Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 30 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — An enemy drone that killed three American troops and wounded dozens of others in Jordan may have been confused with an American drone returning to the U.S. installation. That's according to two U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity Monday.

JENIN, West Bank (AP) — Israeli forces disguised as civilian women and medical workers stormed a hospital in the occupied West Bank and killed three Palestinian militants. Tuesday's dramatic raid underscored how deadly violence has spilled into the territory from the war in Gaza.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are moving swiftly toward impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The Homeland Security Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, including over what they call his “willful and systematic” refusal to enforce immigration laws.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — Sheriff's officials say the six men found shot to death last week in the Southern California desert were likely shot in a dispute over marijuana. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Warrick said Monday that authorities discovered the bodies in the Mojave Desert outside El Mirage after responding to a request for a wellness check.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland will undergo back surgery this weekend and delegate his duties to the deputy attorney general during the procedure. The news comes as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returns to work at the Pentagon following a hospitalization related to prostate cancer that was criticized for being kept secret for days.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former contractor for the Internal Revenue Service who pleaded guilty to leaking tax information to news outlets about former President Donald Trump and thousands of the country’s wealthiest people was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday.

In other news:

—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.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 29 at 7 a.m. CT:

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — President Joe Biden says the U.S. “shall respond” after a drone strike by an Iran-backed group killed three American troops in Jordan and injured dozens more near the Syrian border. Biden's national security team briefed him as he traveled Sunday in South Carolina. Appearing at a church banquet hall, he said the U.S. had a “tough day last night in the Middle East” and that “we shall respond.” He also asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of the slain service members. They are the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel’s allegations that 12 employees of a United Nations agency were involved in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack have led several Western countries to cut off funding and reignited debate over Gaza’s biggest humanitarian aid provider. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, employs thousands of staffers and provides vital services to millions of people across the Middle East. In Gaza, it has been the main supplier of food, water and shelter to civilians during the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has long railed against the agency, accusing it of tolerating or even collaborating with Hamas. UNRWA denies that and says it took swift action against the employees accused of taking part in the attack on Israel.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A teenager awaiting trial in a homicide case who escaped outside a Philadelphia hospital last week has been captured. Police say Shane Pryor was taken into custody Sunday by the U.S. Marshals Service. The marshals will hand the 17-year-old over to police homicide detectives. Authorities said Pryor fled Wednesday from the driveway of the emergency room at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he had been taken with a hand injury. Less than an hour after he fled on foot, the teen was spotted on video getting into a car that drove him away. Police say the 18-year-old driver was later arrested.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A dying thief who confessed to stealing ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” is expected to stay out of prison after he's sentenced. Seventy-six-year-old Terry Jon Martin stole the slippers in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday. Martin's attorney says he had gone straight, but wanted to pull of “one last score.” The attorney says Martin gave into temptation after an old mob associate persuaded him that the famous shoes were adorned with real rubies. Both sides are recommending he be sentenced to time served because he is in hospice care.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have released two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republicans have vowed to push forward with election-year efforts to oust the Cabinet member over what they say is his failure to manage the U.S-Mexico border. The rare step against a Cabinet member drew outrage from Democrats and the agency as a politically motivated stunt lacking the constitutional basis to remove Mayorkas from office. The Republican-controlled House Homeland Security Committee is set to vote Tuesday on the articles of impeachment, aiming to send them to the full House for consideration. Speaker Mike Johnson has said the House will move forward as soon as possible with a vote after that.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is racing to wind down a tax break meant to encourage businesses to keep workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. What was expected to cost the federal government $55 billion has instead cost it nearly five times that amount as of July. Meanwhile, new claims pour into the IRS each week, and that's ensuring a growing price tag that lawmakers are anxious to cap. Now, lawmakers across the political spectrum say it's time to close down the program. They intend to use the savings to offset the cost of three business tax breaks and a more generous child tax credit for many low-income families.

In other news:

—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.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment. 

I’m Terry Lipshetz, Managing Editor of the National Newsroom at Lee Enterprises and your host. Subscribe to Hot Off The Wire through Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss daily news updates.

