Hot Off The Wire

Each week Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Small businesses brace themselves for potentially disruptive TikTok ban.
• A data company has figured out which airlines fly on time most often.
• Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out.
• Republicans' trust in accuracy of US elections jumps after Trump's win, AP-NORC poll finds.
• 5 things we know and still don't know about COVID, 5 years after it appeared.
• Bird flu virus likely mutated within a Louisiana patient, CDC says.
• Cats can get sick with bird flu. Here's how to protect them.
• Discarded Christmas trees become seasonal snack for goats in Chicago.
• 'Dinosaur highway' tracks dating back 166 million years are discovered in England.
• Border arrests are little changed in December, ending Biden's term at lowest level.
• Surgeon General calls for new label on drinks to warn Americans of alcohol's cancer risk.
• FBI issues warning to leagues about organized crime groups targeting pro athletes.
• Netflix averages more than 30 million viewers globally for its NFL Christmas Day doubleheader.
• The year in review Influential people who died in 2024.
• 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office.
• Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reach divorce settlement after 8 years.
• US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people.
• The killing of an 18-year-old Ohio woman was solved with DNA technology after 43 years.
• On this week's AP Religion Roundup, President Jimmy Carter leaves a legacy of tackling race relations through his Christian faith.
• The world population will be 8.09 billion on New Year's Day after a 71 million increase in 2024.
• Panama celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Panama Canal handover as Trump wants to take it back.

—The Associated Press

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities say the highly decorated soldier inside a Tesla Cybertruck packed with fireworks that exploded outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas shot himself in the head just before detonation.

A year after a panel blew out of a Boeing 737 Max during flight, the nation’s top aviation regulator says the company needs to change its culture and put safety above profits.

FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) — Police in Southern California say two people are dead after a small plane crashed through the roof of a sprawling furniture manufacturing building. The accident on Thursday near the Fullerton Municipal Airport in Orange County caused a fire and prompted the evacuation of at least 200 workers. 

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is “strong and unpredictable” and those qualities can be a decisive factor in his policy approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Zelenskyy says it won’t be possible to end the almost three years of war in one day, as Trump claimed during his election campaign he could do. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Wayne Osmond, a singer, guitarist and founding member of the million-selling family act The Osmonds, has died. He was 73. Sibling Merrill Osmond posted on his Facebook page that Wayne died this week at a Salt Lake City hospital after suffering a “massive stroke.”

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Authorities say a surfer missing in Australia is believed dead in a shark attack and they are searching the waters where the man disappeared. The 28-year-old was at a popular surf beach in South Australia where a man was killed by a white shark in 2023. 

In other news:

• Federal courts won't refer Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to attorney general over ethics.
• Biden awards the 2nd highest civilian award to leaders of the Jan. 6 committee and 18 others.
• FBI releases new video of a suspect planting a pipe bomb near DNC offices on eve of the Capitol riot.
• AP correspondent Shelley Adler reports on safety and the Crescent City after a truck rammed through Bourbon Street killing 15.
• Stock market today Wall Street opens 2025 with more modest losses.
• Apple to pay $95 million to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of snoopy eavesdropping.
• US unemployment claims fall to 211,000, the lowest level since March.
• Puerto Rico's new governor sworn in days after a major blackout left much of the island in the dark.
• 10 people shot outside a Queens, NY, nightclub; 4 suspects at large.
• Notre Dame is two wins from a national championship, Patrick Mahomes won't be going to the Pro Bowl and the Thunder stretch their winning streak. Plus: Early NBA All-Star Game voting and Alabama's QB declares fro the NFL Draft.
• South Korea's impeached president defies warrant after hourslong standoff.

—The Associated Press

About this program

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday. The blast killed a suspect inside the vehicle and sparked an intense investigation into possible terrorism. 

President Joe Biden is bestowing the second highest civilian award on Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, who led the congressional investigation into the Capitol riot. Donald Trump has said that Cheney, a former Wyoming congresswoman, and Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, should be jailed for their roles in the inquiry Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 people on Thursday. 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The new year will bring a pair of lunar eclipses. But don't expect any sun-disappearing acts like the one that mesmerized North America last year. While the world will have to wait until 2026 for the next total solar eclipse, the cosmos promises plenty of other wow moments in 2025.

In other news:

• FBI found 150 homemade bombs at Virginia home during search in December, prosecutors say.
• Harry Chandler, Navy medic who survived Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 103.
• 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni sues New York Times for libel over Blake Lively story.
• Pope calls for commitment to protect life as he doubles down on abortion in New Year's Day message.
• Rescuers find gruesome scene at a Honolulu home after a fireworks blast kills 3, injures over 20.
• New York employers must now offer paid medical leave during pregnancy.
• PlayStations for guns are offered up in New Orleans.
• Power is restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after a major blackout.
• Parts of UK flooded by heavy rain as wild weather continues to disrupt New Year events.
• The New Orleans terror attack postpones the Sugar Bowl, Ohio State eliminates the last undefeated team in the Rose Bowl, Texas pulls out a dramatic victory in the Peach Bowl, the Knicks extend their winning streak into the new year, and Saquon Barkley will rest rather than attempt to break the NFL single season rushing record on Sunday.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Each week Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• How to avoid financial stress during the holiday season.
• 2024 was big for bitcoin. States could see a crypto policy blitz in 2025 in spite of the risks.
• Americans end 2024 with grim economic outlook, but Republicans are optimistic for 2025: AP-NORC poll.
• Business owners should not forget anti-money laundering rule currently in legal limbo.
• 'Dirty Dancing,' 'Beverly Hills Cop,' 'Up in Smoke' among movies entering the National Film Registry.
• Popeye and Tintin enter the public domain in 2025 along with novels from Faulkner and Hemingway.
• From Caitlin Clark and Simone Biles to a new hockey league, women's sports had a pivotal year.
• Schools are cutting bus service for children. Parents are turning to ride-hailing apps.
• There's been an uptick in the sales of nuclear bomb shelters.
• Musk and Trump are viewed roughly the same by Americans, an AP-NORC poll finds.
• US to require passenger vehicles to sound alarms if rear passengers don't fasten their seat belts.
• Mystery drone sightings keep happening in New Jersey. Here's what we know (and don't know).
• New York man finds Mastodon jaw in his backyard.
• An Alabama woman is doing well after the latest experimental pig kidney transplant.
• Invasive 'murder hornets' are wiped out in the US, officials say.
• Concert promoters, hotels and lodging sites soon will have to disclose extra fees up front.
• Activists release images of foxes at Finnish fur farms to push EU to ban the trade.
• Milan's Via MonteNapoleone usurps New York's Fifth Avenue as world's most upscale shopping street.
• Once taboo, more Japanese women are brewing sake.
• Leap of faith: A few young women in US buck the trends by joining the ranks of Catholic nuns.
• Oldest known stone tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments sells for over $5M.
• Survivors seek a reckoning as FBI investigates child sex abuse in little-known Christian sect.
• Pope in autobiography reveals an apparent bombing plot during his 2021 visit to Iraq.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Workers at Starbucks stores plan to go on a five-day strike starting Friday to protest lack of progress in contract negotiations with the company. The strikes are scheduled to start in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle and could spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve. 

