National Obituaries

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Piedad Córdoba, an outspoken Colombian lawmaker who for decades championed the rights of her fellow Afro-Colombians while undertaking huge risks as a go-between to leftist rebel groups, has died. She was 68.

Canadian TV personality and children's entertainer Nerene Virgin has died at age 77. An online obituary says she died Monday in Burlington, Ont., not far from her hometown of Hamilton.

Jack Burke Jr. loved to play golf as much as he enjoyed teaching it.

Former Canadian world champion pole vaulter Shawn Barber has died. He was 29 years old. Barber died Wednesday night, his agent Paul Doyle told The Canadian Press.

Shawn Barber, the Canadian pole vault record holder and 2015 world champion, has died from medical complications. He was 29. Barber died Wednesday at home in Kingwood, Texas, his agent, Paul Doyle, confirmed to The Associated Press.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican writer José Agustín, who chronicled rock and roll and social change in Mexico in the 1960s and 70s, has died, Mexico’s Culture Department announced on Tuesday. He was 79.

BANGKOK (AP) — Shih Ming-teh, a democracy activist who helped lead Taiwan from authoritarianism to democracy and a former chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, died on Monday, his family said. He was 83.

NEW YORK (AP) — Joyce Randolph, a veteran stage and television actor whose role as the savvy Trixie Norton on “The Honeymooners” provided the perfect foil to her dimwitted TV husband, has died. She was 99.

Norm Snead, an NFL quarterback for 16 seasons in the 1960s and '70s who was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, has died. He was 84. Snead died Sunday in Naples, Florida, his brother, Danny, told The Associated Press on Monday.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) — Ruth Ashton Taylor, a trailblazing journalist who was the first female newscaster to work in television on the West Coast, has died. She was 101.