As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television. 

Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here. 

This week’s top headlines include:

Those stories and more from The Associated Press.

— Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

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.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 30 at 6 a.m. CT:

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon-owned Ring will stop allowing police departments to request doorbell camera footage from users. In a blog post on Wednesday, Ring said it will sunset a tool that allows police to request and receive video captured by the doorbell cameras through Ring's Neighbors app. The company did not provide a reason for the change, which will be effective starting this week. Eric Kuhn, the head of Neighbors, said in the announcement that law enforcement agencies will still be able to make public posts in the Neighbors app. The update is the latest restriction Ring has made to police activity on the Neighbors app following criticism about the company’s relationship with police departments across the country.

NEW YORK (AP) — The influx of generative artificial intelligence software is transforming small businesses. Small business owners are using A.I. tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard and others to check grammar in emails, punch up marketing copy and research business plans. What’s more, bigger companies are developing tools specifically to help small businesses integrate A.I. into their operations in more advanced ways. For example, Microsoft’s Copilot lets users ask software to perform tasks like summarize an email or a Teams meeting, come up with key themes in a document, or draft emails in a conversational tone in Outlook.

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in Oregon have unveiled a sweeping new bill that would undo a key part of the state's first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law. The bill would recriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs as a low-level misdemeanor. The lawmakers backing the bill say it would allow police to confiscate drugs and reduce public drug use. It would also create new diversion opportunities with the aim of steering people toward treatment instead of jail. The proposal comes as the fentanyl crisis has helped fuel growing pushback against the state's pioneering drug decriminalization law, which voters approved in 2020.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Democratic-aligned groups this week have filed campaign finance complaints against No Labels. They are hoping to crimp the centrist group's pipeline of campaign cash and force it to follow the same rules as formal political parties. For months, No Labels has stockpiled cash and diligently worked to secure ballot access for a potential third-party presidential bid. That has struck fear among allies of President Joe Biden that the effort could siphon away votes and hand the White House to Donald Trump. No Labels says the campaign finance complaints are part of a “coordinated conspiracy to subvert” the group.

Unions commanded big headlines last year, but that didn’t translate into higher membership numbers, according to government data released Tuesday. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said 10% of hourly and salaried workers were members of unions in 2023, or around 14.4 million people. That's an all-time low, and down slightly from 2022. The number of unionized workers in the private sector increased by 191,000 last year. That includes workers at auto companies, Las Vegas hotels and Hollywood studios, all of whom went through high-profile contract negotiations. But unions lost employees in the public sector, like teachers and police.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A Christian pastor says his small Ohio city would lose a beacon of light downtown if he has to close an around-the-clock ministry for homeless people and others seeking shelter. Pastor Chris Avell's Dad's Place church in the northwestern Ohio city of Bryan has drawn citations over zoning laws, fire ordinances and safety. The church filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the city, the mayor and other officials and says its right to religious freedom is at stake. Avell has pleaded not guilty to 18 criminal code violations. A lawyer for the city says officials deny treating any religious institution inappropriately.

Dozens of migrants who were rescued in August after 36 days at sea in a boat told the AP they survived without food and water and watched others die. AP originally published the story Migration-36 Days at Sea on December 18, 2023. AP correspondent Jaime Holguin reports on the story behind the story.

—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.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 26 at 7 a.m. CT:

ATMORE, Ala. (AP) — Alabama has executed a man with nitrogen gas, putting him to death with a first-of-its-kind method that once again put the U.S. at the forefront of the debate over capital punishment. Officials said Kenneth Eugene Smith was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. Thursday at an Alabama prison. It marked the first time a new execution method has been used since lethal injection was introduced in 1982. The execution came after a last-minute legal battle in which Smith’s attorneys said the state was making him the test subject for an experimental execution method that could violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Smith was one of two men convicted in the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of Elizabeth Sennett, a pastor’s wife.