A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing the possibility of a federal government shutdown to the brink in Washington. President-elect Donald Trump has proposed that raising the nation’s debt limit be part of ongoing efforts to avert a government shutdown, saying in a statement Wednesday, “Anything else is a betrayal of our country.” 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first U.S. diplomats to visit Syria since President Bashar Assad's ouster earlier this month are in Damascus to hold talks with the country's new leadership and seek information on the whereabouts of missing American journalist Austin Tice.

NEW YORK (AP) — The man arrested in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO is being held without bail after a New York federal court appearance on charges including a death-eligible murder count. 

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it deported more than 270,000 people over a recent 12-month period, the highest annual tally in a decade. Its report released Thursday illustrates some financial and operational challenges that President-elect Donald Trump will face to carry out his pledge of mass deportations.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man could face up to 25 years in prison after admitting to setting a fire that destroyed a church. Christopher Scott Pritchard pleaded guilty Thursday to two federal charges for setting ablaze the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Cape Girardeau on April 28, 2021. 

In other news:

• t's beginning to look like another record for holiday travel.
• The TSA is urging holiday travelers to be careful about what they bring on planes.
• Biden expected to visit Pope Francis in final international trip of his presidency, AP sources say.
• Alberta's premier says Americans will pay a lot more for gas if Trump applies 25% tariffs on Canada.
• International students urged to return to US campuses before Trump inauguration.
• Pentagon says it doubled the number of US troops in Syria before Assad's fall.
• Appeals court removes prosecutor Fani Willis from Georgia election case against Trump and others.
• FDA says knockoff versions of Lilly obesity drug must come off the market.
• FDA updates the definition of 'healthy' foods.
• Stock market today Wall Street ends little changed after giving up a big morning gain.
• US home sales hit fastest pace since March with more properties up for sale.
• Oklahoma man dies by lethal injection in the nation’s final execution of 2024.
• NFL Week 16 kicks off with a key AFC West matchup, one of the NBA's superstars has a day to forget while one of the NHL's best records a four-point night, and the candidates for the 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class have been announced.
• Sammy Sosa appears to acknowledge PED use, apologizes; Cubs welcome him back into fold.
• Aaron Hernandez's brother pleads guilty to threatening a shooting at UConn.
• Malaysia agrees to resume 'no find, no fee' hunt for flight MH370, 10 years after plane disappeared.
• South Korean investigators seek to question reluctant president over martial law.

—The Associated Press

About this program

—The Associated Press

About this program

NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO is charged with murder as an act of terrorism. Prosecutors disclosed the indictment Tuesday as they worked to bring Luigi Mangione to New York from a Pennsylvania jail. 

Russia's security service says that it has detained a suspect in the killing of a senior general in Moscow. The suspect was described as an Uzbek citizen recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services. 

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Almost three dozen high-rise condos and luxury hotels are sinking or settling along South Florida beaches. A new study from the University of Miami says 35 buildings along an almost 12-mile stretch from Miami Beach to Sunny Isles Beach have sunk or settled in a range of 0.8 to 3.1 inches.

In other news:

• After investigating Jan. 6, House GOP sides with Trump and goes after Liz Cheney.
• Federal Reserve is set to cut key rate but consumers might not feel much benefit anytime soon.
• Congress unveils funding deal with more than $100 billion in disaster aid.
• Trump sues Des Moines Register, pollster for 'election interference' after pre-election poll.
• Trump’s lawyers allege juror misconduct in latest bid to get his hush money conviction dismissed.
• Jill Biden says she has closed the book on teaching at Northern Virginia Community College.
• NASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late March.
• US shows off $1 billion Mexico City embassy after years of delays.
• US to pay nearly $116M to settle lawsuits over rampant sexual abuse at California women's prison.
• Tech consultant found guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee.
• Suspect in Gilgo Beach serial killings is charged in the death of a seventh woman.
• Stock market today Wall Street trims its stellar gains as Nvidia's star dims again.
• Retail sales rose at healthy pace last month in latest sign of US economy's health.
• Energy chief Granholm warns against 'unfettered exports' of liquefied natural gas.
• Company recalls over 541,000 winter tires because they don't have enough snow traction.
• Tom Cruise gets a top U.S Navy honor for boosting the military with his screen roles.
• Megan Thee Stallion seeks restraining order, says imprisoned Tory Lanez continues to harass her.
• The Bucks beat the Thunder to win the NBA Cup, No. 1 Tennessee wins its 11th straight game in college basketball, the Hurricanes shut down the Islanders and the Blackhawks rally past the Capitals, an NFL starting quarterback is benched, a former baseball MVP is traded and more. 
• Court rules that UK police can seize millions from Andrew Tate in tax dispute.
• 7 foreign tourists hospitalized in Fiji were not poisoned by alcohol or illicit drugs, officials say.
• Netanyahu says Israeli troops will occupy a buffer zone inside Syria for the foreseeable future.
• A couple hundred North Korean troops killed, wounded in battles with Ukrainian forces.

