CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s new Orion spacecraft is on its way to orbit.

The unmanned orbital test flight began Friday with a sunrise liftoff witnessed by thousands of NASA guests gathered at Cape Canaveral for the second morning in a row. The crowd size and excitement were reminiscent of the shuttle-flying days.

This high-stakes mission is meant to usher in a new era of human exploration leading ultimately to Mars.

Orion’s debut will be brief — just 4½ hours from launch to splashdown, with two orbits of Earth. But for the first time in 42 years, NASA is sending a spacecraft built for humans farther than a couple hundred miles from Earth. The previous time was the Apollo 17 moon shot.

And it’s NASA’s first new spaceship since the shuttle.

Thursday’s launch attempt was foiled by wind and balky valves.

ALAMOSA, Colo. (AP) — A woman in southern Colorado was surprised when she gave birth to a baby girl that tipped the scales at almost 14 pounds.

Mia Yasmin Garcia was born by cesarean section in Alamosa on Monday, weighing 13 pounds, 13 ounces. She was flown to a hospital outside Denver because she had low glucose levels and trouble breathing. Her father says she’s doing well and the family hopes to take her home soon.

KUSA-TV in Denver reports her mother, Alisha Hernandez, was expecting a 7-pound baby.

Mia’s father, Francisco Garcia, says the newborn’s size shocked everyone, including hospital staff. He says “they were like, ‘Whoa!’ They opened their eyes like they’ve never seen a baby like that.”

Four older sisters are welcoming Mia. Garcia says their mother announced: “I’m done!”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting a man and a woman whose burned bodies were found in an abandoned van.

The Kansas City Star reports 30-year-old Christopher Canagan pleaded guilty Thursday to a handful of charges including second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He admitted to killing 24-year-old Dennis Smith and 22-year-old Linda Williams in September 2013.

Canagan shot Smith as he sat in the driver’s seat of the van. Williams jumped out of the van, but Canagan forced her back into the vehicle and drove away. He set the van on fire in Kansas City, Kansas.

LENEXA- A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 5 p.m. on Thursday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Peterbilt semi driven by Blackmore II, Robert Melvin Blackmore II, 55, Kansas City, was northbound on Interstate 35 at 87th Street in Lenexa.

A 2001 Chevy Tahoe driven by Ana Maria Gomez-Martinez, 37, Kansas City was also northbound and slowed in response to traffic. The semi could not stop in time and rear-ended the Chevy.

Gomez-Martinez was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

The KHP reported both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – A Missouri lawmaker is trying to prevent employers from accessing their workers’ social media accounts without the employees’ permission.

State Rep. Charlie Davis of Webb City filed legislation this week that would protect employees who don’t give their bosses their passwords.

If passed as is, employers couldn’t fire or discipline those don’t give them access to their online accounts.

The bill also would prevent employers from holding it against job applicants who refuse to give their passwords.

Business officials still could require access to online accounts if they’re investigating specific reports of workplace misconduct.

JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press
KERRY LESTER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three U.S. cities that President Barack Obama once called home are trying to outdo one another as the competition to host his future presidential library comes to a close.

Next week, a handful of Obama’s oldest friends and associates will start judging proposals from two Chicago universities and one each in New York and Honolulu. By the end of March, Obama and the first lady will announce the winner.

Knowing the future library will be a prominent tourist attraction and historical site, each community is offering Obama prime real estate, financial backing and grand visions for what his library could look like.

The Barack Obama Foundation has requested specifics on a host of items, including local zoning and transportation, architectural design and management plans.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The retiring Taxation Committee chairman in the Kansas House has taken a job with the state Department of Revenue.

Department spokeswoman Jeannine Koranda said Thursday that Republican Rep. Richard Carlson began working Monday as the agency’s legislative liaison.

Carlson is a 70-year-old farmer and rancher from St. Marys. He was first elected to the House in 2004 but opted not to seek re-election this year. His current, two-year term expires Jan. 12.

Koranda said the department thought Carlson’s expertise would be helpful in dealing with legislators. The $50,000-a-year liaison’s job previously was vacant.

As Taxation Committee chairman, Carlson helped push personal income tax reductions through the Legislature in 2012 and 2013. GOP Gov. Sam Brownback advocated the reductions as a way to stimulate the economy.