National News - The Morning Sun

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

FILE - A city worker measures the statue of Christopher Columbus at Marconi Plaza in Philadelphia, June 16, 2020. A judge ruled Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, that Philadelphia must remove the plywood box it placed over the statue after 2020 protests over racial injustice. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Philadelphia ordered to remove box covering Columbus statue

Philadelphia is being ordered to remove the plywood box it placed over a statue of Christopher Columbus after 2020 protests over racial injustice. That's according to a judge's ruling on Friday. … more

12/9/22

Griner case latest in string of high-profile prisoner swaps

Delicate negotiations between the United States and Russia led to basketball star Brittney Griner’s return in exchange for notorious arms dealer once nicknamed “the Merchant of Death.” It is … more

12/9/22

This image released by A24 shows Frankie Corio, left, and Paul Mescal in a scene from "Aftersun." (A24 via AP)

'Aftersun,' 'Banshees' lead AP's best films of 2022

Associated Press Film Writers Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr have made their picks for the best films of the year. Charlotte Wells shattering debut “Aftersun” tops Coyle's top 10. Martin McDonagh's … more

By JAKE COYLE and LINDSEY BAHR | 12/9/22

FILE - Damarra Atkins pays respect to George Floyd at a mural at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis, April 23, 2021. Minneapolis will buy the boarded-up Speedway gas station at George Floyd Square, the City Council decided unanimously on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. The area has become a protest site since Floyd, a Black man, was killed there by a white police officer in May 2020, sparking a national reckoning on racial injustice. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Minneapolis to buy gas station at site of Floyd's killing

The city of Minneapolis says it will buy the boarded-up Speedway gas station at the intersection where George Floyd was killed in an encounter with police. The intersection, known as George Floyd … more

12/9/22

FILE - A technician displays images of a mammogram scan on a computer screen at a hospital in Odessa, Texas, on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. A study discussed Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium finds many women with two or three breast tumors can get by with lumpectomy surgery instead of having their whole breast removed. (Eli Hartman|Odessa American via AP, File)

More breast cancer patients can choose smaller surgery

A new breast cancer study finds many women with two or three breast tumors can get by with lumpectomy surgery instead of having their whole breast removed. The research is being discussed Friday at … more

By CARLA K. JOHNSON | 12/9/22

A resident wounded after a Russian attack lies inside an ambulance before being taken to a hospital in Kherson, southern Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

AP Week in Pictures: Europe and Africa

Dec. 2 – Dec. 8 A week in which fans celebrated and commiserated as their teams competed in soccer's World Cup in Qatar, Russian shelling continued in the Donetsk region of Ukraine and the … more

By The Associated Press | 12/9/22

These images released by the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control and posted via Instagram, shows a created a unicorn license tag, right, and a plush toy unicorn, after a young girl requested permission to have a unicorn in her backyard, if she could find one. Animal Care and Control Department officials said this week that they granted the unusual permit to Madeline, whose last name was redacted. (Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control via AP)

California girl licensed to own unicorn — if she finds one

Los Angeles authorities have given a little girl a license to own a unicorn — if she can find one. Animal Care and Control Department officials said this week that they granted the unusual permit … more

12/8/22

This aerial photo taken with a drone shows rescuers inspecting the damage at a village affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru in Sumberwuluh, Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. Improved weather conditions Monday allowed rescuers to resume evacuation efforts and a search for possible victims after the highest volcano on Indonesia's most densely populated island erupted, triggered by monsoon rains. (AP Photo/Trisnadi)

AP Week in Pictures: Asia

Dec. 2-8, 2022 This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Asia and the Pacific. The gallery was curated by AP … more

By The Associated Press | 12/8/22

Lauren Mathers, director of Sandhills Pride, left, comforts drag queen Naomi Dix as she tears up while recounting the threats she received leading up to a recent drag performance while speaking on a panel with LGBTQ community leaders in Durham, N.C., on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)

NC power grid attack stokes fear in rural LGBTQ community

North Carolina drag performers and LGBTQ community members fear for their safety after an attack on the electrical grid in Moore County left tens of thousands without power for several days. … more

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM | 12/8/22