—The Associated Press

About this program

A senior Russian general has been killed by a bomb hidden in a scooter outside his apartment building in Moscow. The attack came a day after Ukraine’s security service leveled criminal charges against him. A Ukrainian official said the service carried out Tuesday's attack. 

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has refused to dismiss President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money conviction because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity. But the overall future of the historic case remains unclear. Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan’s decision Monday blocks one potential off-ramp from the case ahead of Trump's return to office next month. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — At a time of heightened political division, Americans’ confidence in their country’s judicial system and courts dropped to a record low of 35% this year. That's according to a new Gallup poll. 

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut has become the latest state to begin notifying its eligible citizens that some or all of their medical debt will soon be paid off. State officials announced Monday that nearly 23,000 residents with debt totaling $30 million are expected to be informed by mail beginning Dec. 23. 

In other news:

• Trump weighs in on NY mayor, vaccines and drones in freewheeling press conference at Mar-a-Lago.
• Supreme Court declines appeal from Peter Navarro; Trump White House aide to return after prison term.
• Drone detectors in New Jersey have found 'little or no evidence' of wrongdoing, governor says.
• Two charged in connection with Iran drone strike that killed 3 US troops in the Middle East.
• New Orleans insists its police department is ready to end federal oversight. Not all are convinced.
• Stock market today Nasdaq hits a record as Wall Street drifts ahead of Federal Reserve's meeting.
• TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it's sold.
• Former TV host Carlos Watson gets nearly 10 years in prison in case about failed startup Ozy Media.
• The Vikings keep winning, the Falcons got a much needed win, the Lions have two more major injuries, the Pistons hold off the Heat in overtime, the Stanley Cup finalists meet
• AP All-America team Travis Hunter, Xavier Watts back on first team; Ashton Jeanty is unanimous pick.
• Negotiators say Israel and Hamas are inching toward a ceasefire deal. This is what it may look like.
• 7 foreign tourists hospitalized in Fiji after drinking cocktails at a resort bar.
• Magnitude 7.3 earthquake causes widespread damage in Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.

—The Associated Press

About this program

BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy advanced drone-tracking technology following weeks of reported drone sightings in parts of New York and New Jersey that have stirred fear and bewilderment. The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to use the technology to track drones back to their landing spots. 

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Health officials in the Gaza Strip say the death toll from the 14-month war between Israel and Hamas militants has topped 45,000 people.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s biggest bank has apologized after an employee allegedly stole more than 1 billion yen ($6.6 million) from customers' safe deposit boxes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans hoping for lower borrowing costs for homes, credit cards and cars may be disappointed after this week’s Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed’s policymakers are likely to signal fewer interest rate cuts next year than were previously expected. 

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — France is rushing help by ship and military aircraft to its poor overseas territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean that has been shattered by its worst storm in nearly a century. 

The Spider-Man spinoff “Kraven the Hunter” got off to a disastrous start in North American theaters this weekend. Studio estimates Sunday show the movie starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson earned only $11 million. This weekend's other major studio release was Warner Bros.’ animated “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” which made $5 million. “Moana 2” easily beat out the new releases, becoming the fourth highest grossing film of the year with $717 million globally. “Wicked" also continued to perform and crossed the $500 million threshold worldwide. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris thanked deep-pocketed Democratic donors who raised record sums in last month’s election loss to President-elect Donald Trump. 

In other news:

• Biden to sign proclamation establishing national monument honoring first US female Cabinet secretary.
• Trump nominees should "steer clear" of undermining polio vaccine, McConnell says.
• ABC agrees to give $15 million to Donald Trump's presidential library to settle defamation lawsuit.
• Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect.
• US Marines start partial transfer from Okinawa in Japan to Guam under plan agreed 12 years ago.
• Court denies TikTok's request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court review.
• Former Manhattan prosecutor to represent suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO.
• After UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing, San Francisco police gave FBI tip about suspect's identity.
• After a 15-year pause in executions, Indiana prepares to put to death a man who killed 4.
• Small businesses say cautious shoppers are seeking "cozy" and "festive" this holiday season.
• Flight takes kids to visit Santa at North Pole scene in transformed Denver airport hangar.
• Margie Szaroleta has the AP Entertainment Update, featuring a Bob Dylan biography, "The Simpsons" and a return of "Malcolm in the Middle."
• High scoring games around the NFL Sunday, quarterbacks with prolific performances and a crazy finish in New Orleans. 
• Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter wins Heisman Trophy as college football's top player.
• Blake Horvath shines as Navy dominates in a 31-13 victory over Bryson Daily and No. 19 Army.
• South Korea’s impeached leader avoids investigators as court begins meeting to determine his fate.
• American pilgrim imprisoned in Syria calls his release a "blessing;" Greek village leans into faith in the fight against demographic collapse.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Each week Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Working Well When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace.
• Small businesses plan events, start marketing earlier to deal with shorter holiday shopping season.
• Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others.
• ‘Polarization’ is Merriam-Webster’s 2024 word of the year.
• McDonald's employee who called 911 in CEO's shooting is eligible for a reward, but it will take time.
• Play the lottery and skip the line for a chance to see the Supreme Court in action.
• Luke Littler was an unknown a year ago. Now he's making millions and taking darts into mainstream.
• More beans and less red meat Nutritionists weigh in on US dietary guidelines.
• US health panel adds self-testing option for cervical cancer screening.
• Still rockin': As a singer turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple.
• The Associated Press names its Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024.
• UK spy agency releases annual Christmas card puzzle to uncover future codebreakers.
• Ukrainian man fleeing war rescued with his kitten on a perilous journey through Romanian mountains.
• Rural resurrection: A Greek village leans into faith in fight against demographic collapse.
• A New Zealander studied for a year to win the Spanish world Scrabble title. He doesn’t speak Spanish.
• Journalists' rights group says 104 media workers killed this year. Gaza stands out for 2nd year.

