AP Top News at 6:35 p.m. EST

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, had TV and film roles, dead at 73

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Fred Thompson, a Republican U.S. senator from Tennessee for eight years who also acted in feature films and on television, has died, his family says in a statement. The statement says Thompson died Sunday in Nashville after a recurrence of lymphoma at 73.

Official: Russian jet broke up at high altitude over Egypt

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — The Russian jetliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from an Egyptian resort city broke up at high altitude, scattering fragments of wreckage over a wide area in the Sinai Peninsula, Russia's top aviation official said Sunday as search teams raced to recover the bodies of the 224 people who died. Meanwhile in Russia, an outpouring of grief gripped the historic city of St. Petersburg, home of many of the victims. President Vladimir Putin declared a nationwide day of mourning, and flags flew at half-staff.

With strong debate showing, Cruz hopes to build momentum

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — For months, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has flown under the radar in the Republican presidential race, an unusual position for a politician who has been in the spotlight since arriving in Washington nearly three years ago. Now, Cruz is trying to ride a standout performance in last week's GOP debate into new momentum for his campaign. He's casting himself as the conservative the party's right flank has been waiting for — someone who's both uncompromising and electable.

Prices, politics challenge health law's 3rd sign-up season

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government's insurance website is faster and easier to use, but as a third sign-up season gets underway, President Barack Obama's health care law is approaching limits. Enrollment on the federal and state exchanges began Sunday. While the law's expanded coverage has reduced the uninsured rate to a historic low of about 9 percent, the gains will be harder in 2016.

AP: Hundreds of officers lose licenses over sex misconduct

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Flashing lights pierced the black of night, and the big white letters made clear it was the police. The woman pulled over was a daycare worker in her 50s headed home after playing dominoes with friends. She felt she had nothing to hide, so when the Oklahoma City officer accused her of erratic driving, she did as directed. She would later tell a judge she was splayed outside the patrol car for a pat-down, made to lift her shirt to prove she wasn't hiding anything, then to pull down her pants when the officer still wasn't convinced. He shined his flashlight between her legs, she said, then ordered her to sit in the squad car and face him as he towered above. His gun in sight, she said she pleaded "No, sir" as he unzipped his fly and exposed himself with a hurried directive.

US Episcopal Church installs first black leader

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, installed Sunday as the first black leader of the U.S. Episcopal Church, urged Episcopalians to evangelize by crossing divides of race, education and wealth. Curry used the example of his own mother being given Communion at a white Episcopal parish before desegregation, and how that act persuaded his father to join the denomination, and eventually become a priest.

Sanders spends $2M on 1st ad campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders launched his first television ads in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire on Sunday, pouring $2 million into an ad buy that casts his campaign as a sharp break with the status-quo. The ads give voters a fuller look at the Vermont independent senator's biography, as a longtime fighter against injustice and inequality, his humble upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, and his attendance at Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington in 1963. There's also his work as mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in Congress and his pledge to take "on Wall Street and a corrupt political system."

Islamic State group advances in central Syria, seizing town

BEIRUT (AP) — The Islamic State militant group is advancing in central Syria, seizing control of a town that lies near a highway leading to the capital, Damascus, and attacking another, activists and the group said Sunday. The capture of Mahin, in the central Homs province, and the push toward majority-Christian town of Sadad, marks a new advance of the Islamic State group beyond its strongholds in northern and eastern Syria. The militant group had seized control of the ancient city of Palmyra in May and a neighboring village.

Russians mourn victims of plane crash in Egypt

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — In a massive outpouring of grief, thousands of people flocked to St. Petersburg's airport Sunday, laying flowers, soft toys and paper planes next to the pictures of the victims of the crash of a passenger jet in Egypt that killed all 224 on board in Russia's deadliest air crash to date. "I can't remain indifferent, there were so many people from St. Petersburg on the plane," said Yelena Vikhareva, a 48-year old sales clerk who came to the airport with her son. "The pain is piercing the heart."

Brees' 7 TDs help Saints top Giants, 52-49 on last-second FG

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It took the most prolific game of Drew Brees' career and a clutch field goal by a new kicker for the New Orleans Saints to spoil a scintillating homecoming for Giants stars Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. Brees passed for career highs of 511 yards and seven touchdowns, and recently signed Kai Forbath kicked a 50-yard field goal as time ran out Sunday, giving the Saints a 52-49 victory in a game with a record 13 scoring passes.