From the Wire

St. Patrick's Parade Kicks Off in NYC, Gay Groups Included The nation's largest St. Patrick's Day parade kicked off Thursday in New York City, and for the first time in decades, gay activists are not decrying it as an exercise in exclusion.
SeaWorld to Stop Breeding Orcas, Making Them Perform Tricks Finally bowing to years of public pressure, SeaWorld announced Thursday that it will immediately stop breeding killer whales and making them perform crowd-pleasing tricks at its theme parks.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Amid Push for Transparency, Few Colleges Reveal Investments Colleges and universities are under growing pressure from Congress and campus activists to reveal financial investments made through their endowments, but most institutions are standing firm against the idea.
Lawmaker: Michigan Governor Responsible for Flint CrisisMichigan Gov. Rick Snyder is responsible for lead contamination in Flint, Michigan's water supply, and would likely face criminal charges if he were running a business, a Democratic lawmaker said Thursday.
Survey: More Acceptance of Social Changes, Except Divorce Americans are more accepting of gay relationships and couples living together before marriage—but they've grown less comfortable with divorce, a new survey shows.
Mississippi Senators Preserve Chance for Road FundingOpponents are still heaping scorn on an empty vessel of a transportation funding package, but the bill remained alive Wednesday after the Mississippi Senate passed it 34-13.
Senate Seeks to End Possible Subsidy for 3 Mississippi Malls, Including Costco Help in RidgelandSome lawmakers want to kill a Mississippi program that subsidizes shopping centers.
Obama Nominates 'Serious' Candidate for SCOTUS, Challenges GOP to Put Aside PartisanshipWASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama nominated appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, challenging Republicans to drop their adamant refusal to even consider his choice in an election year.
FIFA Acknowledges World Cup Hosting Bribes, Asks US for Cash FIFA acknowledged Wednesday that past World Cups were awarded based on bribes, and the organization wants U.S. prosecutors to give it "tens of millions of dollars" seized from the former FIFA officials who took the cash.
North Korea Sentences US Tourist to 15 Years in Prison North Korea's highest court sentenced an American tourist to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion on Wednesday, weeks after authorities presented him to media and he tearfully confessed that he had tried to steal a propaganda banner.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Obtaining Police Emails Can Take Months, Cost Thousands As law enforcement agencies have come under increased scrutiny in recent years, media organizations, watchdog groups and others have become more vigilant about filing public-records requests for emails and documents, particularly after police shootings.
Congressional Sources: Obama to Nominate Merrick GarlandPresident Barack Obama will nominate federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, congressional sources said Wednesday.
Mississippi House Votes for Small Town Revitalization FundSmall towns could borrow money from the state to revitalize historic downtown areas under a bill passed Tuesday by the House.
Trump, Clinton win Florida; Rubio Says He's DoneWASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the 2016 presidential campaign, with primaries in five states Tuesday and Republican front-runner Donald Trump trying to move closer to nailing down his party's nomination (all times Eastern Standard Time).
Sonya Williams-BarnesDemocratic Rep. Sonya Williams-Barnes of Gulfport is stepping into a new leadership role as chairwoman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus.