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NEW YORK – An Italian truffle-sniffer, a French sheep herder and a small shepherd developed in California are joining the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized dog breeds. The organization announced Monday that the lagotto Romagnolo (lah-GAHT’-toh roh-mahn-YOH’-loh), the berger Picard (behr-ZHAY’ PEEK’-ahr) and the miniature American shepherd will be …

WASHINGTON – A key arts panel has given final approval to a design for a memorial to honor President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, another step toward groundbreaking. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted Thursday to give final approval to Frank Gehry’s design. The commission gave its preliminary approval …

Every time a killer is sentenced to die, a school closes. That is the broad assessment of a growing number of studies taking a cold, hard look at how much the death penalty costs in the 35 states that still have it. Forget justice, morality, the possibility of killing an …

VACAVILLE, Calif. – California inmates are dying of drug overdoses at nearly triple the national rate. It’s unclear whether the tough steps state officials took this year to stop illicit drugs from getting into prisons are having any effect, though they are prompting criticism from civil rights advocates. The Department …

BOSTON – Police say a baby fell from a third-floor apartment deck and hit a tarp and man working behind the Boston building. Authorities say the baby boy, who is between 1 and 2 years old, was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital on Wednesday night after falling from a deck …

CROW AGENCY, Mont. – Four Native American World War II code talkers from Montana have been posthumously honored for their service. The families of the four accepted Congressional Gold Medals for their ancestors’ service Friday during a ceremony in Crow Agency. Code talkers were tribal members who spoke their native …

SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. – Police say a New York mother who couldn’t handle her 4-year-old son tied him to a bush while she went into an apartment to baby-sit. Spring Valley Police Chief Paul Modica says 22-year-old Mery Isabel Quinde-Castro left her son outside for more than 30 minutes Tuesday. …

COARSEGOLD, Calif. – The former head of a California Native American tribe accused in an armed takeover of the tribe’s casino has been sentenced to more than a year behind bars. The Fresno Bee reports (http://bit.ly/1HzuHmf) that Tex McDonald, however, was expected to be released from jail on Friday after …

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Attorneys in federal cases stemming from crimes on American Indian reservations have new guidance on what’s needed to prove a defendant is Indian. Federal authorities have jurisdiction over major crimes on tribal land when the victim, suspect or both are American Indian. A two-part test determines who …

ST. PAUL, Minn. – For decades, the family of Wiljo Matalamaki had been wondering where his Purple Heart medal went. It took a random discovery at a dump and a chance meeting, but nearly half a century after it was lost, the medal will be returned to his relatives Sunday …