National News - The Morning Sun

NASA's new moon rocket sits on Launch Pad 39-B Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA's 21st-century moon-exploration program, named Artemis after Apollo's mythological twin sister. NASA is targeting an early Wednesday morning launch attempt. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Moon rocket launch looms as NASA evaluates hurricane damage

NASA is counting down to this week's planned liftoff of its new moon rocket, although hurricane damage could cause yet another delay. Hurricane Nicole's high winds last Thursday caused a 10-foot … more

By MARCIA DUNN | 11/14/22

FILE - Confiscated shark fins are shown during a news conference on Feb. 6, 2020, in Doral, Fla. Hippos poached for their skin and teeth, sharks targeted by the fin trade and a tiny frog with translucent skin are among the species up for protection at a United Nations wildlife conference opening Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Hippos, sharks up for protection at UN wildlife conference

Hippos that are poached for their skin and teeth and sharks that are caught for their fins are up for protection at a United Nations wildlife conference. They are among 600 species that could get … more

By MICHAEL CASEY | 11/14/22

FILE - In this Friday, May 1, 2020 file photo, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez gives a blessing after leading a brief liturgy at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. The nation's Catholic bishops begin their fall annual meeting Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, where they plan to elect new leaders — a vote that may signal whether they want to be more closely aligned with Pope Francis' agenda or maintain a more formal distance. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, Pool)

US bishops to elect new leaders, mark abuse reform milestone

U.S. Catholic bishops plan to elect new leaders when they gather in Baltimore this week. The vote may signal whether the bishops want to be more closely aligned with Pope Francis’ agenda or … more

By PETER SMITH, HOLLY MEYER and DAVID CRARY | 11/14/22

This photo shows the cover of “Creature” by Shaun Tan. Books are an easy gift choice for the holidays, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fresh. (Levine Querido via AP)

Shaun Tan to Emily in Paris: Reach for books as worthy gifts

Books are an easy gift choice, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fresh. There’s always a great selection around the holidays for a range of ages and interests. Among the possibilities this … more

By LEANNE ITALIE | 11/14/22

FILE - Signage for the FTX Arena, where the Miami Heat basketball team plays, is illuminated on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Miami. The rapid collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX into bankruptcy last week has also shaken the world of philanthropy, due to the donations and influence of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in the “effective altruism” movement. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File)

FTX bankruptcy also endangers founder's philanthropic gifts

The rapid collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX into bankruptcy last week has also shaken the world of philanthropy, due to the donations and influence of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried in the … more

By THALIA BEATY and GLENN GAMBOA | 11/14/22

On Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 Miami Beach's 17-story hotel tower of the historic Deauville Beach Resort implodes sending dust full of debris into the oceanside luxury buildings. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP)

Miami Beach hotel that hosted JFK, Beatles imploded

A once-luxurious Miami Beach hotel that hosted the Beatles and President John F. Kennedy during its 1960s heyday has been imploded. The 17-story Deauville Hotel fell into itself Sunday after a series … more

11/13/22

Republican nominee for U.S Senate Herschel Walker speaks during a campaign rally Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 in Canton, Ga.. Walker is in a runoff with incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Shorter voting window could cut turnout in Georgia runoff

There will be only four weeks before the Dec. 6 runoff in Georgia between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker for U.S. Senate. Factoring in the Thanksgiving holiday, many … more

By JEFF AMY | 11/13/22

FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2012, file photo, Robert Soltis, of Newtown, Conn., pauses after making the sign of the cross at a memorial to Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims in Newtown. A memorial to the 20 first graders and six educators killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting opened to the public Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, a month before the 10th anniversary of the massacre. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Sandy Hook memorial opens nearly 10 years after 26 killed

A memorial to the 20 first graders and six educators killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting has opened to the public, a month before the 10th anniversary of the massacre. No ceremony was … more

By DAVE COLLINS | 11/13/22

With the U.S Capitol in the background, people walk down steps on Election Day in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Control of Congress: Why the AP hasn't called the House

Neither party has reached the necessary threshold to win control in the House heading into Sunday. That's why The Associated Press hasn't yet called control of the chamber some five days after polls … more

By MIKE CATALINI | 11/13/22

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., speaks during a campaign stop at the Nevada State AFL-CIO offices in Henderson, Nev., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. Masto is running against Republican candidate Adam Laxalt. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Why AP called Nevada Senate race for Catherine Cortez Masto

A batch of votes from the Las Vegas area gave Democratic incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto a 5,000-vote lead late Saturday that The Associated Press determined she would not relinquish. With more … more

By MIKE CATALINI | 11/12/22

Men wait for the chain of their beards to be measured as part of their attempt at breaking the world's longest beard chain in the Guinness Book of World Records, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, at The Gaslight Social in Casper, Wyo. (Lauren Miller/The Casper Star-Tribune via AP)