NEW YORK (AP) — Closing arguments are set to begin in the defamation case against Donald Trump a day after the former president left a Manhattan courtroom fuming after his 3-minute testimony gave him little time to refute a writer's sexual abuse claims. On Friday, lawyers on both sides will get to sum up their case for nine jurors who will start deliberating later in the day. The jury will decide what, if anything, Trump owes magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll. A jury last year found Trump sexually abused her in spring 1996 in the changing room of a luxury Manhattan department store. Trump denies it.

MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow court extended the pretrial detention of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained on espionage charges, through March in a Friday ruling. A 32-year-old United States citizen, Gershkovich was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg while on a reporting trip to Russia in late March 2023. He and his employer deny the allegations, and the U.S. government declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities have not provided any evidence to support the espionage charges. Gershkovich is the first American reporter to to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.

LONDON (AP) — Buckingham Palace says King Charles III was admitted to a private hospital to undergo a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate. That announcement Friday confirms a pre-planned treatment that was announced last week. The 75-year old king will be treated at the London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales is recovering after undergoing abdominal surgery. The king visited Kate at the hospital after he arrived. Charles, who acceded to the throne 16 months ago, was diagnosed with the benign condition on Jan. 17 after going for a check-up because he was experiencing symptoms. He cancelled engagements, and was urged to rest ahead of the procedure.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia and Ukraine keep trading accusations over the crash of a Russian plane that Moscow said was carrying Ukrainian POWs, but one thing is clear: Many Ukrainians whose relatives are imprisoned in Russia are afraid this could mark the end of prisoner exchanges. Even the basic facts surrounding the crash remain unclear. Russian officials accuse Kyiv of shooting down the plane. Russia claims that 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board as they headed for a prisoner swap. The Ukrainian side said it has no evidence of POWs. It has said, however, that an exchange was planned for Wednesday. Neither side has provided evidence. And relatives and loved ones are in vulnerable states, with no answers.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Republican National Committee has pulled a resolution to consider declaring Donald Trump the party’s “presumptive 2024 nominee” before he formally clinches the requisite number of delegates. That's according to a person familiar with the decision who was not authorized to publicly discuss the proposal and spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday night. News of the withdrawal came shortly after Trump posted on his Truth Social site that he “greatly” appreciated the notion but felt, “for the sake of PARTY UNITY," that he should win the contest at the ballot box. A candidate needs 1,215 requisite delegates to secure the nomination. Trump currently has 32 delegates to Nikki Haley’s 17.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s economy grew at an unexpectedly brisk 3.3% annual pace from October through December as Americans showed a continued willingness to spend freely despite high interest rates and price levels that have frustrated many households. The latest figures reflected the surprising durability of the world’s largest economy, marking the sixth straight quarter in which GDP has grown at an annual pace of 2% or more. Consumers drove the fourth-quarter growth. Their spending expanded at a 2.8% annual rate, for items ranging from clothing, furniture, recreational vehicles and other goods to services like hotels and restaurant meals. The GDP report also showed that despite the robust pace of growth, inflationary measures continued to ease.

More Americans filed jobless benefits last week but layoffs remain at historically low levels despite elevated interest rates and a flurry of job cuts in the media and technology sectors. Applications for unemployment benefits rose to 214,000 for the week ending Jan. 20, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Overall, 1.83 million Americans were collecting jobless benefits during the week that ended Jan. 13, an increase of 27,000 from the previous week. Weekly unemployment claims are viewed as representative for the number of U.S. layoffs in a given week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The maker of Robitussin is recalling several lots of cough syrup due to contamination that could pose a serious risk to people with weakened immune systems. The recall affects eight lots of Robitussin cough syrup for adults containing honey. The Food and Drug Administration posted the company’s announcement to its website Wednesday. The company says the products may contain dangerously high levels of yeast. Yeast is a natural component of honey, but the levels detected by the company were beyond allowed measurements. The recalled products were Honey CF Max Day Adult and Robitussin Honey CF Max Nighttime Adult cough syrups. Haleon says it has not received any reports of injury or infection linked to the products.

