National News - The Morning Sun

Matt Caldwell, left, a Lubbock Fire Department official, administers a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to Clair May, 61, at the Lubbock Health Department, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon)

West Texas reports nearly 200 measles cases. New Mexico is up to 30

Health officials say West Texas now has almost 200 measles cases and New Mexico's case number has tripled to 30. The case counts were updated on Friday. A child died of measles in Texas last week. … more

By DEVI SHASTRI | 3/7/25

With salutes and flags, Fort Liberty officially became Fort Bragg again. The North Carolina Army installation had been named for a Confederate general, but now honors a Maine hero who trained there. (AP Video: Allen G. Breed)

Bragg to Liberty and back again: Ceremony to rechristen Army post once named for a Confederate

First it was Fort Bragg, named in honor of a Confederate general. Then it was Fort Liberty. Now, the North Carolina Army installation is officially Fort Bragg again, only this time in honor of a … more

By ALLEN BREED and MAKIYA SEMINERA | 3/7/25

This photo provided by João Zilhão shows forearm bone fragments belonging to an ancient child that appeared to have features from both humans and Neanderthals. (João Zilhão via AP)

Scientists date remains of an ancient child that resembles both humans and Neanderthals

Scientists have dated the skeleton of an ancient child that caused a stir when it was first discovered because it carries features from both humans and Neanderthals. The child’s remains were … more

By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN | 3/7/25

FILE - A Social Security card is displayed Oct. 12, 2021, in Tigard, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

What to know about Social Security office closures driven by Musk's DOGE

Across-the-board cuts at the Social Security Administration are prompting questions about how the benefits of millions of recipients may be affected. Among the potential changes are layoffs for more … more

By MEG KINNARD | 3/7/25

This photo provided by United States Space Force the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), the U.S. Space Force’s dynamic unmanned spaceplane, successfully deorbited and landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on March 7, 2025. (United States Space Force via AP)

US military's mini space shuttle returns to Earth after orbiting for 434 days on a secret mission

The U.S. military's classified mini space shuttle has returned to Earth after circling the world for 434 days. Friday's predawn touchdown in California was not announced until hours after the fact. … more

By MARCIA DUNN | 3/7/25

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell testifies before the House Financial Services Committee during a hearing on the Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Powell: Federal Reserve to stay on hold amid widespread economic uncertainty

Chair Jerome Powell says in written remarks that the Federal Reserve is likely to keep its key interest rate unchanged in the coming months as it waits for widespread “uncertainty” stemming from … more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER | 3/7/25

FILE - Canola oil is poured into a pan in Concord, N.H., on March 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Larry Crowe, File)

Kennedy and influencers bash seed oils, baffling nutrition scientists

Seed oils have been the focus of fiery critics from internet influencers to high-profile politicians like HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They claim that these oils pressed from the seeds of … more

By JONEL ALECCIA | 3/7/25

FILE - An American flag hangs in a classroom as students work on laptops, Aug. 25, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Federal judge to hear arguments over whether to block immigration arrests in US schools

A federal judge is set to hear arguments Friday over whether he should block immigration agents from conducting arrests at schools. Denver Public Schools is asking the judge to block immigration … more

By COLLEEN SLEVIN | 3/7/25

FILE - Morgan Geyser appears in a Waukesha County courtroom, Jan. 9, 2025, in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

Wisconsin judge refuses to block Slender Man attacker's release from psychiatric hospital

A judge has refused to block a psychiatric hospital from releasing a Wisconsin woman who stabbed her sixth-grade classmate to please the horror character Slender Man. The woman, Morgan Geyser, and … more

By TODD RICHMOND | 3/6/25

Father Corey Wilson, right, mourns alongside other grieving family members during a vigil for his son, Caleb Wilson, outside of Southern University's Smith-Brown Student Union on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La. (Javier Gallegos/The Advocate via AP)

Charges of hazing and manslaughter being considered following death of Southern University student

