National News - The Morning Sun

Wanda Farris sits beside a picture of her daughter, 16-year-old Leesa Gray, that hangs inside Comer's Restaurant in Dorsey Miss., Thursday Dec. 8, 2022. Gray was kidnapped, raped and murdered by death row inmate Eddie Loden in the summer of 2000. Loden will be put to death by the state of Mississippi on Wednesday. (Thomas Wells/The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal via AP)

Slain teen 'loved life,' mom says before killer's execution

The mother of a teenager who was killed in Mississippi 22 years ago is set to witness the execution of the man who took the girl's life. Leesa Gray was stranded with a flat tire on a night in June … more

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS | 12/12/22

The statue of Confederate Lieutenant General A.P. Hill stands as dawn begins to break on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022 in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark)

Richmond to remove its last public Confederate monument

The city of Richmond _ the capital of the Confederacy for most of the Civil War _ is set to remove its last public Confederate statue. The city removed its other Confederate monuments amid the … more

By DENISE LAVOIE | 12/12/22

FILE - Indiana Lt. Gov Suzanne Crouch leads the Indiana Senate in a ceremonial start to the upcoming legislative session on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Crouch formally started her 2024 campaign for governor on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, and said she would not shy away from Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb's record despite discontent among many conservatives over his COVID-19 policies and other actions. (Jenna Watson/The Indianapolis Star via AP, File)

Indiana Lt Gov Crouch joins US Sen Braun in governor's race

Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch has formally started her 2024 campaign for governor. She is launching her effort Monday and says she won't shy away from Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb's record despite … more

By TOM DAVIES | 12/12/22

Historic US treasurer's memorabilia on display in Ohio

When Mary Ellen Withrow first ran for public office, she was not allowed to have a credit card in her name. In 1969, credit cards were for men only. Today, Withrow's signature appears on more U.S. … more

By JULIE CARR SMYTH | 12/12/22

FILE - Los Angeles City Council members Gil Cedillo, left, and Kevin de Leon sit in chamber before starting the City Council meeting on Oct. 11, 2022, in Los Angeles. Two months after being entangled in a racism scandal that shook public trust in Los Angeles government, de Leon has has refused calls to resign and is attempting to rehabilitate his reputation. Cedillo, who vanished from public view shortly after the scandal emerged in October, has not attempted to return to City Hall meetings. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File)

Fallout from LA racism scandal keeps shaking City Council

Two months after being entangled in a racism scandal that shook public trust in Los Angeles government, disgraced City Councilman Kevin de Leon has refused calls to resign and is trying to … more

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD | 12/12/22

This booking photo provided by the Missouri Department of Corrections shows Lamar Johnson. A hearing begins Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, in St. Louis to decide if the murder conviction for Johnson should be thrown out. Johnson has spent more than 27 years in prison for a killing that he said he did not commit. (Missouri Department of Corrections via AP)

Missouri man seeks exoneration in murder; 2 others confessed

A hearing begins Monday in a case that will decide if the conviction should be overturned for a Missouri man who has spent nearly three decades in prison for a murder that two other people have since … more

By JIM SALTER | 12/12/22

This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Tom Cruise as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in "Top Gun: Maverick." (Paramount Pictures via AP)

Golden Globes, hobbled by scandal, set to announce noms

After scandal and boycott plunged the Hollywood Foreign Press Association into disarray and knocked the Golden Globes broadcast off television for a year, the annual film and television awards are … more

By JAKE COYLE | 12/12/22

This image released by Focus Features shows Cate Blanchett in a scene from "Tár." (Focus Features via AP)

'Tár,' 'Everything Everywhere' tie for LA critics' top award

Todd Field’s symphonic backstage drama “Tár” and the existential comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once” tied for top honors with the Los Angeles Film Critics Association in awards … more

12/11/22

In this aerial image provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, fissure 3 is seen erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. The world's largest volcano continues to erupt but scientists say lava is no longer feeding the flow front that has been creeping toward a crucial highway. That means the flow isn't advancing and is no longer an imminent threat to the road that connects the east and west sides of the Big Island. (U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

Scientists say eruption of Hawaii volcano continues to ease

Scientists say the eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island continues to ease. The announcement on Sunday reinforced an earlier pronouncement that the mountain’s first flare-up in … more

12/11/22

Skiers dressed in Santa Claus outfits hit the slopes for charity at the Sunday River Ski Resort, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Newry, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

It’s all downhill for 300 skiing Santas, a Grinch and a tree

A bunch of Santa lookalikes have taken to the ski slopes once again to spread some holiday cheer. More than 300 jolly ol’ elves — all dressed in red — dashed together through the snow with … more

12/11/22

FILE Police and investigators look at what remains of the nose of Pan Am 103 in a field in Lockerbie, Scotland, in this Dec. 22, 1988 file photo. U.S. and Scottish authorities said Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 that the Libyan man suspected of making the bomb that destroyed a passenger plane over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 is in U.S. custody. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver, File)

