Firefighters battle LA wildfires; SAG nominees and snubs

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters are battling to control major fires in the Los Angeles area that have killed five people, ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena and caused thousands of people to frantically flee their homes. Ferocious winds that drove the flames and prompted chaotic evacuations have calmed somewhat and are not expected to be as powerful Thursday. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has canceled the final overseas trip of his presidency just hours before he was set to depart for Rome and the Vatican, choosing to remain in Washington to monitor the response to fires raging in California. Biden had been scheduled to leave Thursday after former President Jimmy Carter’s memorial service and meet with Pope Francis, Italian leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is being honored with the pageantry of a funeral in the nation’s capital before a second service in his tiny Georgia hometown that launched a Depression-era farm boy to the world stage. The dual funerals Thursday conclude six days of national funeral rites for the 39th president who died Dec. 29 at the age of 100.

ROME (AP) — Premier Giorgia Meloni says she doesn't believe President-elect Donald Trump actually intends to use military force to seize control of Greenland or the Panama Canal. She says she reads his comments more as a warning to China and other global players to keep their hands off such strategically important interests. 

DALLAS (AP) — Schools and cities from Texas to Georgia are shutting down in anticipation of freezing rain and snow forecast for much of the Southern U.S. The severe weather is expected across a stretch from New Mexico to Alabama starting Wednesday night and early Thursday. 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — So much of the technology showcased at CES includes gadgets made to improve consumers’ lives — whether by leveraging AI to make devices that help people become more efficient, by creating companions to cure loneliness or by providing tools that help people with mental and physical health. But not all innovation is good, according to a panel of self-described dystopia experts that has judged some products as “Worst in Show.” The award that no company wants to win calls out the “least repairable, least private, and least sustainable products on display.”

In other news:

• President-elect Donald Trump visits Jimmy Carter's casket in Capitol Rotunda after criticizing him.
• Biden casts doubt on his fitness to serve another four years days before term ends.
• Blinken says Trump's push for US to take control of Greenland is 'not going to happen.'
• Justice Department says it plans to release only part of special counsel's Trump report for now.
• Trump asks the Supreme Court to block sentencing in his hush money case in New York.
• Ex-police officer and Proud Boys member gets 14 months in prison for joining Capitol attack.
• Lawyers collecting $148 million judgment from Rudy Giuliani say World Series rings must be given up.
• Top Fed official backs new rate cuts even if Trump tariffs materialize.
• US shifts $100 million in military aid from Israel and Egypt to Lebanon to bolster ceasefire.
• Biden is a great-grandfather.
• CNN defamation trial comes at a rough time for legacy media — and for the struggling network.
• Stock market today Wall Street holds firmer following Tuesday's slide.
• 2 bodies are found in the landing gear of JetBlue plane at Florida airport.
• 'Wicked' tops SAG Awards nominations as many big names are snubbed.
• Eagles QB Hurts returns to practice for the first time since he suffered a concussion.
• Former Baltimore Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz dies at 37, no cause of death announced.
• Mexico's President Sheinbaum offers sarcastic response to Trump's 'Gulf of America' comment.
• Germany's leader says all countries must respect existing borders, in a rebuttal of Trump.
• Attack on Chad's presidential palace leaves 19 dead.
• French far-right leader Marine Le Pen pays tribute to her politically polarizing father.
• Pope asks aide to deliver his annual foreign policy address, tells ambassadors he's battling a cold.
• Taiwan demonstrates sea defenses against potential Chinese attack as tensions rise with Beijing.
• A Russian missile attack in southern Ukraine has killed at least 13 civilians, officials say.
• An Italian journalist is freed from detention in Iran and returns home.

—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.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

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.