Biggest news you missed this Labor Day weekend
Europe grapples with worst refugee crisis since World War II
Many people are fleeing war and persecution in places like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea, while many others are seeking a better economic life. Over the weekend, thousands crossed into Germany and Austria — many on foot after trains were canceled — following days effectively marooned in Hungary, which would not let them leave amid confusion over the EU's migration policy. Of the 28 EU nations, Germany is preparing to receive by far the largest number of immigrants, an estimated 800,000 by the end of the year. France and Britain on Monday offered haven to a combined 44,000 migrants. As thousands of refugees from war-torn countries like Syria and Afghanistan poured into Germany and Austria on Sunday, Pope Francis urged "every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary of Europe to take in one family." Here's a more detailed look at why the crisis is surging now.
Philadelphia Eagles release Tim Tebow
On Saturday, the Philadelphia Eagles released Tim Tebow from the NFL team's 53-man roster. Tebow was impressive in the Eagles’ final preseason game against the Jet, and his spot on the final roster was seemingly safe after the team traded Matt Barkley to the Cardinals — but the Eagles chose to release Tebow, anyway. Even on the first Saturday of college football season, Tebow instantly became the top trend on Twitter, and reaction to the news varied wildly. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was trying to return to the NFL after missing two seasons. It's possible Tebow returns to the Eagles if quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez get hurt. He also can come back after the season opener and his contract won't be guaranteed. For now, the Eagles are going forward without him.
Military superintendent takes responsibility for bloody West Point pillow fight
West Point Military Academy’s superintendent took responsibility Saturday for a pillow fight that left 30 new cadets injured — 24 had concussions. Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, the superintendent, released his statement and said some of the freshmen cadets took the rite-of-passage event at the end of their summer training on Aug. 20 too far. The cadets slung pillows filled with hard objects like helmets. Some walked away with broken noses, dislocated shoulders and cheekbone fractures. This is not the first time Caslen has taken responsibility for scandalous behavior.
Burning Man torched, LSD 'father' memorialized
About 70,000 people lit up their 60-foot-tall “Burning Man” on Saturday to end the annual festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. Techies and artists said farewell to days of dust and freestyle living after a week in the pop-up city. Actress Susan Sarandon brought the ashes of Timothy Leary, the father of LSD, to memorialize him. It was a spectacle that not even he probably could have imagined — Sarandon led a march with his ashes into a temporary church. Then after the “Man” smoldered, the festival-goers burned the church. A mass exodus back to civilization and Internet continued through Monday.
Defiant Kentucky clerk Kim Davis still in jail over gay marriage licenses
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Carter County Detention Center in a "Free Kim Davis" rally on Saturday and prayed for the jailed Rowan County clerk, who was locked up just a few hundred feet away. Davis was jailed last week by U.S. District Judge David Bunning for her refusal to follow a court injunction requiring her to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling this summer that made marriage equality the law of the land, Davis stopped issuing marriage licenses altogether saying that issuing licenses to same-sex couples would violate her religion. On Sunday, Davis filed an appeal of the order keeping her in jail.
On Labor Day, Obama grants paid leave to federal contractors
President Obama signed an executive order requiring federal contractors to offer employees up to seven paid sick days a year. The president said that would give more than 300,000 workers paid sick leave for the first time. Obama sought to highlight the sharp divide between Democrats and Republicans on workplace issues heading into the 2016 presidential race in a Labor Day speech to the Greater Boston Labor Council.
Contributing: The Associated Press