With suspect in custody, spotlight returns to 1988 bombing

The announcement that a Libyan man suspected in the 1988 bombing of a passenger jet has been taken into U.S. custody put the spotlight back on the notorious terrorist attack. The suspect, Abu Agela … more

By ADAM GELLER | 12/11/22

NASA's Orion capsule blazes home from test flight to moon

NASA’s Orion capsule is back from the moon. The capsule made a blisteringly fast return Sunday, parachuting into the Pacific off Mexico to conclude a dramatic 25-day test flight. The mission should … more

By MARCIA DUNN | 12/11/22

A Palestinian excavation team works in a newly discovered Roman era cemetery in the Gaza Strip, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. Hamas authorities in Gaza announced the discovery of over 60 tombs in the ancient burial site. Work crews have been excavating the site since it was discovered last January during preparations for an Egyptian-funded housing project. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Gaza authorities discover over 60 Roman era graves

Hamas authorities in Gaza have announced the discovery of over 60 tombs in an ancient burial site dating back to the Roman era. Work crews have been excavating the site since it was discovered last … more

12/11/22

A long row of double-stacked shipping contrainers provide a new wall between the United States and Mexico in the remote section area of San Rafael Valley, Ariz., Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. Work crews are steadily erecting hundreds of double-stacked shipping containers along the rugged east end of Arizona’s boundary with Mexico as Republican Gov. Doug Ducey makes a bold show of border enforcement even as he prepares to step aside next month for Democratic Governor-elect Katie Hobbs. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Gov. Ducey stacks containers on border at term's end

Work crews are steadily erecting hundreds of double-stacked shipping containers along the rugged east end of Arizona’s boundary with Mexico as Republican Gov. Doug Ducey makes a bold show of border … more

By ANITA SNOW and ROSS D. FRANKLIN | 12/11/22

Trucks used as barricade are seen on the road near the village of Rudare, northern Kosovo, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. Kosovo has postponed the local election due to be held Dec. 18 in four municipalities with a predominantly ethnic Serb population, in an effort to defuse recent tensions there that have also further damaged relations with neighboring Serbia. President Vjosa Osmani on Saturday decided to postpone the voting until April 23 next year. (AP Photo/Bojan Slavkovic)

Tense overnight violence in north Kosovo, Serbs block roads

Kosovo police and the local media have reported explosions, shooting and road blocks over night in the north of the country, where the majority of the population is ethnic Serb. That's despite the … more

By SYLEJMAN KLLOKOQI and LLAZAR SEMINI | 12/11/22

FILE -Davante Lewis poses for a photo in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, May, 12, 2020 Lewis is running for Louisiana Public Service Commissioner. In the Deep South, a typically lackluster multi-parish race for a seat on an obscure Louisiana regulatory body has gained national attention this election season. (Mark Saltz/The Advocate via AP)

Newcomer wins seat on Louisiana Public Service Commission

Newcomer Davante Lewis has won Saturday's runoff for a seat on Louisiana’s Public Service Commission. The 30-year-old progressive policy advocate beat incumbent Lambert Boissiere III, who has held … more

By SARA CLINE | 12/11/22

FILE - Spectators watch the lava flow down the mountain from the Mauna Loa eruption, Nov. 29, 2022, near Hilo, Hawaii. On Wednesday, Dec. 7, the lava from Mauna Loa, was 1.8 miles from Saddle Road, also known as Route 200 or Daniel K. Inouye Highway, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey said. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia, File)

Scientists lower alert for Mauna Loa, say eruption could end

Scientists have lowered the alert level for the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island and say its first eruption in nearly 40 years may soon end. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano … more

12/10/22

A sign at Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twitter relaunching subscriber service after debacle

Twitter is once again attempting to launch its premium service a month after a previous attempt failed. The social media company said it would let users buy subscriptions to Twitter Blue to get a … more

12/10/22

Mauritanian indicted in 3 deadly 2015 terror attacks in Mali

A Mauritanian national suspected of planning and coordinating three lethal attacks in 2015 on Westerners in Mali has been arraigned in a New York federal court. Fawaz Ould Ahmed Ould Ahemeid appeared … more

12/10/22

FILE - Retired Air Force Col. Joseph W. Kittinger Jr., smiles during his induction into the Aviation Hall of Fame, Saturday, July 19, 1997, in Dayton, Ohio. Kittinger, the U.S. Air Force pilot who held the record for the highest parachute jump for more than 50 years, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, in Florida at age 94. (AP Photo/Michael Heinz, File)

Joseph Kittinger, who set longtime parachute record, dies

The U.S. Air Force pilot who held the record for the highest parachute jump for more than 50 years has died. Retired Col. Joseph Kittinger died Friday in Florida at age 94. Kittinger gained worldwide … more

By TERRY SPENCER | 12/9/22