Reuters US Domestic News Summary

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Exotic species appear off California thanks to an unusually strong El Niño

The longfin bigeye fish was spotted in California for the first ​time last month, and the first sea turtles of any kind nested on California beaches. Meanwhile, a venomous yellow-bellied sea ​snake swam ashore as whale sharks and hammerheads cruised just off the coast. Exotic species have been ‌visiting ​California's shores since an unusually strong El Niño weather phenomenon arrived this year. Occurring naturally every few years, El Niño brings warm ocean water farther north, and tropical species with it, providing California with a stunning visual display that has become ever more evident with the advent of drone and video technology.

Driver released after pickup truck kills 2, injures 10 at Kansas youth soccer game

The woman who was ‌driving a pickup truck that entered a Kansas soccer field during a youth match, killing a man and 6-year-old boy, was released without charges while the investigation continues, authorities said on Sunday. Investigators interviewed the 34-year-old woman, whom authorities have not publicly identified, and consulted with the Sedgwick County district attorney's office before releasing her, the Wichita Police Department said in a statement.

US resumes intelligence-sharing with Ukraine after pause, Zelenskiy says

The United States has resumed providing Ukraine critical intelligence to help it defend against Russian missile strikes, after a brief pause, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in comments published on ‌Sunday. Ukraine has relied on US intelligence to spot the fast-moving ballistic missiles that Russia has fired in waves at its cities. US President Donald Trump had said earlier this week that Washington was still sharing intelligence, although Ukrainian officials said some Russian strikes had occurred ‌without warning.

Trump says Washington golf course renovation to start in November, despite judge's order

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his administration would begin renovation work next month on a historic Washington golf course that a federal judge had ordered could not proceed without prior court notification. The renovation work, which Trump earlier this year had said would begin in September, has become the subject of a lawsuit over environmental and historic preservation concerns.

Trump threatens California officials with imprisonment over stance on mail ballots

The US Justice Department on Friday warned Los Angeles County and California election officials they could be liable as abettors of a federal crime if they count mail ballots returned by more than ⁠20,000 people the ​Trump administration says are probably noncitizens. The warning to the Los Angeles County Assistant Counsel ⁠Peter Bollinger came less than three weeks before the November 3 midterm elections and days after the department gave California 48 hours to review a list of alleged noncitizen voters or face legal action. On Thursday, the Justice Department sued California to block the state from counting the ballots.

Roy Cooper's North Carolina playbook is working. Can ⁠other Democrats copy it?

North Carolina hasn’t elected a Democrat to the US Senate in nearly 20 years, but former Governor Roy Cooper has built a double-digit lead over Republican Michael Whatley by relentlessly focusing on affordability and a blunt promise to “make stuff cost less.” At campaign stops, Cooper, 69, points to his six-year fight ​to expand Medicaid through a Republican-controlled legislature as evidence he can work across party lines, while attacking Trump-backed healthcare cuts that he says are hitting North Carolinians hard.

Rubio says Trump to take up to 60 days to weigh Russia sanctions

The day after ⁠waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation. Rubio said on Saturday that the president will use up to 60 days to assess the economic impact of Russia-related ⁠sanctions ​and tariffs that he waived a day earlier.

Trump mocks popularity of the name Mohammad, common among Muslims

US President Donald Trump made a joke about the popularity of the name Mohammad in the Muslim world as he mocked Iran's presidency during a campaign speech on Friday. "You know, if you're in doubt about somebody's name from the Middle East, just say 'Mohammad,'" Trump told a crowd in Dalton, Georgia. "You have about a 65% chance. 'Hello, Mohammad.' I've done it for years now. I've never been wrong."

Trump faults aides as Republican midterm prospects dim

President Donald Trump is ⁠blaming senior aides and political operatives for a faltering midterm strategy, questioning campaign spending, faulting redistricting and second-guessing candidate choices as Republicans fight to retain control of Congress, said three people familiar with internal discussions.

Trump is not on the November 3 ballot but repeatedly ⁠tells supporters to pretend that he is, hoping to mobilize voters who might otherwise ⁠skip the election. He has embarked on a frenetic campaign schedule while largely avoiding acknowledging his own role in shaping the strategy and how his unpopularity is weighing on Republican candidates in competitive races.

Two killed, including 6-year-old, when truck drives through Kansas youth soccer game, police say

A truck drove into a youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas, leaving a six-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man dead, and 10 others ‌hospitalized with traumatic injuries, police said on Saturday. The ‌injuries ranged from minor to severe, but none appear to be life threatening, Wichita police Captain Aaron Moses said at a news conference. The ​two people killed were pronounced dead at the scene, he said.