The Sunrise News Sampler

Authorities are now offering a $20,000 reward for information in the death of 73-year-old Kate Ragsdale, who was found dead inside her home in the Highlands neighborhood in February.  Ragsdale is believed to have died of sharp force trauma.

The Tuscaloosa News reports that the Tuscaloosa Area Volunteer Reception Center will close tomorrow. The center was formed in the hours after the April 27, 2011 tornado to manage and direct volunteers, but the volunteer effort has now slowed to a more easily managed level.

Dean Young is announcing that he plans to run for the Alabama congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Representative Jo Bonner.  The 1st Congressional District is in southwestern Alabama.

A girl was killed and eight other people were injured in a chain reaction crash yesterday near Huntsville. Police say an 18-year-old man caused a hit-and-run crash that involved four vehicles and was involved in a second crash with six vehicles shortly after the first one.

Bombs have been going off in Baghdad this morning and in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. At least 13 people are dead and dozens are wounded. Iraq is facing its most relentless wave of violence since the 2011 U.S. military withdrawal.

Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, who is accused of killing 16 Afghan in a massacre on two villages, is expected to plead guilty to charges next week, a plea which allows Bales to avoid the death penalty.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he doesn't "feel threatened" after two letters addressed to him were found to contain ricin. While none of the people who initially handled the mail showed no symptoms of exposure to the poison, three officers who later examined one of the letters did experience minor symptoms.

Clarence Burke Jr., the lead singer of the Five Stairsteps died Sunday at his home in Marietta, GA. Burke was 64.