Durrie Bouscaren

Heading into a fourth day of military attacks on northern Syria, Turkish officials say forces have captured Ras al-Ayn and several surrounding villages. But reports indicate fighting continues.

The fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a white police officer drew attention to Ferguson, Mo., three years ago. But since then, few changes have actually been implemented.

Abortion is already heavily restricted in Missouri, but now the state is cutting more funding to organizations that provide abortions, even though it means rejecting millions of dollars from the feds.

South Sudan has been in turmoil for much of the five years since it became independent. That trouble is spilling over into northern Uganda, where refugees are flowing in.

Floodwaters continue to rise in the Midwest where thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes. Nine states have declared a state of emergency.

Police in St. Louis arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting of two officers at a protest in Ferguson, Mo. New information may cast doubt on statements that police were the intended targets.

An officer-involved shooting in a St. Louis suburb just west of Ferguson, Mo., has renewed protests over the Christmas holiday, as well as tensions between residents and police.

Many in the Missouri city are worried about its future, and there's speculation there will be a "mass migration" should violence erupt again. But some residents remain committed to the city.

As the availability of mental health services has declined, many police departments have trained Crisis Intervention Teams to respond to people with mental illness.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has announced a special litigation team from the Department of Justice will launch a wide-ranging examination of Ferguson's law enforcement practices.