From the Wire

Legislators Across the Country Wading into Gun Control Debate, NRA Leader Calls for a Cop in Every SchoolATLANTA (AP) — As President Barack Obama urges tighter federal gun laws, state legislators around the country have responded to the Connecticut school shooting with a flurry of their own ideas that are likely to produce fights over gun control …
Obama Nominates Senator John Kerry to be Secretary of StateWASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Friday nominated Sen. John Kerry as his next secretary of state, elevating the longtime lawmaker and foreign policy expert to the top diplomatic job he had coveted.
Stocks Open Sharply Lower After GOP Cancels VoteStocks opened sharply lower Friday on Wall Street after House Republicans called off a vote on tax rates and left federal budget talks in disarray 10 days before sweeping tax increases and government spending cuts take effect.
Obama Vows to Press Ahead on Fiscal Cliff SolutionPresident Barack Obama says he'll press ahead with Congress in hopes of preventing across-the-board tax increases set to strike taxpayers Jan. 1 after House GOP leaders unexpectedly put off a vote on legislation calling for higher rates on million-dollar earners …
Gun Control Debate Heating Up in StatehousesAs President Barack Obama urges tighter federal gun laws, state legislators around the country have responded to the Connecticut school shooting with a flurry of their own ideas that are likely to produce fights over gun control in their upcoming …
Cliff Poses Tiny Dollar Gap, Wide Political RavineWhen it comes to resolving their "fiscal cliff" impasse, the dollar gap between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner is tiny in federal terms. That masks a monumental political ravine the two men must try to bridge, with …
House Approves $633 Billion Defense BillThe House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a $633 billion defense bill for next year despite Pentagon complaints that it spares outdated but politically popular weapons at the expense of the military's ability to fight.
Tupelo Touts Elvis Origins in Graceland ExhibitMississippi officials hope that a new Graceland exhibit about Elvis' boyhood will draw visitors to his birthplace in Tupelo.
Cleveland Schools Desegregation Case Before CourtA federal judge says he will rule after the first of the year on proposals to desegregate two schools in the Cleveland School District.
Report: Close 1 Ag School, Convert 1 and Keep 1One of Mississippi's independent agricultural high schools would be closed under a recommendation by the state Board of Education, while another could see its mission reworked or be given to a local school district.
Maya Greet Dawn of a New EraThe hundreds gathered in Chichen Itza said they believed it marked the birth of a new and better age.
Different Fates Recommended for Ag High SchoolsTwo of Mississippi's three agricultural high school districts could be abolished.
Holiday Shipping Headaches: Will a Midwest Storm Make Santa Late This Year?A record number of Americans took to the Web to order holiday gifts after retailers flooded their inboxes with offers of extra discounts, free shipping and easy returns. But a storm bringing heavy winds and snow to much of the …
House GOP Pushing Through $633 Billion Defense Bill... Including Spending the Pentagon Doesn't WantWASHINGTON (AP) — The House pushed to complete a $633 billion defense bill for next year despite Pentagon complaints that it spares outdated but politically popular weapons at the expense of the military's ability to fight.
Doomsday Believers Flocking to Global Hot Spots to Watch World EndThough the Mayans never really predicted that the world would end on Friday, some New Agers are convinced that humanity's demise is indeed imminent. Or at least that it's a good excuse for a party.