National News - The Morning Sun

FILE - The historic Arizona Capitol building stands, April 11, 2024, in Phoenix. Democrats in the Arizona House are expected on Wednesday, April 24, to make another attempt to repeal Arizona's near-total abortion ban, which the state's highest court says can be enforced. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Arizona Democrats attempt to repeal the state’s 19th century abortion ban

For a third straight week, Democrats at the Arizona Legislature are attempting to repeal the state’s near-total ban on abortions after a court concluded the state can enforce the long-dormant law … more

4/24/24

FILE - 155 mm M795 artillery projectiles are stacked during manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Pentagon could get weapons moving to Ukraine within days if Congress passes a long-delayed aid bill. That's because it has a network of storage sites in the U.S. and Europe that already hold the ammunition and air defense components that Kyiv desperately needs. The House approved $61 billion in funding for the war-torn country Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

A look at what's in the $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the House

The $95 billion foreign aid package approved by the U.S. Congress provides military aid to Ukraine and Israel, replenishes U.S. weapons systems and gives humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. … more

By The Associated Press | 4/23/24

Kathy Knight, left, of Madison, and Kathleen O'Beirne of Ridgeland, hold a sign urging lawmakers to fully fund a Mississippi Medicaid expansion plan, while Jack Reed Jr., a former Tupelo mayor and a long time northeast Mississippi businessman, right, joins a group of small business owners who urged the same during a Tuesday, April 23, 2024, news conference at the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Mississippi lawmakers haggle over possible Medicaid expansion as their legislative session nears end

Top Mississippi lawmakers have started negotiating on what could become a landmark plan to expand Medicaid coverage to tens of thousands of people in one of the poorest states in the U.S. But even … more

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS | 4/23/24

A patient receives a Botox injection at a clinic in Arlington, Va., on June 5, 2009. On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning about counterfeit Botox injections after more than 20 people got sick. All of the people told health officials that they got the shots from unlicensed individuals or in settings like homes or spas. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

US health officials warn of counterfeit Botox injections

U.S. health officials are warning of counterfeit Botox injections after more than 20 people got sick. All of the people told health officials that they got the shots from unlicensed individuals or in … more

By DEVI SHASTRI | 4/23/24

Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, right, watches his bill to allow some teachers to be armed in schools pass the House as others react during a legislative session Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee lawmakers pass bill to allow armed teachers, a year after deadly Nashville shooting

Tennessee Republican lawmakers have passed a bill that would let some teachers and staff carry concealed handguns on public school grounds. If Republican Gov. Bill Lee signs the bill into law, it … more

By JONATHAN MATTISE | 4/23/24

A twin-engine plane crashed outside Fairbanks Tuesday. (AP Graphic)

Douglas DC-4 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska

A Douglas C-54 Skymaster has crashed into the Tanana River outside Fairbanks, Alaska. The Federal Aviation Administration says two people were on board. An aviation website says the plane model dates … more

4/23/24

In this photo released by the MacDill Air Force Base, an alligator rests at the landing gear of a KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft on the runway of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, on Monday, April 22, 2024. Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded and the alligator was moved and released in a nearby river. (MacDill Air Force Base via AP)

Alligator on runway at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida captured, released into nearby river

Officials say a large alligator that made its way onto the runway at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa has been captured and moved to a nearby river. Base officials say the toothy reptile was spotted … more

4/23/24

A unique book club at one of the nation's largest jails brings together college students and inmates. Their recent meeting at Cook County Jail was to discuss “Dead Man Walking,” a book writing by anti-death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean.

College students, inmates and a nun: A unique book club meets at one of the nation’s largest jails

A unique book club at one of the nation's largest jails brings together college students and inmates. The student-led volunteer effort started years ago as an offshoot of a DePaul University program … more

By SOPHIA TAREEN | 4/23/24

A periodical cicada nymph is held in Macon, Ga., Wednesday, March 27, 2024. This periodical cicada nymph was found while digging holes for rosebushes. Trillions of cicadas are about to emerge in numbers not seen in decades and possibly centuries.(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cicadas are so noisy in a South Carolina county that residents are calling the police

Emerging cicadas are so loud in one South Carolina county that residents are calling the sheriff’s office asking why they can hear sirens or a loud roar. The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office sent … more

4/23/24

This illustration provided by NASA depicts Voyager 1. The most distant spacecraft from Earth stopped sending back understandable data in November 2023. Flight controllers traced the blank communication to a bad computer chip and rearranged the spacecraft’s coding to work around the trouble. In mid-April 2024, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory declared success after receiving good engineering updates. The team is still working to restore transmission of the science data. (NASA via AP)

NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet

NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth stopped sending back understandable data last November. Flight controllers in California … more

By MARCIA DUNN | 4/23/24

FILE - This Nov. 11, 2013 file photo shows a bedroom built by Mike Spangler using some reclaimed materials, in Belle, W.Va. Nearly one-third of American adults don't get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Some of the major causes: Stress, anxiety and a culture that experts say is about productivity, not rest. (Craig Cunningham/Charleston Daily Mail via AP, file)

