Democrat Tom Suozzi to succeed George Santos; GOP-led House impeaches Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas; Uber and Lyft drivers plan Valentine's Day strikes

Episode Description

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Feb. 14 at 8:45 a.m. CT:

New York Democrat Tom Suozzi has won a special election for the House seat formerly held by George Santos. Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip in a contest to represent a district that includes parts of Long Island and the New York City borough of Queens. The win narrows an already-thin margin held by Republicans in the House.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House has voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the Biden administration's handling of the U.S-Mexico border. In a historic rebuke of a sitting Cabinet secretary, the Republican majority was determined to try again to impeach Mayorkas after having failed last week.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A driver car crashed into a Texas hospital’s emergency room, killing the driver and injuring five others, including a child with life-threatening injuries. The car smashed into the lobby of the ER at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services officials said at a news briefing.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A quick-moving winter storm that hit the Northeast on Tuesday has brought significant snowfall to some areas while others got less than expected.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military says it sank a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea using naval drones, a report that has not been confirmed by Russian forces. Ukraine’s General Staff says the Caesar Kunikov large landing ship sank near Alupka, a city on the Crimean Peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014.

The United States, which has provided crucial military and diplomatic support to Israel, has been working with Qatar and Egypt to try and broker a cease-fire and the return of the remaining 130 hostages held by Hamas, around a fourth of whom are believed to be dead.

LONDON (AP) — TikTok is taking measures to combat misinformation about the upcoming European Union elections including setting up fact-checking hubs inside the app. The video-sharing platform said Wednesday that it will launch local language in-app “election centers” next month for each of the 27 EU countries so that “people can easily separate fact from fiction.”

Thousands of U.S. ride-hailing workers plan to park their cars and picket at major U.S. airports in what organizers say is their largest strike yet in a drive for better pay and benefits. Uber and Lyft drivers plan daylong strikes Wednesday in Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Miami and other cities.

Downtown Kansas City is turning into a sea of red for Valentine’s Day as Chiefs fans prepare to celebrate their third Super Bowl title in five seasons with a parade.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says Donald Trump’s comments calling into question the U.S. commitment to defend its NATO allies from attack were “dangerous” and “un-American.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is calling urgently for House Republicans to get behind a supplemental spending bill that would send $60 billion to Ukraine for its fight against Russia. He warned that opposing it would play into “Putin’s hands.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities say arrests for illegal crossings on the U.S. border with Mexico fell by half in January from record highs in December to the third lowest month of Joe Biden’s presidency.

A major league baseball broadcast booth is the site of an historic hire, Shaquille O'Neil gets his number retired in Orlando, an AP top ten men's basketball team goes on the road to bite the dust, and an NHL player gets a lengthy suspension after his team allowed an empty net goal. Also, slugging free agent Jorge Soler agrees to a $42M, three-year deal with the Giants.

In other news:

New Orleans' Carnival season marks Fat Tuesday with celebrities and pretend monarchs.
Feel the need for speed: One late president's 75-mph speedboat is up for auction.
Australia to ban doxxing after pro-Palestinian activists publish information about hundreds of Jews.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

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Hot Off The Wire is a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press.