—The Associated Press

About this program

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. 

Stanley is recalling approximately 2.6 million of its switchback and trigger action stainless steel travel mugs sold in the U.S. because of a potential burn hazard. 

Dick Vitale said he’s cancer-free after his fourth bout with the disease in just over three years. The 85-year-old ESPN college basketball analyst posted Thursday on X that he got the news after a morning scan, saying: “SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER !” Vitale posted on X.

In other news:

• Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast.
• Trump is named Time's Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell.
• Meta donates $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund.
• US senator says mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey should be 'shot down, if necessary.'
• Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing.
• NATO chief warns that Putin wants long-term confrontation with Europe after Ukraine.
• Stock market today Wall Street’s rally stalls as Nasdaq pulls back from its record.
• Elon Musk wants to turn SpaceX's Starbase site into a Texas city.
• US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated.
• Average rate on 30-year mortgage hits 6.6%, its third straight weekly decline.
• Country star Morgan Wallen sentenced in chair-throwing case.
• 3 men say in lawsuits that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs drugged and sexually assaulted them.
• The Rams close in on the Seahawks by beating the Niners, North Carolina makes it official with Belichick, Celtics roll without Tatum, Oilers blast Wild behind Draisait.
• US Olympic and Paralympic officials put coach on leave after AP reports sexual abuse allegations.
• Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months.
• Crown of Thorns returns to Notre Dame cathedral for public veneration.

—The Associated Press

About this program

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American who turned up in Syria says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot on a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus over the weekend, overthrowing President Bashar Assad and ending his family’s 54-year rule. 

The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and expressing support for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray says he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. The announcement Wednesday comes a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the position. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he’s picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. 

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is back in his hometown of New York where he's been honored as Time magazine’s Person of the Year and will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. 

The gun found on the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson matches shell casings found at the crime scene, New York’s police commissioner said Wednesday. Commissioner Jessica Tisch also said lab results matched suspect Luigi Mangione’s prints to a water bottle and protein bar wrapper found near the scene of the killing. 

ROVANIEMI, Finland (AP) — More than 600,000 people annually visit Santa Claus Village, a winter-themed amusement park in the small town of Rovaniemi in Finland. They frolic in the snow, take a reindeer sleigh ride or even meet Saint Nick himself. 

GREEN LAKE, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say a Wisconsin man who faked his own drowning and left his wife and three children for Eastern Europe has willingly returned to the U.S. Ryan Borgwardt is charged with obstruction, a misdemeanor. A not-guilty plea was entered by a judge Wednesday, a day after Borgwardt's return.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats failed in their bid to confirm a Democratic member of the National Labor Relations Board after the Senate rejected a razor-thin vote that hinged on the pivotal rejections of independent Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. 

In other news:

• Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single-day act of clemency.
• Blinken faces GOP critics in Congress who say Afghanistan withdrawal 'lit the world on fire.'
• House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors.
• Homeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey.
• Supreme Court allows investors' class action to proceed against microchip company Nvidia.
• US warns Russia may be ready to use new lethal missile against Ukraine again in 'coming days.'
• Stock market today Wall Street gets back to climbing, and the Nasdaq tops 20,000.
• US inflation ticked up last month as some price pressures remain persistent.
• Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger.
• Luxury real estate brokers charged with sex trafficking in NYC.
• Hannah Kobayashi, missing Hawaii woman whose disappearance prompted a massive search, is found safe.
• George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies at age 89.
• Bill Belichick has a new coaching job, the NBA Cup completes its Final Four, the Rangers and Senators win the only two NHL games, and Garret Crochet is changing Sox in a big trade.
• FIFA names Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host; Spain, Portugal and Morocco to co-host 2030 edition.
• South Korea's Yoon defends martial law as an act of governance and vows to 'fight to the end.'

—The Associated Press

About this program

ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — The man charged with murder in the killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has made it clear he isn't going to make things easy for authorities. Luigi Mangione shouted unintelligibly and writhed in the grip of sheriff’s deputies as he was led into court Tuesday. And he objected to being taken to New York to face trial. 

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Weather conditions are forecast to improve this week in Southern California and aid firefighters in their battle against a wildfire that’s forced up to 20,000 people from their homes. Celebrities, including performers Cher, Dick Van Dyke and his wife, were among the evacuees.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he'd do no such thing. That's according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

A federal judge has rejected the sale of the conspiracy platform Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet after Alex Jones claimed that a recent bankruptcy auction was fraught with illegal collusion. The Onion was named the winning bidder on Nov. 14 over a company affiliated with Jones. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez’s decision Tuesday night means Jones can stay at Infowars in Austin, Texas.

NEW YORK (AP) — Macy’s is reporting a decline in profits and sales for its third quarter with many customers of the department store chain continuing to divert spending to basics like groceries amid elevated prices. Company shares tumbled 7% before the opening bell Wednesday. 

