From the Wire

Turkey Closing in on Nightclub Gunman, Official SaysTurkish police are closing in on the gunman who killed 39 people at an Istanbul nightclub, a senior official said Thursday, insisting his possible whereabouts and contacts had been established.
Senator: Russia's Election Meddling Should Alarm AmericansThe chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Thursday that "every American should be alarmed" by Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election, and lawmakers pressed intelligence officials about foreign cyberthreats.
No Plans for Future Mississippi Picnics in NYC, Group SaysOrganizers say they are not planning to continue the annual picnic that brought Mississippi catfish and blues to New York.
Obama, Pence Harden 'Obamacare' Battle Lines at CapitolHardening battle lines for the brawl to come, President Barack Obama urged congressional Democrats to "look out for the American people" in defending his legacy health care overhaul, while Vice President-elect Mike Pence stood firm Wednesday in telling Republicans that …
Church Gunman Insists to Jury That He is Not Mentally IllDylann Roof spoke Wednesday for the first time to the jurors who will decide whether he should be executed for fatally shooting nine black parishioners during a Bible study, insisting that he is not mentally ill and foregoing a chance …
Trump Uses Assange to Cast Doubt on US Intel Case on HackingPresident-elect Donald Trump is using WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to cast doubt on the U.S. intelligence community's case that Russia was behind hacking of the Democratic National Committee ahead of the 2016 election.
Pence, Obama in Dueling Meetings at Capitol on Health CareDonald Trump's "first order of business" will be to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law and replace it, but Republicans must avoid hurting consumers as they do that, Vice President-elect Mike Pence said Wednesday.
Istanbul on Alert as Hunt for Gunman Reaches 4th DayPolice increased security around Istanbul on Wednesday and detained some 20 people with suspected links to the deadly New Year's Eve night club attack as the hunt for the gunman stretched into a fourth day.
Roof to Jurors: 'Nothing Wrong With Me Psychologically'Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof spoke to the jury for the first time at his death penalty trial Wednesday, telling them that there's nothing wrong with him psychologically and that he is not trying to keep any secrets from …
Official Says Charles Manson Alive; Reports Say HospitalizedMass murderer Charles Manson was taken from his California prison cell to a hospital, according to several news reports.
Bill Would Let School Boards Fill Superintendent VacanciesMississippi lawmakers are considering a measure that would let school boards appoint replacements for elected school superintendents who resign in the next three years.
GOP Drops Weakening of Ethics Office, Challenged by TrumpHouse Republicans reversed themselves Tuesday under pressure from President-elect Donald Trump, and dropped plans to swiftly gut an independent congressional ethics board.
Trump Objects After House GOP Votes to Gut Ethics OfficePresident-elect Donald Trump criticized House Republicans Tuesday for voting to gut the independent Office of Congressional Ethics, arguing that tax reform and health care should be higher priorities.
School Funding, Budget and Roads Headline 2017 LegislatureMississippi's 174 legislators will return to the Capitol Tuesday, starting a 90-day legislative session that will run as late as April 2.
Vic SchaeferThe No. 5 Mississippi State University Bulldogs routed the Louisiana State University Tigers 74-48 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.