Louisiana authorities investigating the death of a 20-year-old Southern University student say they expect multiple people to face charges in relation to the case. Among the potential charges being … more

By SARA CLINE | 3/6/25

Marshella Chidester wipes tears from her eyes after her attorney Bill Colovos begins closing statements at the Monroe County Courthouse, Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Monroe, Mich. (Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press via AP, Pool)

Michigan woman convicted of murder in crash that killed 2 kids at a birthday party

A Michigan woman has been convicted of second-degree murder, nearly a year after she crashed her SUV at a boat club, killing two children at a birthday party. Tests showed Marshella Chidester's … more

3/6/25

Palestinians sit at a large table surrounded by the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings as they gather for iftar, the fast-breaking meal, on the first day of Ramadan in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, March 1, 2025 (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

PHOTO COLLECTION: Ramadan Around the World

This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors. more

3/6/25

FILE - Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and other officials view the aftermath of a fatal small plane crashed in Philadelphia, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Medical plane’s voice recorder likely wasn’t working for years before Philadelphia crash

The National Transportation Safety Board says a cockpit voice recorder was not working on a medical transport plane that crashed in Philadelphia in January and likely had not been working for several … more

By MARYCLAIRE DALE | 3/6/25

Searchers return to the spot in 1999, where they believed the Martin family may have disappeared and compared the scene with a photo of it from 1959, front. (The Oregonian via AP, file)

Car being pulled from an Oregon river might have belonged to a family that vanished in 1958

Authorities are pulling submerged vehicles from the Columbia River, including a car thought to have belonged to a Portland couple who vanished in 1958 while out for a drive with their three … more

3/6/25

FILE - Serena Williams, of the United States, talks with her daughter Olympia and husband Alexis Ohanian after defeating Danka Kovinic, of Montenegro, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Aug. 29, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Women's tennis players now are eligible for paid maternity leave funded by Saudi Arabia's PIF

Pregnant players on the women’s tennis tour now can receive 12 months of paid maternity leave, and those who become parents via partner pregnancy, surrogacy or adoption can get two months off with … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 3/6/25

FILE - A help wanted sign is seen at a Allstate insurance office in Elgin, Ill., Saturday, March 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits falls as labor market remains sturdy

Applications for U.S. jobless benefits fell last week as the labor market remains sturdy ahead of an expected purge of federal government employees. The number of Americans filing for jobless … more

By MATT OTT | 3/6/25

FILE - The Voice of America building, Monday, June 15, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

At the Voice of America, the Trump administration is moving swiftly to assert its vision

The new Trump administration hasn't hesitated to make itself felt across government. The Voice of America is no exception. Last week there were moves to reassign VOA's White House bureau chief, and … more

By DAVID BAUDER | 3/6/25

Pastor Solomon Kinloch speaks during the eulogy for A'millah Currie, 2, and Darnell Currie, Jr., during the funeral services at Triumph Church on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, Detroit. (Clarence Tabb Jr./Detroit News via AP)

Two Detroit children in a van died from carbon monoxide not excessive cold, autopsies show

Autopsies show two Detroit children who died in a van in below-freezing temperatures were victims of carbon monoxide, not exposure to cold weather. Police had said that Darnell Currie Jr. and … more

3/5/25

Joe Luscy, an employee with IV Waste, the company tasked with cleaning up the French Quarter after Mardi Gras, coordinates logistics on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, amid a pile of garbage. (AP Photo/Jack Brook)

How New Orleans cleans up the waves of trash left behind after Mardi Gras

Hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets of New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras, leaving the city covered in detritus. A team lead by IV Waste is tasked with cleaning up much of the more … more

By JACK BROOK | 3/5/25

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Suspect in Kabul airport bombing during Afghanistan pullout makes court appearance following capture

A suspected participant in the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed 13 American service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan has arrived … more

By ERIC TUCKER and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER | 3/5/25