In other news:

• Key details about the man accused of killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO.
• DA suggests unusual idea for halting Trump’s hush money case while upholding his conviction.
• Biden says he was 'stupid' not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did.
• Task force probing attempts to kill Trump urges Secret Service to limit protection of foreigners.
• US says it will support new Syrian leaders who protect women and renounce terrorism.
• Woman killed in crash as officer responds to threat at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's home.
• FBI says 2 Homeland Security agents in Utah sold illegal drugs for profit through informant.
• Stock market today: Wall Street slips to a rare back-to-back loss.
• Proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons is halted by federal, state judges.
• Homes burn as wind-driven wildfire prompts evacuations in Malibu, California.
• Nikki Giovanni, poet and literary celebrity, has died at 81.
• The Bucks and Thunder advance to the NBA Cup semi-finals, AP top-ranked Tennessee beats Miami, the Yankees and lefty Max Freid agree to a big-money contract of historic proportions, and PGA star Scottie Scheffler wins another award. 
• Taiwan demands that China end its military activity in nearby waters.
• Ex-defense chief in South Korea tried to kill himself after being arrested over martial law.
• Organized crime gangs expanded into a third of cities in Brazil’s Amazon, report finds.

—The Associated Press

About this program

ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — Court records show New York prosecutors have charged a man with murder in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO. Luigi Nicholas Mangione is currently being held without bail in Pennsylvania after he was arrested and arraigned on gun, forgery and other charges on Monday. He’s expected to be extradited to New York eventually. 

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at media during testimony at his corruption trial, which involves media moguls. He is accused of exchanging regulatory favors with media bosses for more positive coverage of himself and his family. He has denied wrongdoing.

PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Dozens of reported drone sightings across New Jersey in recent weeks can be frustrating, but they don’t appear to pose a public safety concern. That's what Gov. Phil Murphy stressed Monday. 

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters are battling a brushfire early in Malibu, California, near Pepperdine University that is prompting evacuations. 

PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a law to prohibit book bans in the state and enshrine protections against civil and criminal charges for librarians who comply with the law. 

NEW YORK (AP) — The oldest known stone tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments, dating from 300 to 800 A.D., will be sold in New York this month. 

In other news:

• Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout.
• Trudeau says Americans are realizing that Trump's tariffs on Canada make life a lot more expensive.
• Lara Trump steps down as RNC co-chair and addresses speculation about Florida Senate seat.
• Biden creates Native American boarding school national monument to mark era of forced assimilation.
• Trump Organization leases brand to 2 new projects in Saudi Arabia.
• Military pauses Osprey flights again after more metal failures are found in near-crash in November.
• US hostage envoy in Beirut to seek information on missing journalist Austin Tice.
• US says terror designation doesn't bar talks with Syrian rebel group.
• A long road ahead to decide Syria’s future after rapid end to Assad’s rule.
• Stock market today Nvidia drags Wall Street from its records as oil and gold rise.
• TikTok asks federal appeals court to bar enforcement of potential ban until Supreme Court review.
• Boeing lays off hundreds in Washington and California as part of cuts announced previously.
• Veteran Daniel Penny is acquitted in NYC subway chokehold case over Jordan Neely's death.
• Polygamous sect leader gets 50 years in prison in scheme to orchestrate sex involving children.
• 'Emilia Pérez' leads Golden Globe nominations with 10, followed by 'The Brutalist' and 'Conclave.'
• Jay-Z says lawsuit accusing him of raping a child at MTV awards party is part of an extortion ploy.
• Joe Burrow’s late touchdown leads Bengals past Cowboys on Monday Night Football, Heisman Trophy finalists are announced, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns out-duels former Knick R.J. Barrett and the Raptors, Taylor Hall helps the Blackhawks snap a lengthy skid with a win over the Rangers, and more. 
• Is it a military drill China deploys ships and planes around Taiwan but remains mum

—The Associated Press

About this program

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but that it's “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Mideast. Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria's backers — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. 

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russia media say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad has fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally. The reports came hours after a stunning rebel advance swept into Damascus to cheers and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday.

NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. 

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Officials says two Turkish military helicopters have collided in midair, causing one of them to crash. Monday's crash in the southwestern province of Isparta left six military personnel dead, including one who died of injuries in a hospital. 

IZIUM, Ukraine (AP) — A volunteer group is trying to fulfill the holiday dreams of thousands of children living near the frontlines in Ukraine. The St. Nicholas’ Reindeers initiative publishes letters online detailing the children's wishes. 

In other news:

• The DNC chair candidates discuss Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and winning Latino voters.
• Military leaders are rattled by a list of 'woke' officers that a group urges Hegseth to fire.
• Trump receives a Paris welcome full of presidential pomp from France's Macron.
• Bureau of Prisons agrees to court monitor, public acknowledgement of staff-on-inmate sexual abuse.
• Kennedy Center pays tribute to Coppola, the Grateful Dead, Raitt, Sandoval and The Apollo.
• ‘Moana 2’ cruises to another record weekend and $600 million globally.
• Stolen ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in 'The Wizard of Oz' are auctioned for $28 million.
• Margie Szaroleta has the AP Entertainment Report, featuring an inconic prop from the Wizard of Oz.
• The college football playoff field is set. The Chiefs win another division title. The Vikings and Eagles keep pace with the NFC leading Lions, Baseball's biggest free agent chip has dropped and college basketball's top team goes down again.
• Earth's lands are drying out. Nations are trying to address it in talks this week.
• Hemingway look-alikes visit Cuba and some of the late writer's favorite places.
• South Korean prosecutors detain ex-defense chief over martial law imposition.
• Syrian rebels free prisoners from Assad's notorious dungeons who celebrate in Damascus streets.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Each week Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight.
• How to sum up 2024 The Oxford University Press word of the year is 'brain rot.'
• A list of mispronounced words provides a retrospective of 2024, from Kamala to Chappell
• Small business owners brace for Trump's proposed tariffs.
• Small business owners breathe easier over labor costs after decision to strike down overtime rule.
• Trump won about 2.5M more votes than in 2020, some in unexpected places.
• Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election.
• Cryptocurrency entrepreneur who bought banana art for $6.2 million eats the fruit in Hong Kong.
• 'AI Jesus' avatar tests man's faith in machines and the divine.
• Police deny sitting on evidence as Netflix doc brings renewed attention to JonBenet Ramsey's killing.
• Mexico's Senate votes to charge cruise ship passengers $42 per head for port calls.
• Rats feast on New York’s City's bagged garbage. Can putting it in bins end the smorgasbord.
• Libraries are offering free health and wellness classes across the US.
• Scientists gather to decode puzzle of the world's rarest whale in 'extraordinary' New Zealand study.
• These Native tribes are working with schools to boost attendance.
• Hong Kong launches panda sculpture tour as the city hopes the bear craze boosts tourism.
• A chef whose van was stolen with 2,500 pies inside is urging the thieves to donate the loot.
• Ailing kids wait months for Israeli permission to leave Gaza for treatment. Some die in the meantime.

