News Wrap: Syrian refugee families arrive in U.S. amid state leaders’ objections

GWEN IFILL:

In the day's other news, Syrian refugee families have been arriving in the U.S. over the objections of state leaders. On Monday, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis resettled a family of four who had previously been forced to move to Connecticut. They had undergone two years of security checks.

Separately, in Texas, a Syrian family of six arrived in the Dallas area. Republican governors in both states have called for such refugees to be turned away.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Turkey's state-run news agency reports six children, including a baby, drowned today in the latest migrant tragedy. The group of Afghan nationals was trying to get to the Greek island of Chios, when their rubber dinghy sank off Turkey's Aegean coast. Turkey has recently stepped up efforts to stop migrants from trying to get to Greece by sea.

GWEN IFILL:

Security was high in Vatican City today as 70,000 people flocked to St. Peter's Square for the start of a holy year of mercy; 5,000 extra police and soldiers were deployed around Rome, in the wake of the Paris attacks.

Pope Francis took note of the tensions, as he addressed the faithful.

POPE FRANCIS (through interpreter):

Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved. Instead, let us experience the joy of encountering that grace which transforms all things.

GWEN IFILL:

The pope launched the year-long jubilee by opening large bronze doors at the entrance of St. Peter's Basilica. Crowds later lined up to cross the threshold as an act of pilgrimage. Similar holy doors will open at cathedrals around the world on Sunday.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Back in this country, record-setting rainfall has the Portland, Oregon, area struggling with flooding and landslides, with more rain due this week. Some in Portland were forced to evacuate overnight after several inches of rain turned streets and highways into creeks. The downpours also sent sewage overflowing into the Willamette River. GWEN IFILL: Fewer Americans are having trouble paying for their health care in the last four years. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It says the number of people struggling to keep up with medical bills fell by 12 million for the first half of this year over 2011. The poor and those near the poverty line were most affected, due largely to the health care law. And Wall Street gave more ground, faced with falling oil prices and weak data from China. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 162 points to close below 17570. The Nasdaq fell three points, and the S&P 500 dropped 13.