Thursday morning news: August 17, 2023

Hawaii » Search and recovery teams in Hawaii are still combing through the charred remains of what was once the picturesque town of Lahaina.

FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said her agency is sending more cadaver dogs to Maui.

CRISWELL: The dogs have to navigate the heat. They have to deal with issues with their paws, walking through glass and debris. And in these conditions, the dogs require frequent rest.

More than 100 people have already been confirmed dead, with many more still missing.

President Biden will travel to Maui on Monday to survey the damage … with many survivors now homeless.

One resident said Wednesday:

RESIDENT: We went to see our home yesterday, and there’s nothing left. Nothing left. Our town is devastated.

FEMA has also opened its first disaster relief center on the Island of Maui.

Some abortion drug limits upheld by appeals court » A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld some limits on mail-order access to abortion drugs. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Three judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the abortion drug mifepristone could keep its FDA approval.

But it left intact part of a lower court ruling that would end mail-order availability of the drug, and allow its use through only the seventh week of pregnancy rather than the 10th. The court also upheld a rule requiring a doctor to be present when the drug is administered.

But due to a previous Supreme Court order, those restrictions can’t take effect until the high court weighs in.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

North Korea soldier » North Korea is now acknowledging that it has a U.S. Army soldier in custody after willfully crossing the border from South Korea.

The North claims that Private Travis King sought refuge there after suffering racial discrimination and abuse in the U.S. Army.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said bear in mind, that report is coming from North Korean state media.

JEAN-PIERRE: We would caution everyone to consider the source here. That is incredibly important as we’re hearing the report. We can’t verify the comments that are being attributed to Private King.

King entered the country last month after skipping his flight back to the U.S. where he faced disciplinary action over an alleged assault.

GOP Iowa campaigns » Republican White House hopefuls continue to court voters in Iowa. With less than a week to go until the first debate, candidates have been out in force at the state fair this week.

As one fairgoer told ABC News, they all want to look like a man of the people, so to speak.

FAIRGOER: You’re eating a pork chop on a stick. You’re doing a deep-fried Snickers, you’re trying a lot of different things. You act like you like everything.

There are, of course, a few speeches and interviews mixed in.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said, if elected, he’ll shake up the Justice Department.

DESANTIS: You’re gonna see the DOJ cleared out. We’re going to ensure a single standard of justice in this country again.

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina said, at the local level, too many police jobs remain vacant.

SCOTT: Instead of defunding them, let’s re-fund the police.

The fair wraps up this weekend, just ahead of Wednesday’s presidential debate in Milwaukee.

U.N. Taliban crimes » A top U.N. official wants the Taliban to face charges for crimes against humanity.

U.N. Global Education Envoy Gordon Brown cited the oppression of women, including laws that bar them from most jobs and limit girls to a 6th-grade education.

GORDON: This is the worst example of the abuse of human rights against girls and women around the world and if we allow this to happen and continue with impunity, then others may try to do exactly the same.

The extreme Islamist government has even banned women from certain public places, even with a male chaperone.

Gordon wants the International Criminal Court to bring charges.

New Jersey schools » A judge in New Jersey is considering whether public school officials in three districts must inform parents if their children identify as transgender. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher reports.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: The state sued the districts after they adopted a policy of notifying parents if their children used opposite-sex pronouns or restrooms.

A school board president says that parents can’t help their children if they don’t know what’s going on.

The New Jersey Department of Education has a policy of unquestioningly accepting student requests to identify as the opposite sex.

Roughly a hundred parents and children protested outside the courthouse during arguments this week.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Target sales » Meantime, retail giant Target is still feeling the backlash over its Pride Month displays, which included items for children.

Sales fell 5% in the quarter ending last month, its first quarterly drop in six years. And the retailer just lowered its profit outlook for the year.

But the company says that’s largely due to inflation and other economic factors.

Target says it will continue to celebrate LGBT pride, but with some changes.

I’m Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Afghans trying to find a sense of home in America. Plus, getting enrolled in the rat academy.

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