—The Associated Press

About this program

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is naming former U.S. Senator David Perdue of Georgia to be his ambassador to China. Trump says that as a former CEO, Perdue will bring “valuable expertise” to the U.S. relationship with China. 

A Hamas official says international mediators have resumed negotiations with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he is hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war is within reach. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hiring in the United States likely rebounded last month from a dismal October, when hurricanes and strikes reduced job growth to its lowest level in nearly four years. Friday’s jobs report is expected to show that employers added roughly 208,000 jobs in November. 

DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a deal that would have let Boeing to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a fine for misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed and 346 people died. 

NEW YORK (AP) — About half of working women reported feeling stressed “a lot of the day,” compared to about 4 in 10 men, according to a Gallup report published Wednesday.

In other news:

• House rejects Democratic efforts to force release of Matt Gaetz ethics report.
• Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are bringing Trump's DOGE to Capitol Hill.
• Secret Service director vows reorganization as members of Congress press him over major lapses.
• On its way out, the Biden administration renews a push for airline-consumer protections.
• The US government is closing a women's prison and other facilities after years of abuse and decay.
• Feds say they could sue to force reforms at Memphis' police department if the city won't play ball.
• 'Deny,' 'defend' and 'depose' Ammunition used in CEO’s killing had writing on it, AP source says.
• Russia's top military officer gave his US counterpart advance notice of Mediterranean Sea drills.
• Senior UK commander warns of 'Third nuclear age.'
• The National Weather Service cancels tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after 7.0 earthquake.
• Stock market today Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000.
• US applications for jobless benefits rise last week but remain at low levels.
• US judge rejects Boeing's plea deal in a conspiracy case stemming from fatal plane crashes.
• GivingTuesday estimates $3.6B was donated this year, an increase from 2023.
• Taylor Swift 'Eras' tie-in book is a smash, selling more than 800,000 copies in first week.
• A high scoring affair in the NFL isn't decided until the last second, the Cavaliers keep rolling and another coaching pink slip in the NHL.
• 30 Hamas official says Gaza ceasefire talks have resumed after weekslong hiatus

—The Associated Press

About this program

NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk Wednesday became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. 

PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Sheriff’s officials say two children have been wounded in a shooting at a tiny religious school in Northern California and the gunman is dead. The Butte County sheriff says the boys aged 5 and 6 were hospitalized in “extremely critical condition” following Wednesday’s shooting at Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, a small town north of Sacramento. 

CAIRO (AP) — Amnesty International accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip during its war with Hamas, saying it has sought to deliberately destroy Palestinians by mounting deadly attacks, demolishing vital infrastructure and preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Fifty-thousand multi-colored lights are shining on Rockefeller Center’s iconic Christmas tree, with crowds gathering to witness the annual New York City tradition. The giant Norway spruce, which this year hails from a tiny Massachusetts town, is also topped with a Swarovski star crown featuring 3 million crystals. 

MAKAWAO, Hawaii. (AP) — Conservationists say five Hawaiian crows have been released on Maui for the first time as part of an ongoing effort to return the species to its home. Officials with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance say the alala were released on Maui Wednesday. 

In other news:

• Trump considers DeSantis for the Pentagon with Hegseth under pressure over allegations AP sources.
• Trump seeks to have Georgia election case dismissed, citing presidential immunity.
• Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors.
• US senators grill officials from 5 airlines over fees for seats and checked bags.
• GivingTuesday estimates $3.6B was donated this year, an increase from 2023.
• Stock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street to more records.
• Bitcoin tops $100,000 as big rally sparked by Trump election win rolls on.
• Memphis police use excessive force and discriminate against Black people, Justice Department finds.
• Detroit Mayor Duggan, a longtime Democrat, will run for Michigan governor in 2026 as independent.
• Rescuers reassess the safety of their search for a woman they believe fell into a sinkhole.
• District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black zip codes.
• LeBron James’ bounce-back night isn’t enough for Lakers, the top two teams in college basketball suffer upset losses, Auston Matthews rallies the Maple Leafs past the Predators and more. Juan Soto starting to eliminate teams from negotiations, agent Scott Boras says. LPGA and USGA to require players to be assigned female at birth or transition before male puberty. Suns star Kevin Durant out at least one week with a sprained ankle suffered vs. Spurs.
• Yoon replaces the defense minister as South Korea's parliament moves to vote on their impeachments.
• Philippine police checking reports that a kidnapped American has died after being shot.

—The Associated Press

About this program

• Trump signs agreement to allow Justice Department to conduct background checks on nominees, staff.
• A look at what's next for U.S. House elections, as Donald Trump taps legislators to fill roles in his Cabinet.
• Joe Biden ducks questions on his decision to pardon his son Hunter.
• Biden says the US is 'all in' on Africa during his Angola visit meant to counter China.
• Jill Biden's final foreign trip as first lady will close with her and Trump at Notre Dame cathedral.
• 'Amtrak Joe' Biden uses his visit to Angola to promote a major African rail project.
• Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year's biggest day for online shopping.
• Stock market today Wall Street inches higher to set more records.
• GM adds over 132,000 heavy duty pickups to recall for tailgates that can open unexpectedly.
• US closes investigation into E. coli outbreak linked to onions in McDonald's Quarter Pounders.
• Melinda French Gates plans to match $1M in GivingTuesday gifts to groups that support women.
• Some shuffling in the college football playoff rankings, Michigan football makes a coordinator change, a few teams lock up berths in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, and 4th ranked Kentucky falls in college basketball. Red Sox agree with LHP Aroldis Chapman to one-year, $10.75 million deal, AP source says.
• South Korea’s opposition parties submit a motion to impeach President Yoon over sudden martial law.
• French government faces no-confidence vote over Barnier's austerity budget.
• Philippines says China's coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped its patrol vessel.
• Finnish police don't suspect criminal activity regarding damaged data cables in south of country.
• Police quiz UK nurse convicted of killing 7 babies over more infant deaths.

