From the Wire

NY Firemen's Killer Mapped Out Plan for SlayingsThe ex-con turned sniper who killed two firefighters wanted to make sure his goodbye note was legible, typing out his desire to "do what I like doing best, killing people" before setting the house where he lived with his sister …
Obama Cuts Vacation Short as 'Fiscal Cliff' LoomsWith a yearend deadline looming before the economy goes over the so-called fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama is cutting short his traditional Christmas holiday in Hawaii, planning to leave for Washington on Wednesday evening.
GOP Willing to Bend on Issues After ElectionFor years, Republicans have adhered fiercely to their bedrock conservative principles, resisting Democratic calls for tax hikes, comprehensive immigration reform and gun control. Now, seven weeks after an electoral drubbing, some party leaders and rank-and-file alike are signaling a willingness …
Shoppers Disappoint Retailers this Holiday SeasonU.S. shoppers spent cautiously this holiday season, a disappointment for retailers who slashed prices to lure people into stores and now must hope for a post-Christmas burst of spending.
Obama Could Reshape 5th Circuit During 2nd TermThe 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is widely viewed as one of the nation's most conservative federal appellate courts, but President Barack Obama could get a chance to change that perception in his second term.
Researchers Focus on Oil DispersantLSU AgCenter scientists are partnering with researchers at Columbia University and Iowa State University on development of an environmentally friendly substance that could be used to clean up oil spills.
Home-Brewed Beer Faces Catch-22 in MississippiCatch-22 would be a good name for beer brewed at home in Mississippi.
Snowstorm Heads East After South Twisters; 3 DeadAn enormous storm system that dumped snow and sleet on the nation's midsection and unleashed damaging tornadoes around the Deep South is punching its way toward the Northeast.
Charles During, the 'King of Character Actors,' Died on Christmas Eve in NYC at Age 89LOS ANGELES (AP) — Charles Durning grew up in poverty, lost five of his nine siblings to disease, barely lived through D-Day and was taken prisoner at the Battle of the Bulge.
Severe Weather Expected for Mississippi, Gulf Coast on ChristmasNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Freezing rain and sleet made for a sloppy Christmas morning trek in parts of the nation's midsection on Tuesday, while residents along the Gulf Coast braced for thunderstorms, high winds and the possibility of tornadoes.
10 Things to Know For 12/24/12: Crapo, Sandy Hook Mourners, Holiday Sales WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers from both parties voiced their willingness Sunday to pursue some changes to the nation's gun laws, but adamant opposition from the National Rifle Association has made clear than any such effort will face significant obstacles.
Obama's Second Term: A Full Helping of Big Issues and Political ChallengesWASHINGTON (AP) — It's hardly a secret that Barack Obama, like every president no doubt, muses about his ultimate legacy and spot in the presidential pantheon. He approaches his second term confronting tough and shifting challenges that will play big …
Urban Advocates Say The Time for a Gun Control Debate is Long OverdueFor years, voices have cried in the urban wilderness: We need to talk about gun control. Yet the guns blazed on.
Miss. PTA Group Urges People to Send SnowflakesThe Mississippi Parent-Teacher Association is urging state residents to join in making snowflakes for the replacement building being decorated for students of Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School, where the Dec. 14 school shooting occurred.
One Week After the Shooting, Details Emerge About Adam LanzaNEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — As the nation paused to mark a week since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, new details emerged Friday about the gunman, Adam Lanza, who acquaintances said was able to take apart and reassemble a …