CHICAGO — Grieving relatives and friends of two people shot and killed by Chicago police say the slayings raised concerns about why officers "shoot first and ask questions later," saying the city failed residents even as a federal civil rights investigation has begun scrutinizing police practices.

GARLAND, Texas — At least 11 people die and dozens are injured in strong tornadoes that sweep through the Dallas area and cause substantial damage this weekend, while 13 people die in flooding in the Midwest.

NEW YORK — With a deeper-than-ever split between Republicans and Democrats over abortion, activists on both sides of the debate foresee a 2016 presidential campaign in which the nominees tackle the volatile topic more aggressively than in past elections.

RIO DE JANEIRO — The unearthing of what was once one of the world's biggest slave ports during a multibillion-dollar renovation of Rio's long derelict port area has sparked heated discussions about how Brazilians handle black heritage sites.

LOS ANGELES — "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has reached $1 billion at the box office, achieving the milestone with record-setting hyper speed. The Walt Disney Co. said "The Force Awakens" crossed the billion-dollar mark Sunday, accomplishing the feat in just 12 days.

DELMAR, New York — Expanding interest in traditional Chinese medicine in the United States is fostering a potentially lucrative new niche market for farmers who plant the varieties of herbs, flowers and trees sought by practitioners.

LOS ANGELES — Haskell Wexler, one of Hollywood's most famous and honored cinematographers and one whose innovative approach helped him win Oscars for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and the Woody Guthrie biopic "Bound for Glory," has died. He was 93.