World: A new video released by the Islamic State appears to confirm the death of American aid worker Peter Kassig, who was taken captive in Syria a year ago. The video does not show the killing, but does show a severed head. The footage has not yet been verified.

> President Obama said yesterday in Australia that he would continue sanctions against Russia as it violates an agreement to stay out of the Ukraine conflict. Russia recently sent in troops and heavy weapons. Obama said he is “very firm on the need to uphold core international principles, and one of those principles is you don’t invade other countries.” The president described his conversation with Russia’s Vladimir Putin at the G-20 Summit as “businesslike and blunt.”

> Recovery crews have begun removing the wreckage of Malaysia flight MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July.

Healthcare.Gov: The Obama administration reports that half a million people signed up for 2015 healthcare policies under the Affordable Care Act yesterday. Some computer delays were reported, but generally things were much smoother than the disastrous rollout a year ago.

Frozen. Missoula, Mt., 5; North Platte, NE, 14; Sandusky, OH, 33; Boston, 38.

The Cosby Show: Allegations of rape against comedian Bill Cosby resurfaced this week. A woman named Barbara Bowman said she’s not giving up her claim that Cosby, now 77, repeatedly raped her in 1985 when she was a 17-year-old aspiring actress. “I’m certain now that he drugged and raped me,” Bowman wrote in The Washington Post about the gentle father-figure of comedy.

Cosby has previously been accused by as many as dozen women, and he gave at least one of them a financial settlement.In an interview yesterday about Cosby’s collection of African art, NPR’s Scott Simon put the question to him.

Simon: “This question gives me no pleasure, Mr. Cosby, but there have been serious allegations raised about you in recent days.”

Cosby: [Silence]

Simon: “You’re shaking your head no. I’m in the news business. I have to ask the question. Do you have any response to those charges?”

Cosby: [Silence]

SIMON: “Shaking your head no. There are people who love you who might like to hear from you about this. I want to give you the chance.”

Cosby: [Silence]

Animal House: West Virginia University has ordered a halt to all fraternity and sorority activities following the death of a student found unresponsive in a frat house. A local newspaper reported that freshman Nolan Burch,18, had taken part in a drinking challenge. Police said the initial call was for an alcohol-related incident but wouldn’t say alcohol was the cause of Burch’s death. They’re still investigating.

Easy Go: Investor Carl Icahn lost $40 million in the value of his Hertz rental car stock on Friday, and that’s not the worst of it. Icahn bought the stock saying the company was undervalued, but had some issues that needed work. And he was right. Other investors got the message and dumped Hertz. The value of Icahn’s 8 ½ percent share of the company has dropped by a total of $330 million.

The Welfare State: In the past year the state of Montana has issued 800 permits for people to legally collect road kill and take it home to cook it up. Most of the animals are deer with a handful of moose. Proud legislators say they’re getting meat into the freezers of people who can use it. And it clears the roads of dead animals.

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