—The Associated Press

About this program

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office there will be “HELL TO PAY.” 

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will attend the reopening celebration for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this weekend, his first foreign trip since the election. The cathedral will reopen after more than five years of reconstruction following a devastating 2019 fire. 

BANGKOK (AP) — China has announced a ban on exports to the United States of gallium, germanium and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The Chinese Commerce Ministry announced the move after the Washington expanded its list of Chinese companies subject to export controls on computer chip-making equipment, software and high-bandwidth memory chips. 

A woman who admitted to drinking and who was driving well over twice the speed limit when she smashed into a golf cart killing a bride who had just got married at a South Carolina beach has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Jamie Lee Komoroski pleaded guilty Monday to reckless homicide and three felony driving under the influence charges.

In other news:

• Biden's broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy.
• It's the final holiday stretch at the Biden White House. The theme is 'A Season of Peace and Light.'
• More than 3 million travelers screened at US airports in a single day. That's a record.
• After Black Friday and Cyber Monday it's time for Giving Tuesday.
• Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year's biggest day for online shopping.
• Stock market today Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record.
• California lawmakers begin special session to protect state laws from second Trump presidency.
• Ex-Kansas detective accused of sexually assaulting Black women is dead, prosecutors say.
• The Broncos pick off the Browns, the 49ers lose two running backs, the Celtics lead a night of one-sided wins in the NBA, defending champ UConn plunges in the AP men's poll, and two veteran pitchers sign with new teams for next season. 21 Trent Williams' wife, Sondra, says their son was stillborn.
• Stars, heads of state, solemn rituals and high-security celebrations for Notre Dame's reopening.
• NATO's chief avoids talk of Ukraine's membership. He says the priority is helping Kyiv defend itself.
• Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon after fire exchanges with Hezbollah that test ceasefire’s limits.
• Chief of International Criminal Court lashes out at US and Russia over threats and accusations.

—The Associated Press

About this program

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Parts of the Great Lakes region are seeing new snow and face the prospect of even more this week after U.S. travelers battled harsh weather to get home after Thanksgiving. 

Consumers in the U.S. are scouring the internet for online deals as they look to make the most of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon on Cyber Monday. The National Retail Federation coined the term for the Monday after Black Friday in 2005. 

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Fifty-six people were killed and dozens injured as security forces tried to quell clashes during a soccer match in southern Guinea’s largest city.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen workers have launched rolling two-hour strikes at nine plants across Germany to underscore their resistance to pay cuts and factory closures. 

In other news:

• Canada's ambassador says Trudeau told Trump the Canadian border can't be compared to Mexico's.
• Trump says he'll nominate Kash Patel as FBI director to remake the agency. Here's what happens next.
• DACA recipients worry their protection from deportation won't last another Trump term.
• Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts.
• After Black Friday and Cyber Monday it's time for Giving Tuesday.
• Regulators cracked down on sweet vapes after use by kids spiked. Now the Supreme Court is wading in.
• More than 3,000 fake Gibson guitars seized at Los Angeles port.
• The NFL playoff picture continues to take shape, the NBA's top two teams square off, a light schedule in the NHL and apair of college football coaches are shown the door.
• Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets engaged to Hailee Steinfeld.
• A landmark climate change case will open at the top UN court as island nations fear rising seas.
• Negotiators fail to reach an agreement on a plastic pollution treaty. Talks to resume next year.
• Activists say Mexican authorities have broken up 2 migrant caravans heading to the US.
• On this week's AP Religion Roundup, the Mormon church experiences pushback in a temple building boom.

—The Associated Press

About this program

NEW YORK (AP) — The holiday season really kicks off when the massive helium balloons start floating through New York on Thursday for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ outlook on the economy improved modestly in November, lifted by expectations for lower inflation and more hiring. 

In other news:

• Trump fills out his economic team with two veterans of his first administration.
• Trump picks Jay Bhattacharya, who backed COVID herd immunity, to lead National Institutes of Health.
• After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff.
• A fugitive wanted in the US for a pair of bombings is arrested in the UK after 20 years on the run.
• Rudy Giuliani in courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke.
• Thanksgiving travelers are OK to bring turkey, stuffing and more through checkpoints, TSA says.
• Stock market today Wall Street hits records despite tariff talk.
• Maryland police say FBI agent sexually assaulted 2 women after promising free tattoos for modeling.
• Man found guilty of holding down teen while he was raped at a youth center in 1998.
• Massachusetts man who spent decades in prison for a murder he didn't commit is awarded $13 million.
• Pilot who rescued animals all over the country dies in crash. 2 of his canine passengers survived.
• Baseball's rich get richer, a major upset in college hoops, a clash of top-10 teams goes to overtime, and the healthier Suns get a win.
• Juan Soto could decide on his next team before or during baseball's winter meetings.
• SEC losses are big gains for SMU and Indiana in latest College Football Playoff rankings.
• Australia's House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media.
• ICC prosecutor requests arrest warrants for the head of Myanmar's military regime.
• Philippine police file criminal complaints against VP Sara Duterte and her security aides.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Travelers are on their way toward Thanksgiving Day destinations, but weather could cause issues in parts of the country.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of obese Americans would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Ozempic covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — EInterpol says it arrested 1,006 suspects in Africa during a two-month operation that clamped down on cybercrime that left tens of thousands of victims, including some who were trafficked, and produced millions in financial damages. 

