was part of the investigation that led to six men being arrested and charged last week with plotting to abduct Michigan’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer. Seven other men face state terrorism charges. Trask on Tuesday did not name Virginia’s Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, during his testimony in a federal courtroom in Grand Rapids. He said members of anti-government groups from multiple states attended the meeting. Five men accused in a plot to kidnap Whitmer had a hearing on whether they should be detained before trial.

Apple unveils new iPhones for faster 5G wireless networks
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE and TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writers
Apple unveiled four new iPhones equipped with technology for use with faster new 5G wireless networks. Starting prices range from almost $700 to almost $1100; the phones will be available starting later in October. Apple has one of the most loyal and affluent customer bases in the world, which has many analysts betting the next wave of phones will sell well. Apple boasted about the 5G capabilities, although promised ultrafast speeds remain uncommon, given that 5G networks are still being built out. In a move that may annoy some consumers, Apple will no longer include charging adapters with new phones.