National News at a Glance

Washington Braces for Battle as FBI Contacts Potential Witnesses to Kavanaugh Claims

The one-week clock on the FBI’s new background investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh began ticking Saturday as Washington braced for the possibility of days of renewed political combat. Law enforcement officials began reaching out to potential witnesses as they look into allegations of sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh. At least one of the potential witnesses who is likely to be interviewed by the FBI — Leland Keyser, who Christine Blasey Ford said was at the high school gathering where the assault is said to have occurred — notified the Judiciary Committee on Saturday morning that she would cooperate with the FBI’s investigation.

Elon Musk and Tesla Settle With SEC in Fraud Case

Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, reached a deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Saturday to resolve a securities fraud case. The settlement will force Musk to step aside as chairman for three years and pay a $20 million fine. The SEC announced the deal two days after it sued Musk in federal court for fraud and misleading investors over his post on Twitter last month that he had “funding secured” for a buyout of the electric-car company at $420 a share. On Friday, Tesla stock dropped about 13 percent. The deal will allow Musk to remain as chief executive officer.

Sloan Kettering Executive Turns Over Windfall Stake in Biotech Startup

Dr. Gregory Raskin, vice president of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who oversees hospital ventures with for-profit companies, has to turn over to the hospital nearly $1.4 million of a windfall stake in Y-mAbs Therapeutics, a biotech company. As compensation for representing the hospital on the biotech company’s board, Raskin received stock options whose value soared when the startup went public a little over a week ago. The move to hand over his stake is one of several steps now underway as the cancer center tries to contain a crisis that has led to the resignation of its chief medical officer and a review of its conflict-of-interest policies.

Next Women’s March Is Set for January, With Main Protest in Washington

After the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh — who has been accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford — advanced Friday to a vote by the full Senate, organizers of the Women’s March said messages came pouring in. People were “enraged,” said Linda Sarsour, chairwoman of the Women’s March, and they wanted to know when the next march would be. Sarsour and her fellow organizers delivered an answer: Jan. 19, 2019. That’s when they plan to hold a third Women’s March, bringing the main demonstration back to Washington, with demonstrations in cities around the world.

Florence Silenced North Carolina’s Political Rancor. But for How Long?

Hurricane Florence’s floodwaters were still in the streets of North Carolina when the dueling branches of the state government started bickering about the aftermath. Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, sought an Oct. 9 start for a special session about storm recovery. The General Assembly’s Republican leaders wanted to return to Raleigh on Sept. 28. They agreed to split the difference and open the session Tuesday. But few people are betting that the dealmaking momentum will last. Hard on the heels of the special legislative session will come a storm-shadowed election that will determine whether Republicans retain veto-proof supermajorities in the Legislature.

Do Migrant Teenagers Have Abortion Rights? Federal Court to Decide

The Trump administration is claiming broad new authority to block access to abortions sought by immigrants in the country illegally who are younger than 18 and are in its custody. The Justice Department argued this past week before a federal appeals court that the government “has a strong, legitimate and profound interest in the life of the child in the womb.” But a lawyer for the young immigrants said efforts to restrict their access to abortion were “blatantly unconstitutional.” The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is hearing the case after a district court judge ruled in March that the Trump administration policy was probably against the law.

Boy, 4, Thrown to His Death From Brooklyn Building by His Brother, Police Say

A 4-year-old boy was thrown to his death from the roof of his seven-story apartment building in Brooklyn by his 20-year-old brother Saturday, police said. The brother, identified by police as Shawn J. Smith, was charged with second-degree murder. Police said he had no criminal record and there was no history of involvement by the Administration of Children’s Services at the home of the boy, Shimron Smith. The boy was found in a rear courtyard and was pronounced dead at the scene. No motive was offered. Police said there was video footage of Smith carrying his brother to the roof.