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China as one of his first executive orders. 

Egg prices are on the rise again as a lingering outbreak of bird flu coincides with high demand during the holiday baking season. The average price for a dozen eggs in U.S. cities was $3.37 in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

In other news:

• Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump.
• Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to graphic cigarette warning labels.
• Joe Biden begins final White House holiday season with turkey pardons for 'Peach' and 'Blossom.'
• A Missouri judge says a law banning surgery, medications for transgender minors is constitutional.
• Should sex abuse evidence set the Menendez brothers free? A judge will decide.
• FBI agent acquitted in 2020 train shooting is arrested on sexual assault charges.
• California could offer electric vehicle rebates if Trump eliminates tax credit, Newsom says.
• Raw milk from a California dairy is recalled after routine testing detected the bird flu virus.
• Are you in charge of a holiday feast Follow these tips for food safety.
• Stock market today: Dow hits another record as stocks rise.
• Walmart becomes latest - and biggest - company to roll back its DEI policies.
• Workers at Charlotte airport, an American Airlines hub, go on strike during Thanksgiving travel week.
• Couple charged in ring suspected of stealing $1 million in Lululemon clothes.
• White Florida woman sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting Black neighbor in lengthy dispute.
• The Ravens rally from an early deficit to beat the Chargers, hot shooting gives the Knicks a road win, the Nets pull away late to beat the Warriors, the Celtics mark the return of Kristaps Porzingis with a victory, the two-time defending NCAA basketball champions are bested in Maui, the Hurricanes get a huge third period to beat the Stars, a free agent pitcher is heading to west coast, and a Hall-of-Fame golfer is skipping his upcoming tournament in the Bahamas. 
• San Jose State, which received 6 forfeit wins, seeded 2nd with bye in MW volleyball tournament.
• US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer.
• An average of 140 women and girls were killed by a partner or relative per day in 2023, the UN says.
• G7 foreign ministers push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in final G7 of Biden administration.
• Philippine investigators summon VP Duterte over her public threats against President Marcos.
• UK authorities charge a man in last week's bomb hoax at the US Embassy.
• Tourist yacht goes down in the Red Sea; deaths and injuries.
• DHL cargo plane crashes and skids into a house in Lithuania, killing Spanish crew member.

—The Associated Press

About this program

DALLAS (AP) — The Thanksgiving travel rush is expected to be bigger than ever this year. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million people in the U.S. will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday — most of them by car. Thanksgiving Day falling so late this year has altered traditional travel patterns. At airports, the Transportation Security Administration says it could screen a record number of U.S. air travelers on Sunday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge will decide whether new evidence warrants a re-examination of the convictions of Erik and Lyle Menendez in the shotgun murders of their parents in their Beverly Hills home more than 30 years ago. 

The Israeli ambassador to Washington says that a cease-fire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached “within days.” 

Reports say the Russian military has captured a Briton fighting with Ukrainian troops who have occupied part of Russia’s Kursk region. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Best-selling author Barbara Taylor Bradford has died. She was 91. She became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the tenacious saga “A Woman of Substance” and wrote more than dozen other novels that sold more than 80 million copies worldwide.

Politics remains a subject best left off the Thanksgiving menu when family and friends gather.

In other news:

• Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far.
• Hydrate. Make lists. Leave yourself time. And other tips for reducing holiday travel stress.
• US Air Force says drones spotted near 3 bases in England last week.
• Judge in Alex Jones' bankruptcy to hear arguments on The Onion's bid for Infowars.
• Cheating on your spouse is no longer a crime in New York, with the repeal of a little-known 1907 law.
• Listeria outbreak tied to Yu Shang Food leaves California infant dead and 10 people sick.
• 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts, a look at the National Dog Show and Chuck Woolery, the smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83.
• A wild finish helps the Cowboys end their skid, the Chiefs get another win in nail-biting fashion, the Packers get revenge in a divisional playoff rematch, the Eagles add to their lead in the NFC East, the Cavaliers remain undefeated at home, the Celtics get a down-to-the-wire win over Minnesota, and another NHL team makes a mid-season coaching change. 
• The United Arab Emirates arrests 3 Uzbek nationals for the killing of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi.
• The number of children recruited by gangs in Haiti soars by 70%, UNICEF says.
• In South Korea, nations meet in final round to address global plastic crisis.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Each week Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Airports ready for holiday crowds.
• Starting a small business is hard. Exiting can be even harder, but planning early is the key.
• McDonald's to expand US value menu as fast food chains battle for bargain seekers.
• Has a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum.
• The 'super year' of elections has been super bad for incumbents as voters punish them in droves.
• Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations.
• Donald Trump's latest branded venture is guitars that cost up to $10,000.
• Should women be allowed to fight on the front lines Trump’s defense pick reignites the debate.
• Texas offers Trump land on US-Mexico border for potential mass deportations.
• About 20% of Americans regularly get their news from influencers on social media, report says.
• Betty White Forever New stamp will honor the much-beloved Golden Girls actor.
• Forget driverless cars. One company wants autonomous helicopters to spray crops and fight fires.
• Volunteers came back to nonprofits in 2023, after the pandemic tanked participation.
• New Hampshire shelter faces enor-mouse problem after man surrenders nearly 1,000 rodents.
• NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries.
• NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins.
• WNBA corporate sponsorship deals are growing. But not every athlete is getting their due.
• Today he is a high school football player. Soon he'll be a Buddhist lama in the Himalayas.
• Denmark will plant 1 billion trees and convert 10% of farmland into forest.
• $344 for a coffee Scottish farm is selling UK's most expensive cup.
• Texas weighs Bible-related curriculum for public schools, placement of the Ten Commandments in classrooms faces a legal roadblock, and Ohio religious schools may so.

—The Associated Press

About this program