Q: Washington (CNN)Potential Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson is apologizing after being accused of plagiarism -- even as the author of one of the books Carson is accused of lifting material from is rushing to his defense.

"I attempted to appropriately cite and acknowledge all sources in America the Beautiful, but inadvertently missed some. I apologize, and I am working with my editors to rectify the situation," Carson said in a statement his representative, Armstrong Williams, provided to CNN.

BuzzFeed News broke the story earlier this week that Carson had lifted material from a number of books and online sources for his 2012 book "America the Beautiful."

Among those sources is SocialismSucks.net, a site whose founder acknowledged to BuzzFeed that Carson had taken some of his comments. Other sources included "The Five Thousand Year Leap" by W. Cleon Skousen, a Liberty Institute press release, CBS News and author William Federer's book "America's God and Country."

Carson, a neurosurgeon who's said he'll make a decision on a 2016 bid by this spring, is the latest GOP presidential contender to be hit with plagiarism charges. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) faced similar accusations about his own book in 2013.

The plagiarism charges have "blindsided" Carson, a source close to the neurosurgeon reportedly told the National Review Online.

"Alongside the author, we too take these matters very seriously. We have been in contact with the author and agent and will work with them to review the given information. We will respond as appropriate," a spokesperson for HarperCollins Christian publishing, which published Carson's book, told BuzzFeed.

1. Plagiarism
2. America the Beautiful
3. BuzzFeed News
4. Yes
5. Rand Paul
6. Neurosurgeon
7. Yes
8. SocialismSucks.net
9. Armstrong Williams
10. President

Numbered questions:
1. What was Ben Carson apologizing for?
2. What did it say he was trying to site sources for?
3. Who broke the storey?
4. Did any of the authors of the books he was accused of plagerizing rush to his defence?
5. What Kentucky senetor faces similar charges in 2013?
6. What was Carsons Occupation before politics?
7. Where there any other places that he was accused of plagerizing?
8. Can you name one?
9. What was the name of the representative that gave CNN Carsons statement?
10. What U.S office did Carson want to run for?

Q: Giglio, Italy (CNN) -- Francesco Schettino, the captain of the ill-fated Costa Concordia cruise liner, wants to get back on the ship. His lawyers Monday formally asked a panel of three judges for permission to tour the ship's bridge and engine room as part of a defense strategy that he says will prove that was not the only person responsible for the disaster.

The liner, which crashed on the rocks off Giglio Island in January 2012, killing 32 people, was rotated back to vertical last Monday. The unprecedented maneuver, called parbuckling, exposed a twisted mass of metal, dotted with mattresses, passenger luggage and deck chairs on the ship's previously submerged starboard side. Now that the Concordia is upright, there can be further investigation of the captain's alleged mishandling of the ship.

Read more: Concordia righted

Defense lawyers for Schettino agreed with lawyers representing more than 200 civil parties against the captain, including Giglio Island and several passenger and environmental advocacy groups, in asking for a new examination of the ship now that it is upright. Such an examination could include divers going deep into the belly of the vessel to examine whether watertight doors sealed properly, and whether automatic generators functioned. He also wants to walk the judges through the command bridge in a re-creation of the night of the crash. Half of the command bridge was submerged for 20 months.

The trial began with preliminary hearings last March, but Monday was the first time the court heard any substantial evidence in the case. A panel of maritime experts addressed the role of the Indonesian helmsman Jacob Rusli Bin in the accident. Rusli Bin and four others were convicted in a plea deal in July for their role in the disaster. A Florence court is considering the validity of those plea bargain agreements.

1. March
2. unknown
3. Monday
4. Francesco Schettino, the captain
5. rashed
6. the rocks off Giglio Island
7. January 2012,
8. yes
9. 32 people
10. parbuckling

Numbered questions:
1. In what month did initial steps of the court case begin?
2. What did the hardcore proof start being shown?
3. What day did the hardcore proof start being shown?
4. Who is being accused?
5. What happened to the boat?
6. Into what?
7. When?
8. Did anyone die?
9. How many?
10. What's it called when they turn a boat right side up?

Q: (CNN) -- An 11-mile stretch of the Mississippi River near Greenville, Mississippi, was closed Monday to most vessel traffic because of low water levels, idling nearly a hundred boats and barges in the stream, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

"We are allowing a limited number of vessels based on size" to attempt to pass, said New Orleans-based Coast Guard spokesman Ryan Tippets, adding that the closure was affecting 97 vessels Monday afternoon and was halting both northbound and southbound traffic.

Salt creeping up the Mississippi River

This same area near Greenville, which sees about 50 vessels pass on an average day, has been closed "intermittently" since August 12, when a vessel ran aground, said Tippets.

The Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers have continued surveying the area and deemed it "dangerous for vessels to travel through," he said. The Army Corps of Engineers also has being dredging in the area to deepen the channel and help navigation.

Complete coverage of the drought

A historic drought and excessive heat have reduced water levels and scorched wide sections of the U.S. Midwest. Flooding last year may have worsened the situation on the Mississippi by leaving deposits of silt and debris in areas that would normally be clear.

Tippiets said he was unsure when the river would reopen or, once that happens, how long it would take to undo the gridlock.

Interactive map: Watch drought overtake U.S.

Are you affected by the drought? Let us know on CNN iReport.

1. A historic drought
2. vessel traffic is closte to hundred boats and barges
3. near Greenville, Mississippi
4. the Mississippi River
5. The Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers
6. allowing a limited number of vessels based on size" to attempt to pass and dredging in the area to deepen the channel
7. hundreds it depends on the time and day
8. A New Orleans-based Coast Guard spokesman
9. he was unsure when the river would reopen or, once that happens, how long it would take to undo the gridlock.
10. yes
11. leaving deposits of silt and debris in areas that would normally be clear.

Numbered questions:
1. What is going on near Greenville, Mississippi?
2. What are the consequences of the drought?
3. Where?
4. What body of water?
5. Who is responsible for closing the area?
6. What are they doing about it?
7. How many vessels are affected?
8. Who is Ryan Tippets?
9. What did he say?
10. Did a drought happen last year?
11. How did floods contribute to the problem?