Get better sleep with these 5 tips from experts

Nearly a third of American adults don't get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Stress and anxiety are keep people from snoozing, as can a culture that experts say is about … more

By KENYA HUNTER | 4/23/24

GoFundMe Chief Executive Officer Tim Cadogan poses for a photo in Altadena, Calif. on Friday, April 19, 2024. Mexican fundraisers can now solicit donations on GoFundMe, the company announced Tuesday, under an expansion that the crowdfunding giant hopes is the first of additional entrances into untapped Latin American markets. Mexico marks the 20th country serviced by GoFundMe. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

GoFundMe expands into Mexico as part of for-profit crowdfunding platform's international growth

GoFundMe is expanding into Mexico, the company announced Tuesday. That marks 20 countries now serviced by the crowdfunding giant. CEO Tim Cadogan says the for-profit platform is eyeing new … more

By JAMES POLLARD | 4/23/24

FILE - Pages from the United Healthcare website are displayed on a computer screen, Feb. 29, 2024, in New York. UnitedHealth says files with personal information that could cover “a substantial portion of people in America” may have been taken in the cyberattack on its Change Healthcare business. The company said Monday, April 22, 2024 after markets closed that it sees no signs that doctor charts or full medical histories were released after the attack. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

UnitedHealth says wide swath of patient files may have been taken in Change cyberattack

UnitedHealth says files with personal information that could cover a “substantial portion of people in America” may have been taken in the cyberattack on its Change Healthcare business. The … more

By TOM MURPHY | 4/23/24

FILE - A person works on a laptop in North Andover, Mass., on June 19, 2017. Cyberattacks on businesses are rising, including small businesses. It’s a troubling trend that can be very costly and time consuming if owners don’t have a plan to deal with them. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

Cyberattacks are on the rise, and that includes small businesses. Here's what to know

Cyberattacks on businesses are rising, including small businesses. It’s a troubling trend because a breach can be very costly and time consuming if owners don’t have a plan to deal with one. … more

By MAE ANDERSON | 4/23/24

The Rev. Tracy Cox of First United Methodist Church and members of her congregation pray for Tracy Merrick, who will attend the United Methodist General Conference as a delegate representing Western Pennsylvania, as well as Anais Hussian and Joshua Popson who will also be in attendance, Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Pittsburgh. Hussian is a reserve delegate and Popson will be advocating for LGBTQ inclusion with the Love Your Neighbor Coalition. Many, including Rev. Cox, hope that this is the year they change longstanding bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

United Methodists open first top-level conference since breakup over LGBTQ inclusion

Thousands of United Methodists are gathering Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, to begin an 11-day denominational General Conference. Typically it is held every four years, but church leaders … more

By PETER SMITH | 4/23/24

FILE - A gardener uses a leaf blower to clear leaves at a home on Oct. 13, 2021 in Sacramento, Calif.. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

The problem with leaf blowers, and what you can do instead

Many communities across the country have tried to ban or limit leaf blowers because of their noise and environmental impact. But they roar on. There are simple alternatives and steps you can take. … more

By JESSICA DAMIANO | 4/23/24

Police investigate after people were found dead in a home in Oklahoma City on Monday, April 22, 2024. Oklahoma City police called to a home on the city's southwest side Monday discovered the bodies of five people, including at least two children, authorities said. (Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman via AP)

Oklahoma police say 5 found dead in home, including 2 children

Oklahoma City police are investigating the deaths of five people, including at least two children, inside a home on the city's southwest side. Police Sgt. Gary Knight says someone called police … more

4/22/24

California Gov. Gavin Newsom breaks ground at a new state park in a decade on Monday April 22, 2024 at the Dos Rios property, in Modesto, Calif. The announcement comes as the state sets targets for cutting planet-warming emissions on natural lands. (AP Photo/Sophie Austin)

California announces first new state park in a decade and sets climate goals for natural lands

California will open its first new state park in a decade this summer. The Dos Rios tract in the state's Central Valley is set to open in June. Gov. Gavin Newsom made the announcement Monday. The … more

By SOPHIE AUSTIN | 4/22/24

Insider Q&A: Trust and safety exec talks about AI and content moderation

Alex Popken was a trust and safety executive at Twitter, leaving in 2023 after a decade at the social media company focusing on content moderation. Now, she serves as the vice president of trust and … more

By BARBARA ORTUTAY | 4/22/24

This artist sketch depicts Salah Al-Ejaili, foreground with glasses, a former Al-Jazeera journalist, before the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Al-Ejaili, a former detainee at the infamous Abu Ghraib prison, has described to jurors the type of abuse that is reminiscent of the scandal that erupted there 20 years ago: beatings, being stripped naked and threatened with dogs, stress positions meant to induce exhaustion and pain. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)

Jury deliberating in Iraq Abu Ghraib prison abuse civil case; contractor casts blame on Army

A lawyer for a military contractor being sued by three survivors of the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq says the plaintiffs are suing the wrong people. Lawyers for Virginia-based CACI told jurors … more

BY MATTHEW BARAKAT | 4/22/24