The Pacers snap the 76ers winning streak, Jaylen Brunson's big night helps the Knicks beat the Nuggets, Nikita Kucherov's three-point night leads the Lightning over the Coyotes, two more NFL teams fill their vacant head coach positions, and finalists for the NFL's end-of-season awards are announced.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Authorities say New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been arrested on charges related to illegal online gambling while he was under age and playing at Louisiana State University. Boutte is accused of creating an online betting account under a fake name and then placing more than 8,900 illegal bets. State police said six were wagers on LSU football. Baton Rouge news outlets reported that an arrest affidavit alleges that two of the bets were on an LSU game that Boutte played in. State police say bets were made while Boutte was still under the age of 21 and not legally allowed to gamble.

Melanie, a singer-songwriter behind 1970s hits including “Brand New Key,” has died. Melanie's publicist tells The Associated Press that she died Tuesday. She was 76. Born Melanie Safka, the singer rose through the New York folk scene and was one of only three solo women to perform at Woodstock. Her hits included “Lay Down” and “Look What They've Done to My Song Ma.” But she was best known for “Brand New Key,” a song she wrote about a girl who roller skates past the house of a boy she longs for. It went to No. 1 in the U.S. and several other countries and became a cultural staple.

—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.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 25 at 7 a.m. CT:

Parts of the nation will experience severe weather as well as unseasonably warm weather on Thursday.

AL-MAZRA’A ASH-SHARQIYA, West Bank (AP) — The passenger in a pickup truck where an American-Palestinian was fatally shot in the occupied West Bank says the shooting was unprovoked. Sixteen-year-old Mohammed Salameh tells The Associated Press that apparent Israeli fire hit the back of the vehicle on a dirt road. Seventeen-year-old Tawfic Abdel Jabbar was killed in Friday's shooting. Israeli police are investigating, with an initial statement citing a weapons discharge by an Israeli soldier, an off-duty law enforcement officer and a civilian targeting people “purportedly engaged” in stone-throwing. Salameh denies they were throwing stones. AP has seen at least 10 bullets in the truck, most in the back. Abdel Jabbar’s father say that even if the teens had thrown rocks, they posed no imminent threat driving through the brush.

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The former leader of separatist rebels in Ukraine and a woman convicted of a bomb attack which killed a pro-war blogger were jailed by Russian courts Thursday. The Moscow City Court has convicted a former Ukraine rebel leader who called President Vladimir Putin cowardly of extremism and sentenced him to four years in prison. Igor Girkin supported launching Russia’s war in Ukraine, but sharply criticized authorities for being inept and indecisive in carrying out the fight. Darya Trepova was seen on video presenting Ta bust to blogger Vladen Tatarsky moments before the blast.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s top court is declining to weigh in on former President Donald Trump's ballot status, keeping intact a judge's decision that the U.S. Supreme Court must first rule on a similar case in Colorado. Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows concluded last month that Trump didn’t meet ballot qualifications under the insurrection clause in the U.S. Constitution, but a state judge put that decision on hold pending the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Colorado case. Bellows was ordered to await the outcome before withdrawing, modifying or upholding her original decision to keep Trump off the ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments on the Colorado case on Feb. 8.

Federal officials are clearing the ways for grounded Boeing planes to resume flying. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it approved an inspection and maintenance process that the planes must go through. After that, they will be allowed to carry passengers again. Meanwhile, Congress is getting involved in examining safety at Boeing after a panel blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner in midflight this month. Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state says Boeing leadership must put safety ahead of profits. She plans Senate hearings.

