Confidence falls over pope’s handling of abuse crisis

NEW YORK — As sex abuse scandals continue to buffet the Roman Catholic Church, Catholics in the U.S. are steadily losing confidence in Pope Francis’ handling of the crisis, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. The survey, released Tuesday, found that 31 percent of U.S. Catholics felt the pope was doing an excellent or good job in addressing the issue, down from 45 percent in January and 55 percent in 2015.

Indonesia toll up to 1,234

PALU, Indonesia — Aid was trickling into areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami that struck a central Indonesian island. The official death toll was 1,234 and hundreds were injured, but officials acknowledge scores of uncounted bodies could still be buried in collapsed buildings in Sigi and Balaroa.

Scrawny dwarf planet found well beyond Pluto

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A scrawny dwarf planet nicknamed the Goblin has been discovered well beyond Pluto. A round frozen world just 186 miles across, the Goblin was spotted by astronomers in 2015 around Halloween, thus its spooky name. But it wasn’t publicly unveiled until Tuesday following further observations with ground telescopes.

Owner of bowling alley dies in pin-setting machine

FLORENCE, Colo. — The owner of a southern Colorado bowling alley died after getting stuck in a pin-setting machine. Police in Florence said they responded to a call early Sunday afternoon and found 65-year-old Ector Rodriguez of Penrose stuck in the machine at Fremont Lanes. He was unconscious and not breathing. Responders determined he had died. The death is believed to be an accident.