November marks the start of National Native American Heritage Month. It's a time to celebrate the diverse histories and cultures of hundreds of tribal communities across the U.S. In Alaska, a family carries on a tradition of harvesting salmonberries even after a devastating typhoon. In North Carolina, a group of Indigenous girls convinced tribal lawmakers to grant rights to a river. And in Oklahoma, a tattoo artist is working to revitalize ancestral markings. U.S. presidents have issued proclamations for decades honoring Native peoples in the month that coincides with the traditional harvest season.

A rain-soaked swath of the Southwest U.S. has endured additional flooding after days of rain forced evacuations and water rescues. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch Sunday for much of the Four Corners region — the meeting point of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. At least one tornado touched down in New Mexico. Though local officials forecast further receding of swollen rivers, they say many residents remain evacuated and without power. The area has experienced unusually heavy rain since last Wednesday that has surged rivers, flooding homes and forcing water rescues. Officials say they're not aware of any deaths.

The Trump administration's top border official is defending plans to build a wall in Texas' Big Bend region. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott argues the entire $46 billion wall project is essential for U.S. border security. This comes despite opposition from landowners, businesses and environmentalists in Texas. A judge recently paused construction, citing potential harm. Scott emphasizes the importance of knowing who and what enters the United States, calling it "non-negotiable." The Republican administration is pushing to complete the wall by the end of President Donald Trump’s second term. Scott talked to The Associated Press in Washington state, where he accompanied a CBP unit that patrols coastal waterways.

Iran's government says seven oil tankers have caught fire or been damaged in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This comes amid rising tensions over the prospect of a return to all-out war. Iranian state television cites the Revolutionary Guard Corps navy which threatens to strike U.S. military bases if the United States continues guiding commercial ships through the strait. The U.S. is meanwhile sending more military assets to the region. Mediators are trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to talks. Iran has proposed ending the conflict if the U.S. meets certain conditions. But U.S. President Donald Trump rejected it although discussions have continued.

South Korean officials have freed a large gray shark trapped for over a month in a canal in Busan. On Wednesday, they used a floating platform to guide the 3-meter-long dusky shark, nicknamed Bukangi, to the sea. The shark was first spotted in mid-September and became a tourist attraction, drawing over 1.7 million visitors. Previous attempts to free it failed. Experts were concerned about its health due to lack of feeding and falling water temperatures. The operation involved maneuvering a platform and using nets to prevent the shark from returning. It's unclear how far the shark swam out.

Jackson Ramsay's family ranch in southwest Wyoming is embracing beavers as nature's engineers. Conservation groups and government agencies are using “starter homes” made of wood and brush to encourage beavers to build dams. These dams slow water, create habitats, and help ecosystems become more resilient to climate change. Experts say this is crucial as the U.S. West becomes drier. Utah State University runs a beaver relocation program to move unwanted beavers to remote streams. While beaver populations have recovered, protection is still needed to preserve scarce water resources in the American West.

Hurricane Trudy has strengthened slightly as it moves towards southwestern and west-central areas of Mexico’s Pacific coast, and could keep growing through Saturday. It is a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. Trudy's center will approach the coast on Saturday. he center of Trudy will approach the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico on Saturday and pass near the coast Saturday night into Sunday. A hurricane warning was in effect from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco. The Mexican Navy urged the maritime community and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution due to high waves, heavy rains and the risk of rising river levels, flooding, and landslides in vulnerable areas.