In the Nation

TEXAS

State sues to block six Syrian refugees

Texas has sued the U.S. government in an effort to block six Syrian refugees from resettling in Dallas this week, while Indiana's governor is asking the Catholic Church not to resettle a Syrian family in his state.

Texas' suit, filed Wednesday, comes after a nonprofit defied orders from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to halt the arrival of Syrian refugees in Texas, citing last month's Paris attacks.

Texas wants to delay the arrival of the refugees for at least a week, until a federal judge can hear the challenge.

The Obama administration has said states don't have the authority to block refugees. Abbott is among more than two dozen governors who have vowed to keep new Syrian refugees from resettling in their states.

In Indiana, Gov. Mike Pence on Wednesday asked the archdiocese to reconsider and not settle a Syrian family in the state later this month. - AP

ALASKA

No foul play in death

The new mayor of Alaska's capital, Juneau, appears to have died from natural causes. Police on Wednesday announced the cause of death shortly after an autopsy was completed on the body of Mayor Stephen Fisk. The death was "consistent with an injury due to falling or stumbling into objects. No foul play is indicated," police said. Fisk, 70, a political newcomer, was elected in October. - AP
WASHINGTON

Hill staffer arrested

Capitol Police arrested a congressional staffer who tried to enter a Senate office building with a loaded gun. A police spokeswoman said Christopher Carpenter was arrested Tuesday when routine X-ray screening revealed a loaded 9mm handgun in a backpack. A spokeswoman for the Senate sergeant at arms' office said that Carpenter was manager of the office that processes Senate ID badges and that he would eventually return to work. - AP