ELY, Nev. (AP) — Back in the 1800s, white attackers turned a lush high desert oasis in eastern Nevada into killing fields. They massacred hundreds of Native people there — a horrific history once retold in hushed tones behind closed doors. That was until tribal members reluctantly found themselves defending the valley’s historical significance in state hearings. In the 2000s, they shared their painful past with authorities weighing whether to divert substantial amounts of groundwater that feed the valley their relatives have long considered sacred. Now they want to tell their story on their own terms. A three-tribe coalition representing about 1,500 enrolled members is lobbying the federal government to designate nearly 40 square miles as a national monument.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama will attempt to put an inmate to death with nitrogen gas, a never before used execution method that the state claims will be humane but critics call cruel and experimental. Kenneth Eugene Smith is scheduled to die Thursday night for his conviction in the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of Elizabeth Sennett. This is Alabama's second attempt to execute the 58-year-old. His 2022 lethal injection was called off at the last minute because authorities couldn’t connect the IV line. The execution will be the first attempt to use a new execution method since lethal injection was introduced in 1982.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Trump White House official who was convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack is set to be sentenced. Prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence Peter Navarro on Thursday to six months behind bars. He was the second Trump aide to face contempt of Congress charges, after Steve Bannon. Navarro was found guilty of defying a subpoena for documents and a deposition from the House Jan. 6 committee. Navarro has vowed to appeal the verdict, saying he couldn’t cooperate with the committee because Trump had invoked executive privilege.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has picked up the endorsement of the United Auto Workers. The Democratic president addressed the powerful union’s political convention in Washington on Wednesday. He told a cheering crowd, “I’m honored to have your back and you have mine.” Biden is pushing to sway blue-collar workers his way in critical auto-making swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin. Biden is hoping to cut into the advantage Republican former President Donald Trump has enjoyed with white voters who don't have a college degree. Labor experts say the UAW usually endorses candidates later, as it contains a mix of Democratic, Republican and unaffiliated voters.

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis recalled the extermination of millions of Jews in calling Wednesday for the upcoming Holocaust Day of Remembrance to reaffirm that war can never be justified. At the end of his weekly general audience, Francis referred to Saturday’s commemoration, which has become fraught this year given Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and a rise in antisemitism in Europe and around the world. Italy’s Jewish community has denounced a rise in antisemitic sentiment, including what leaders call the improper use of terms like “genocide,” following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel and Israel’s military response in Gaza.

EL MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in Southern California say six people have been found dead in a remote area of the Mojave Desert. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s spokesperson Mara Rodriguez says deputies responding to a request for a wellness check found five of the bodies Tuesday night along a dirt road off Highway 395 near El Mirage. A sixth body was found Wednesday morning. An SUV with a blown-out passenger window was found at the crime scene. The department’s specialized investigations division is conducting the homicide investigation. The bodies have yet to be removed as they search for evidence.

A Boeing 757 jet operated by Delta Air Lines lost a nose wheel while preparing for takeoff from Atlanta. Delta Flight 982 — headed to Bogota, Colombia — was taxiing for departure at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when the incident took place around 11:15 a.m. Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident. The plane is 32 years old and is not the same model as the 737 Max that has raised safety concerns in recent years.

Jim Harbaugh is headed back to the NFL, Doc Rivers will be the Bucks' next coach, Devin Booker scores 46 in a Suns win, and NHL scoring leader Nathan MacKinnon scores four goals for the Avalanche. Also,  the Titans hire Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their head coach and five players from the 2018 Canada world junior team take a leave of absence from their clubs.

NEW YORK (AP) — Comedian Jon Stewart is rewinding the clock, returning to “The Daily Show” as a weekly host and executive producing through the 2024 U.S. elections cycle. Comedy Central on Wednesday said Stewart will host the topical TV show every Monday starting Feb. 12. A rotating lineup of show regulars are on tap for the rest of the week. Stewart first hosted from 1999 to 2015. Over the years, “The Daily Show” has skewered the left and right by making the media a character and playing it absolutely straight, no matter how ridiculous. The show has not had a permanent host since Trevor Noah left last year.

