PENNSYLVANIA

AME Church marks bicentennial

PHILADELPHIA — The African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded by a freed slave who created a new religion rather than endure racism from white worshipers, is marking its bicentennial in its birthplace of Philadelphia. As many as 30,000 people are in the city for the AME Church’s general conference, which started last Wednesday and runs to this Wednesday. The church, which has been embedded in the struggle for freedom and equality, has more than 2.5 million members. (AP)

CALIFORNIA

Gunman ambushes three outside store

SAN BERNARDINO — Three people, including a 9-year-old boy and his father, were shot to death outside a liquor store in San Bernardino. Police said the shooter was waiting for the victims outside the store late Friday. When they walked out, the shooter approached them from behind. While the motive was under investigation, police believe victim Samathy Mahan, an alleged gang member, was the intended target. (AP)

TENNESSEE

Rains, windstorms leave three dead

NASHVILLE — Severe storms caused three deaths in the eastern part of the state, officials said Saturday. Forecasters warned of heavy rain, winds, and flash flooding in the region over the weekend. A 60-year-old man and 40-year-old woman were killed overnight Friday in Carter County when a tree fell on them while camping. In Knox County, a woman was killed by a falling tree while she was outside during a storm. (AP)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

House approves antidrug measure

The House on Friday overwhelmingly approved a compromise package bolstering federal steps against the use of illicit drugs, as lawmakers of both parties flocked to cast an election-year vote to stem the nation’s surge of deaths among drug addicts. The legislation was approved, 407 to 5, underscoring the broad support it has attracted to combat a problem that has claimed victims across racial, economic, and geographic lines. (AP)

GEORGIA

State set to execute inmate Thursday

ATLANTA — An execution scheduled for Thursday would be the sixth in Georgia this year — the most executions carried out by the state in a calendar year since the death penalty was reinstated four decades ago. John Wayne Conner, 60, is scheduled to die by injection of pentobarbital at the state prison in Jackson. He was convicted of beating a friend to death 34 years ago. (AP)