Claim of new world record for longest beard chain in Wyoming

Facial hair enthusiasts claim to have set a new world record for longest beard chain during an event in Wyoming. The Casper Star-Tribune reports that participants gathered at a bar Friday, stood side … more

11/12/22

Debris from two planes that crashed during an airshow at Dallas Executive Airport are shown in Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Some recent fatal crashes involving vintage aircraft

Saturday’s collision between two World War II-era military planes at a Dallas air show was the latest in a long list of crashes involving vintage planes used or designed for military purposes. One … more

By The Associated Press | 11/12/22

Workers steady the 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree as a crane lifts the donated tree into place Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

Holiday arrival: Rockefeller tree ushers in Christmas season

An iconic sign of the holidays has arrived in New York City on Saturday as a crane hoisted an 82-foot Norway spruce into place at Rockefeller Plaza. The 14-ton tree will be festooned with thousands … more

Associated Press | 11/12/22

Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth addresses the delegates, guests and his new episcopal colleagues, shortly after his election on Nov. 4, 2022, at Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City. At left is his husband, Christopher Hucks-Ortiz. Bridgeforth is the first openly gay African-American man to be elected bishop. The vote comes six years after the Western Jurisdiction elected the denomination's first openly lesbian bishop, Karen Oliveto of the Mountain Sky Episcopal Area. (Patrick Scriven/United Methodist News via AP)

LGBTQ-friendly votes signal progressive shift for Methodists

The United Methodist Church moved toward becoming more progressive and LGBTQ-affirming during U.S. regional meetings this month. The meetings included the election of the church's second openly gay … more

By PETER SMITH | 11/12/22

The Full Moon rises behind the Acropolis hill and the ancient Parthenon Temple, in Athens, Greece, on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

AP Week in Pictures: Global / Nov. 5-11, 2022

Nov. 5-11, 2022 From the beauty of a full moon rising behind Acropolis hill and the ancient Partheon Temple, in Athens, Greece, to the grief of Palestinian Ali Ayaseh as he takes the last look at … more

11/11/22

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, Republican candidate for governor of Nevada, speaks to supporters during an election night campaign event Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Trump-endorsed Sheriff Joe Lombardo defeats Nevada governor

A career police officer and sheriff in Las Vegas who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump has been elected governor in Nevada. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo's narrow victory over … more

By KEN RITTER | 11/11/22

Cars drive by the Emerald Motel in North Seattle on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Prosecutors say a 20-year-old woman made a harrowing escape from her vicious pimp outside the motel on the night of Saturday, Nov. 5, before being rescued by a ride-share driver who engaged in a gunfight with the man. (AP Photo/Gene Johnson)

Seattle cops: Woman makes harrowing escape from vicious pimp

Prosecutors in Seattle say a young woman made two harrowing attempts to escape her vicious pimp that ended with her rescue by a ride-share driver who engaged in a gunfight with the man. Authorities … more

By GENE JOHNSON | 11/11/22

FILE - Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS, Luis Almagro addresses the OAS during the opening of the 52nd General Assembly of the OAS in Lima, Peru, Oct. 5, 2022. According to an administrative ruling on Oct. 24, 2022 by the OAS' top review panel, Almagro unfairly maligned the reputation of Brazilian lawyer Paulo Abrao who he abruptly fired as the region’s top human rights watchdog. (AP Photo/Guadalupe Pardo, File)

OAS launches external ethics probe into chief over romance

The Organization of American States has launched an external probe into allegations that Secretary General Luis Almagro may have violated the organization’s code of ethics while carrying on an … more

By JOSHUA GOODMAN | 11/11/22

NASA's new moon rocket sits on Launch Pad 39-B Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

NASA: Moon rocket endured hurricane, set for 1st test flight

NASA says its moon rocket needs only minor repairs after enduring a hurricane and is on track for liftoff next week. A top official said Friday that the wind never exceeded the rocket's design limits … more

By MARCIA DUNN | 11/11/22

FILE - Comedian Gallagher smashes strawberry syrup and flour at the end of his performance at the Five Flags Theater in Dubuque, Iowa on In this Nov. 18, 2006. Gallagher, the smash-’em-up comedian who left a trail of laughter, anger and shattered watermelons over a decadeslong career, died Friday at his home in Palm Springs, Calif., after a brief illness. He was 76. (Jeremy Portje/Telegraph Herald via AP, File)

Gallagher, watermelon smashing comedian, dies at 76

Gallagher, the long-haired, smash-’em-up comedian who left a trail of laughter, anger and shattered watermelons over a decadeslong career, has died at age 76. Craig Marquardo, in a statement … more

11/11/22