From the Wire

SD College Tests Fingerprint Purchasing TechnologyFuturists have long proclaimed the coming of a cashless society, where dollar bills and plastic cards are replaced by fingerprint and retina scanners smart enough to distinguish a living, breathing account holder from an identity thief.
'I'm a Monster': Veterans 'Alone' in Their GuiltA veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, former Marine Capt. Timothy Kudo thinks of himself as a killer—and he carries the guilt every day.
Pistorius Granted BailOscar Pistorius was granted bail Friday, paving the way for him to be freed from custody pending his trial in the Valentine's Day shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Blues Man Rush Gets Lifetime Arts Award in Miss.Blues musician Bobby Rush has received a lifetime achievement award from the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Al-Qaida Tipsheet on Avoiding Drones Found in MaliOne of the last things the bearded fighters did before leaving this city was to drive to the market where traders lay their carpets out in the sand.
Flu Shot Doing a Poor Job of Protecting ElderlyIt turns out this year's flu shot is doing a startlingly dismal job of protecting senior citizens, the most vulnerable age group.
South Africa Police Replace Top Pistorius InvestigatorSouth African police appointed a new chief investigator Thursday in the Oscar Pistorius murder case, replacing a veteran detective after unsettling revelations that the officer was charged with seven counts of attempted murder.
Miss. Lawmakers Turn Attention to FY14 BudgetMississippi lawmakers are pushing forward with early proposals for the budget year that begins July 1, and many agencies are likely to receive less money than they're requesting.
Vicksburg Mayor Facing Federal Bribery ChargesVicksburg Mayor Paul Winfield has been arrested on federal bribery charges.
BP Civil Settlement Remains Elusive as Trial NearsThe U.S. Justice Department and the five Gulf coast states affected by a massive oil spill nearly three years ago have indicated they would like to settle their environmental and economic claims with BP PLC ahead of a trial scheduled …
Obama Weighs Stepping in on Gay Marriage CaseFacing heightened expectations from gay rights supporters, the Obama administration is considering urging the Supreme Court to overturn California's ban on gay marriage—a move that could have a far-reaching impact on same-sex couples across the country.
No. 2 House Democrat: Bickering Must Come to EndHouse Minority Whip Steny Hoyer says Congress must "put aside ideological constraints" and resolve differences over taxes, budget and spending.
Vatican Feuds, Fiefdoms, Betrayals Await Next PopeIf evidence was ever needed that the next pope must urgently overhaul the powerful Vatican bureaucracy called the Curia, the scandal over Pope Benedict XVI's private papers is Exhibit A.
U.S. Stocks Keep Sliding on Weak Data, Fed QualmsU.S. stocks continued a two-day slide Thursday on weak economic data and concern about the Federal Reserve's resolve to keep juicing the market.
Florida to Expand Medicaid Under Health OverhaulGov. Rick Scott announced plans Wednesday to expand Medicaid coverage to roughly 900,000 more people under the federal health overhaul.