National News - The Morning Sun

A surfer rides a wave in Santa Monica, Calif., during sunset under a blackened sky from the Palisades fire in the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

AP Week in Pictures

Jan. 3 - 9, 2025 This photo gallery, curated by photo editor Patrick Sison, highlights some of the most compelling images worldwide made or published by The Associated Press in the past week. more

By The Associated Press | 1/9/25

FILE - The barricade that Shamsud-Din Jabbar hit with his truck while driving into a crowd on New Year's Day is seen on Bourbon Street, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Lawsuit by New Orleans truck attack victims says city, contractors failed to implement safety system

Six people who were injured and the father of a man who was killed in the New Year’s truck attack are suing the City of New Orleans and two contractors, claiming they failed to protect revelers … more

By MARTHA BELLISLE | 1/9/25

Visitors to the Santa Monica pier look out at smoke from a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades blows over the beach in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Far from wildfire flames, residents of sunny Los Angeles go about their lives in disquiet and fear

As fires raged from the seaside enclave of Pacific Palisades to the hillsides above Pasadena — with at least five dead and thousands of homes and other buildings leveled or damaged — residents … more

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD | 1/9/25

FILE - From left, President Barack Obama, former President Jimmy Carter, first lady Michelle Obama and former President Bill Clinton wave to the crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington at the conclusion of a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Aug. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Michelle Obama doesn't attend state funeral for Jimmy Carter

Former first lady Michelle Obama didn't attend the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter. Except for Michelle Obama, all of the living former presidents and their spouses were at the … more

By JONATHAN J. COOPER | 1/9/25

FILE - New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez listens to oral arguments dealing with local municipalities implementing ordinances restricting abortion, Dec. 13, 2023 in Santa Fe, N.M. . (Eddie Moore/The Albuquerque Journal via AP, file)

New Mexico is a go-to state for women seeking abortions. A new court ruling helps it stay that way

The New Mexico Supreme Court has struck down abortion restrictions by conservative cities and counties at the request of the state attorney general. The unanimous opinion on Thursday reinforces the … more

By MORGAN LEE | 1/9/25

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch as the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter begins at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

From Carter's funeral, an American snapshot: A singular image, 5 presidents, 379 years of history

Inside Washington National Cathedral, the five men who've occupied the Oval Office since 1993 convened for a rare moment together at Jimmy Carter’s state funeral. In that one act, Bill Clinton, … more

By TED ANTHONY | 1/9/25

This image provided by European Space Agency shows close-up photos of Mercury's north pole taken by the European-Japanese spacecraft BepiColombo. (European Space Agency via AP)

Spacecraft buzzes Mercury's north pole and beams back stunning photos

A spacecraft has beamed back some of the best close-up photos yet of Mercury's north pole. The European and Japanese robotic explorer buzzed the planet's polar region Wednesday. The European Space … more

By MARCIA DUNN | 1/9/25

A residence burns as the Palisades Fire advances in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

How to safely evacuate a wildfire

Evacuating a wildfire area can be scary, but experts say people can significantly improve their own safety with a little preparation and situational awareness. Jesse Torres is a battalion chief for … more

By REBECCA BOONE | 1/9/25

FILE - Surfers catch waves in the Pacific Ocean off of Ho'okipa Beach Park, Nov. 22, 2024, near Paia, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

NOAA says La Nina ocean cooling has finally arrived, but it's weak and may cause fewer problems

A long-awaited La Nina has finally appeared, but meteorologists say the periodic cooling of Pacific Ocean waters is weak and unlikely to cause as many weather problems as usual. La Nina is the flip … more

By SETH BORENSTEIN | 1/9/25

An ice core drilled by a research team is displayed at Little Dome C field base in eastern Antarctica, during the cutting phase on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (PNRA/IPEV Beyond Epica via AP)

Scientists drill nearly 2 miles down to pull 1.2 million-year-old ice core from Antarctic

An international team of scientists say they’ve successfully drilled one of the oldest ice cores yet, penetrating nearly 2 miles to Antarctic bedrock to reach ice that's at least 1.2 million years … more

By PAOLO SANTALUCIA | 1/9/25

A woman cries as the Palisades Fire advances in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

Harrowing escapes from Los Angeles wildfires were made by foot, by car or by the grace of strangers

Thousands of residents made harrowing escapes as devastating wildfires bore down on the Los Angeles area. Some fled by foot, some by car and some by the grace of good Samaritans. Aaron Samson said … more

By JAIMIE DING, BEATRICE DUPUY, HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, GENE JOHNSON and CLAIRE RUSH | 1/9/25

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire around a burned structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

It's not really the right time for nasty California fires. What are the factors that changed that?

Here's what experts say is turning Southern California's speedy wildfires into a deadly urban conflagration that is defying the calendar. It's a mix of conditions that had to come together perfectly … more

By SETH BORENSTEIN | 1/8/25

FILE - The main flag pole in front of the U.S. Army I Corps headquarters on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Tacoma, Wash., hangs at half-staff, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Military doctor pleads guilty to dozens of sexual abuse charges

A military doctor has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing dozens of soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord who had primarily sought his care for pain management. Maj. Michael Stockin was an … more

By MARTHA BELLISLE | 1/8/25

FILE - Witold Banka, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), attends a press conference at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Squabble grows as US government holds back 2024 funding from world anti-doping watchdog WADA

The U.S. government did not pay the more than $3.6 million due to the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2024, making good on a long-running threat anchored in unhappiness with the global watchdog’s … more

By EDDIE PELLS | 1/8/25

This image released by Searchlight Pictures shows Timothée Chalamet in a scene from "A Complete Unknown." (Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures via AP)

Complete list of Screen Actors Guild Awards nominees

“Wicked” is the leading nominee for the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, with the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” following closely behind.Out-of-control wildfires that swept across Los … more

1/8/25

Coco Gauff of the U.S., left, takes a selfie with the rest of the team and their trophy after defeating Poland in the finals at the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australian Open 2025: There really isn't much time off in the offseason for tennis players

If it seems as though the 2025 professional tennis year started pretty much immediately right after 2024 ended, that’s because that’s exactly what happens in a sport where the offseason really … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 1/8/25

CORRECTS BYLINE FROM ETIENNE LAURENT TO ETHAN SWOPE - The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Wildfire burns through LA enclave known for its beaches and celebrity allure

The affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles has long been a celebrity hideaway and magnet for those drawn to nature’s doorstep not far from the skyline of downtown. A wildfire driven … more

1/7/25

Wildlife officials and climbers rescue a bull elk after the animal became entangled in a rope at an ice climbing area in Lake City, southwestern Colorado, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife via AP)

Elk on a shelf: Colorado wildlife officials rescue elk tangled in rope on ice climbing route

Wildlife officials have rescued a bull elk by lowering it down a cliff after the animal became entangled in a rope at a popular ice climbing area in southwestern Colorado. A group of ice climbers in … more

1/7/25

This undated photo provided by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts in December 2024 shows North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin. (North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts via AP)

North Carolina justices block certification of election outcome in race for one of its own seats

North Carolina’s Supreme Court has blocked the certification of a November election result for one of the seats on its court so it can review legal arguments by a trailing candidate. The … more

By GARY D. ROBERTSON | 1/7/25

FILE - A boat navigates large icebergs near the town of Kulusuk, in eastern Greenland, on Aug. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Why Greenland? Remote but resource-rich island occupies a key position in a warming world

Greenland plays an outsized role in the daily weather experienced by billions of people and in the climate changes taking shape all over the planet. Experts say the remote, icy and mostly pristine … more

By SETH BORENSTEIN | 1/7/25