From the Wire

Right-to-Work Nevada a Rare Bright Spot for LaborThe future of the American labor movement may lie just off the Las Vegas Strip, inside a squat building huddled in the shadow of the Stratosphere casino.
Movement Seen in 'Fiscal Cliff' TalksThe White House and congressional Republicans are a long way from agreeing on a plan to deal with the "fiscal cliff." But it seems like some progress is being made.
Big Price for Inaugural Pomp; Much Private MoneyThe pomp surrounding the inauguration of the president of the United States can carry a hefty price tag, from the glitzy galas to all those inaugural balls.
Students Prepare for Nervous Return to ClassesJessica Kornfeld drove her children to their elementary school this past weekend. She wanted them to feel reassured that it was still a safe place, despite a horrific shooting in New England that killed 20 students very close to their …
Analysis: Sen. Harden was Unapologetic in BeliefsDemocrat Sampson Jackson was a brand new member of the Mississippi Senate in the early 1990s when lawmakers embarked on redistricting.
Gun-Control Debate Simmering After MassacreDemocrats say meaningful action must include a ban on military-style assault weapons and a look at how the nation deals with mental illness.
Chuck Hagel, Front-Runner for Defense Secretary: Moderate Republican, Vietnam Vet, Obama ConfidanteWASHINGTON (AP) — Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel is a contrarian Republican moderate and decorated Vietnam combat veteran who is likely to support a more rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
Man Arrested Saturday After Firing 50 Shots in California Mall Parking LotNEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A man was arrested Saturday after firing about 50 shots in the parking lot of a Southern California shopping mall, prompting a lockdown of stores crowded with holiday shoppers.
Two Separate Saturday Shootings in Alabama End with Suspects KilledBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Police in Alabama killed two suspects Saturday following separate shooting incidents 75 miles apart that left three other people dead and several injured, including two officers.
Toyota Mississippi President Enjoys OpportunityMasafumi Hamaguchi has been in Mississippi a little more than two years, working for Toyota.
Obama Will Travel to Newtown on Sunday, Attend Interfaith VigilWASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama will attend an interfaith memorial service Sunday in Newtown, Conn., the site of Friday's deadly elementary school shooting.
Saturday Update: Newtown Mourns Deaths, Celebrates Heroism as Police Look for AnswersNEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — Investigators tried to figure out what led a bright but painfully awkward 20-year-old to slaughter 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school, while townspeople took down Christmas decorations and struggled Saturday with how to …
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton Faints, Sustains ConcussionWASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who skipped an overseas trip this past week because of a stomach virus, sustained a concussion after fainting, the State Department said Saturday.
Reports From Commanders in Afghanistan Suggest War Effort Is Going Better than U.S. Public Generally BelievesKABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. commanders are offering glowing reviews of their 2012 war campaign, upbeat assessments that could be interpreted as leeway for President Barack Obama to order another round of troop withdrawals next summer.
Experts: How To Talk To Your Kids About the Connecticut ShootingsThe killings at a Connecticut elementary school left parents struggling to figure out what, if anything, to tell their children.