‘Great Americans Day’ questioned

Biloxi, Miss. — The city of Biloxi has sparked a debate about the holiday honoring the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. after announcing on social media that city offices would be closed Monday for “Great Americans Day.” Monday is federally recognized as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Great Americans Day doesn’t exist as a holiday. However, Biloxi City Council passed an ordinance in 1985 declaring the holiday “Great Americans Day.”

After Biloxi defended the holiday reference on Twitter and Facebook, dozens of critical comments were posted. Mayor Andrew Gilich called for the city to repeal its ordinance.

A piece of student artwork depicting police officers as pigs will officially be removed from a wall at the U.S. Capitol, a lawmaker said. Controversy over the painting by a Missouri high school student

caused a national uproar in recent weeks as members of Congress took turns taking the artwork down and then rehanging it.

Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.), who objected to the artwork, told CNN that House Speaker Paul Ryan’s office informed him Friday that it will be taken down after Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday after an official determination it violates Capitol rules.

Vatican calls Jerusalem holy

Vatican City — The Vatican stressed the sacred nature of Jerusalem on Saturday as the Palestinian leader warned that prospects for peace could suffer if the incoming Trump administration goes ahead with plans to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The developments came as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Pope Francis and inaugurated the Palestinian embassy to the Holy See.

The Palestinians oppose the embassy move, saying it would kill any hopes for negotiating an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and rile the region by undercutting Muslim and Christian claims to the holy city.