Nation briefs 3/9/16

Mississippi pressed to change its flag

JACKSON, Miss. -- A South Carolina lawmaker is joining other black leaders in calling for Mississippi to change the last state flag that includes the Confederate battle emblem. Democratic Rep. Justin Bamberg spoke Tuesday to more than 200 people for a change-the-flag rally outside the Mississippi Capitol. He said Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant can look to a Republican colleague -- South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley -- for courage on dealing with the issue. Haley and South Carolina lawmakers removed a Confederate battle flag from the Statehouse lawn in Columbia last summer after nine black worshippers were massacred at a church in Charleston. The white man charged in the attack had posed for photos with a rebel flag.

Ex-cop who cut dog's throat gets back pay

BALTIMORE -- A former Baltimore police officer acquitted of animal-cruelty charges after he slit a dog's throat while trying to restrain it is in line to receive $45,000 in back pay from the city. The Baltimore Sun reported the Board of Estimates is expected today to approve a deal in which Jeffrey G. Bolger, a retired 20-year veteran of the department, will be compensated for about 10 months he missed while on unpaid leave. Bolger was cleared in November of all charges stemming from the June 2014 killing of a 7-year-old shar-pei. Bolger was charged with mutilating an animal, animal cruelty and misconduct in office. A judge ruled Bolger and another officer involved thought the dog was dangerous.

Orca that killed its trainer is ill

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The killer whale responsible for the death of a Sea World trainer is sick from a bacterial infection that eventually may kill him, SeaWorld officials said Tuesday. In a post on the park's blog, officials said the infection in Tilikum's lungs has been resistant to treatment so far. Tilikum has been lethargic, and veterinarians and trainers are trying to manage the infection and make sure he is comfortable. "It's extremely difficult to treat," staff veterinarian Dr. Scott Gearhart said in a video posted to the blog. "I wish I could say I was tremendously optimistic about Tilikum and his future, but he has a disease that is chronic and progressive and at some point might cause his death." In 2010, Tilikum grabbed trainer Dawn Brancheau after a "Dine with Shamu" show and pulled her into a pool, killing her.

Vehicle crashes on supermarket roof

PITTSBURGH -- A vehicle crashed onto the roof of a supermarket in Pittsburgh, and the store was evacuated as a precaution. The crash occurred late Tuesday morning at a Giant Eagle store in the city's Greenfield neighborhood. The store sits on a lot below some other city streets. Images on WPXI-TV showed the right-rear roof was slightly below street level. It appeared the motorist drove off a road above the store, through a chain-link fence and onto the roof. It landed right-side up. Fire chief Mike Mullen said the impact tore part of the roofing, and gasoline leaked from the car into the store. Giant Eagle spokesman Dick Roberts said nobody inside the store was hurt, and Pittsburgh police said the driver wasn't hurt, either.

-- From wire reports