Ex-Army captain who killed family seeks release due to virus
A former Army captain serving three life sentences for the 1970 murders of his pregnant wife and two young children has asked a federal judge to free him due to his age and failing health.
Associated Press
Mississippi health officer: Keep masking up to fight virus
Mississippi’s top public health official is urging people to continue wearing masks in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has lifted a mask mandate and Mississippi has seen a decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations, but…
White House: States get 900K more vaccine doses this week
The U.S. will have an additional 900,000 doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available to states and pharmacy partners this week. White House press secretary Jen Psaki says states will receive 15.8 million doses of the two-shot vaccines, up from…
When to expect payments, other benefits from relief package
By SARAH SKIDMORE SELL As the latest federal pandemic relief package makes its way to President Joe Biden’s desk, Americans may be wondering when the benefits will reach them. The $1.9 trillion known as the “American Rescue Plan” is massive,…
NASA’s new Mars rover hits dusty red road, 1st trip 21 feet
By MARCIA DUNN CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s newest Mars rover hit the dusty red road this week, putting 21 feet on the odometer in its first test drive. The Perseverance rover ventured from its landing position Thursday, two…
Archeologists find intact ceremonial chariot near Pompeii
By COLLEEN BARRY MILAN (AP) — Officials at the Pompeii archaeological site in Italy announced the discovery of an intact ceremonial chariot, one of several important discoveries made in the same area outside the park near Naples following an investigation…
National Spelling Bee to return in mostly virtual format
By BEN NUCKOLS The Scripps National Spelling Bee will return this year in a mostly virtual format, with the in-person competition limited to a dozen finalists who will gather on an ESPN campus at Walt Disney World in Florida, Scripps…
Peppa Pig theme park set for Legoland Florida Resort in 2022
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — A standalone Peppa Pig theme park is set to open next year at the Legoland Florida Resort, park officials announced Thursday. The new park, based on the popular preschool animated television series, will be located…
Mars rover’s giant parachute carried secret message
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The huge parachute used by NASA’s Perseverance rover to land on Mars contained a secret message, thanks to a puzzle lover on the spacecraft team. Systems engineer Ian Clark used a binary code to spell…
Mississippi House kills proposal for gas tax election
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi House is backing away from a proposal for a statewide election on increasing gasoline and diesel fuel taxes. The idea was to generate more money for improvements to state highways and local roads. House Bill 1364…
Teachers, first responders to be eligible for vaccine Monday
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Gov. Tate Reeves has announced Mississippi teachers and first responders will be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine starting Monday. Vaccinations in Mississippi are currently available for people 65 and older, health care workers and those who are at least…
Graceland plans in-person events during Elvis Week
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — On the 44th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, fans will get to celebrate the musician once again at the annual Elvis Week event in Memphis, Tennessee. Presley’s Graceland is preparing to host visitors and offer in-person…
Ancient shell horn can still play a tune after 18,000 years
WASHINGTON (AP) — A large conch shell overlooked in a museum for decades is now thought to be the oldest known seashell instrument — and it still works, producing a deep, plaintive bleat, like a foghorn from the distant past.…
Thousands of cold-stunned sea turtles being rescued in Texas
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (AP) — Residents, some of whom lack heat or basic amenities in their own homes due to the unusually chilly weather, have been rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles and taking them to a convention center in a South Texas resort town.…
Proposal: Let Mississippi voters decide on gas tax increase
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Associated Press JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi House will consider a bill that could lead to an increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxes to pay for improvements to state highways and local roads. The…
Rush Limbaugh, ‘voice of American conservatism,’ has died
By The Associated Press PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Rush Limbaugh, the talk radio host who ripped into liberals, foretold the rise of Donald Trump and laid waste to political correctness with a merry brand of malice that made him…
Affordable Care Act health exchange sign-ups reopen as Democrats push for more aid
The new coronavirus relief bill from House Democrats would offer a generous, though temporary, increase in subsidies for people covered by the Affordable Care Act.
Police emphasize clampdown on crowds as Mardi Gras nears
By KEVIN McGILL Associated Press The final weekend of Mardi Gras season in New Orleans has begun with a warning from police that crowds won't be tolerated as the city fights to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Police chief…
Lottery, casino bill gets first test in Alabama Legislature
By KIM CHANDLER Associated Press MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A lottery and casino bill is getting its first test in the Alabama Legislature. The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee is considering the bill Wednesday morning. The bill by Republican Sen.…
Mary Wilson, longest-reigning original Supreme, dies at 76
Mary Wilson, the longest-reigning original Supreme, has died at 76 years old.
Disney World’s Super Bowl parade is nixed, but ad will air
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Disney’s Super Bowl parade has been nixed, but the filming of the “I’m Going to Disney World” commercial after the big game is still on. Officials at Walt Disney World said Friday that the theme park…
China reserve shows off 10 panda cubs to mark Lunar New Year
BEIJING (AP) — Ten panda cubs made their public debut in China’s leading panda reserve Wednesday morning to mark the coming Lunar New Year. One appeared shy and covered its face with both paws when it saw the crowd, while…
Tiny chameleon a contender for title of smallest reptile
BERLIN (AP) — It fits on a human fingertip, but this chameleon could make a big splash. Scientists from Madagascar and Germany say a newly discovered species of chameleon is a contender for the title of world’s smallest reptile. Frank…
Wallet lost in Antarctica in ’60s returned to California man
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Paul Grisham’s wallet was missing for so long at the bottom of the world he forgot all about it. Fifty-three years later, the 91-year-old San Diego man has the billfold back along with mementos of his…