National News

US retail sales rose 0.2% in Nov., helped by holiday boost WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales increased a slight 0.2% in November, as strong sales tied to holiday shopping were offset by lower gasoline prices. by JOSH BOAK, AP Economics Writer - December 14, 2018

National Park Service buys MLK Jr's Atlanta birth home ATLANTA -- The National Park Service has bought the home in Atlanta, Georgia, where Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929. by The Associated Press - December 14, 2018

Conway plant to close by '21, slash 344 jobs; firm opts to go with Wisconsin incentives Kimberly-Clark Corp. said Thursday that it will close its Conway manufacturing facility by 2021, ending months of uncertainty about whether the company would ch... by Democrat-Gazette staff and wire reports - December 14, 2018

Puzzled, allies say of U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton's position on criminal-justice bill Conservative leaders who are often allied with U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton blasted the Arkansas Republican on Thursday for attempting to derail bipartisan criminal-jus... by Frank E. Lockwood - December 14, 2018

Trump: Didn't tell Cohen to break law President Donald Trump denied Thursday that he had directed his former personal attorney Michael Cohen to break the law during the 2016 campaign by buying the ... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - December 14, 2018

Russian admits guilt in scheme; Kremlin agent used back doors to access U.S. conservatives A Russian gun-rights activist pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring with a senior Russian official to infiltrate the conservative movement in the United States ... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - December 14, 2018

In Senate, votes revile Saudi war, prince role The Senate cast two historic votes Thursday to end U.S. participation in the Saudi-led war effort in Yemen and condemn the Saudi crown prince as responsible for... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - December 14, 2018

Virgin's tourist ship soars to space Virgin Galactic's tourism spaceship climbed more than 50 miles high above California's Mojave Desert on Thursday, reaching for the first time what the company c... by JOHN ANTCZAK The Associated Press - December 14, 2018

Guatemalan girl, 7, dies in U.S. custody A 7-year-old girl from Guatemala died of dehydration and shock after she was taken into Border Patrol custody last week for crossing from Mexico into the United... by Nick Miroff and Robert Moore The Washington Post - December 14, 2018

Lawmakers leave as shutdown looms House Republican leaders sent their members home for a six-day break Thursday without revealing any plan to avoid a looming government shutdown. by Compiled by Democrat-Gazettte staff from wire reports - December 14, 2018

Vote passes bill to revise harassment policy on Hill Congress approved an overhaul Thursday of its process for handling sexual-harassment claims, capping a tumultuous year that saw more than a half-dozen lawmaker... by JULIET LINDERMAN The Associated Press - December 14, 2018

U.S. budget gap of $204.9B a record for November The federal budget deficit surged to a record for November, reaching $204.9 billion, but a big part of the increase reflected a calendar quirk. by MARTIN CRUTSINGER The Associated Press - December 14, 2018

Kentucky pension law struck down in court decision The Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a law that made changes to one of the country's worst-funded public pension systems, a victory for teachers w... by ADAM BEAM The Associated Press - December 14, 2018

The nation in brief Court blocks rules on birth control by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - December 14, 2018

Names and faces Janet Jackson will join her brother Michael and the Jackson 5 as members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, earning induction Thursday along with Stevie Nicks a... by Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports - December 14, 2018