Stocks Open Sharply Lower After GOP Cancels Vote
Stocks 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 Solution
President 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 Thursday evening.
Gun Control Debate Heating Up in Statehouses
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 in their upcoming sessions.
Cliff Poses Tiny Dollar Gap, Wide Political Ravine
When 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 most of the burden on the now beleaguered Boehner.
House Approves $633 Billion Defense Bill
The 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on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a $633 billion defense bill for next year despite Pentagon complaints that it spares outdated but politically popular weapons at the expense of the military's ability to fight.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 Exhibit
Mississippi officials hope that a new Graceland exhibit about Elvis' boyhood will draw visitors to his birthplace in Tupelo.
Cleveland Schools Desegregation Case Before Court
A 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 1
One 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 Era
The hundreds gathered in Chichen Itza said they believed it marked the birth of a new and better age.
Different Fates Recommended for Ag High Schools
Two 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 Midwest on Thursday — the heaviest shipping day of the year — could mean that some packages might not make it under the tree in time for Christmas. That's a headache for retailers, shippers and customers alike who already were experiencing problems because of the surge in shipping this year.
House GOP Pushing Through $633 Billion Defense Bill... Including Spending the Pentagon Doesn't Want
WASHINGTON (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 End
Though 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.
State Department Officials Acknowledge Major Weaknesses, Ask Congress to Full Fund Security Requests
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department on Thursday acknowledged major weaknesses in security and errors in judgment exposed in a scathing independent report on the deadly Sept. 11 assault on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya. Two top State officials appealed to Congress to fully fund requests to ensure diplomats and embassies are safe.
Hot Rhetoric and 'Small' Numbers Separate Obama and Boehner on Fiscal Cliff Negotiation
WASHINGTON (AP) — In their "fiscal cliff" standoff, President Barack Obama wants to raise taxes by about $20 billion a year more than House Speaker John Boehner. The president wants the government to spend about that much more yearly than Boehner does, too.
Full Spectrum Searching for Financing
Full Spectrum South is moving forward with its plans to build a mixed-use development downtown, despite the county refusing to help fund the project.
Seven of the Most Striking Ways States Have Loosened Gun Laws
States have often relaxed their gun laws, making it easier for individuals to obtain guns, extending the places where concealed guns are permitted, or giving gun owners more robust protections.
Team of the Day: 1964-65 National Championship Lanier Basketball Team
Sometimes in sports, championship teams are forgotten and fade into history. These teams are normally victims of circumstances beyond their control.
Midwest Hit by its First Major Snowstorm of Season
The first major snowstorm of the season began its slow eastward march across the Midwest early Thursday, leaving at least three people dead, creating treacherous driving conditions and threatening to disrupt some of the nation's busiest airports ahead of the holiday weekend.
Lawmakers, State Officials Tangle Over Libya Raid
The State Department on Thursday acknowledged weaknesses in security related to the deadly Sept. 11 assault on the diplomatic mission in Libya following a scathing independent report faulting management failures at the department.