New Orleans mourns rampage victims; Notre Dame wins Sugar Bowl

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

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.

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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.