—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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 24 at 7 a.m. CT:

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Donald Trump has easily won the New Hampshire primary. He has swept the opening contests for the Republican presidential nomination and delivered a fresh setback to his last major rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Trump’s margin of victory Tuesday is still coming into focus. But it’s clear his hold on the Republican Party hasn’t wavered despite the multiple criminal cases he is facing. The results are disappointing for Haley, but she vowed to stay in the race, declaring it “far from over.” Trump bragged about following up his Iowa win with a victory in New Hampshire but also repeatedly insulated Haley, declaring, “Lets not have someone take a victory when she had a very bad night.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of shooting down a military transport plane, killing all 74 people aboard, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war being swapped. It said the POWs were being transported to Russia’s Belgorod region. Ukrainian officials did not comment on the crash and The Associated Press could not confirm who was aboard. Officials in Kyiv cautioned against sharing unverified information. In addition to the 65 POWs, the Il-76 transport carried a crew of six and three other passengers, the ministry said. According to the statement, Russian radar registered the launch of two Ukrainian missiles from Ukraine’s Kharkiv region that borders Belgorod. The ministry called the attack “a terrorist act.”

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese officials say at least 25 people died after a fire broke out in southeastern Jiangxi province. Local authorities for the Yushui district of Jiangxi province said a fire broke out in the basement of a shopping area in mid-afternoon on Wednesday. They say 120 rescue, firefighters, police and local government officials were deployed to the scene. Search and rescue operations are underway, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling nearly 1.9 million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because a trim piece can fly off and create a hazard for other drivers. The recall covers Explorers from the 2011 through 2019 model years. Documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that clips holding the trim that covers the roof supports by the windshield can come loose. If that happens, the trim can fly off. The recall comes after U.S. regulators opened an investigation into the problem last year after receiving consumer complaints. Canadian regulators also inquired about the problem. Dealers will inspect the trim pieces to make sure the clips are engaged and add adhesive to hold them in place. Owners will be notified starting March 13.

NEW YORK (AP) — Charles Osgood, who anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for more than two decades, hosted the long-running radio program “The Osgood File” and was referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence, has died. He was 91. CBS reported that Osgood died Tuesday at his home in Saddle River, New Jersey, and that the cause was dementia, according to his family. Osgood proved to be a broadcaster who could write essays and light verse as well as report hard news, a man who continued to work in both radio and television with equal facility. He joined the CBS network in 1971.

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have joined forces at a rally in Virginia as they push for abortion rights. First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were also there Tuesday at what was the first joint appearance by all four of them since the 2024 campaign began. It's a reflection of the importance that Democrats are placing on abortion as they face a likely rematch against Donald Trump, the former Republican president. Trump helped pave the way for overturning Roe v. Wade by nominating three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, a fact that the Biden campaign plans to remind voters of at every opportunity.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has hit three facilities in Iraq and two anti-ship missiles in Yemen within hours of each other in its continued effort to keep violence from the Israel-Hamas war from spilling over into a wider conflict. Both strikes were targeting Iranian-backed proxy weapons sites that the United States has said are involved in the strikes against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria and in launching anti-ship missiles and drones that threaten commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The strikes came hours after the U.S. said on Tuesday that militants fired two one-way attack drones at the al-Asad Air Base, injuring U.S. service members and damaging infrastructure.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. regulators have barred TurboTax maker Intuit Inc. from advertising its services as “free” unless they are free for all customers, or if eligibility is clearly disclosed. In an opinion and final order, the Federal Trade Commission ruled that Intuit engaged in deceptive practices by running ads claiming consumers could file their taxes for free using TurboTax — when in fact many taxpayers did not qualify for such free offerings. In addition to prohibiting Intuit from marketing its products or services as free unless there’s actually no cost for everyone, the FTC said Intuit must disclose what percentage of consumers are eligible and note if a majority of taxpayers do not qualify. Inuit said it had appealed the decision, which it called deeply flawed.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama intends to put a man to death with nitrogen gas this week unless stopped by the courts. It would be the first execution attempt with the method in the United States. Kenneth Eugene Smith is scheduled to be executed Thursday evening at a south Alabama prison. Alabama plans have a gas mask put over the 58-year-old's face to replace his breathing air with pure nitrogen gas and kill him. The Alabama attorney general’s office says using nitrogen gas is the most painless and humane method created. But some doctors and critics say what exactly Smith will feel is unknown.

ATLANTA (AP) — Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died after battling prostate cancer. The King Center in Atlanta says the 62-year-old son of the civil rights leader died in his sleep on Monday at his home in Malibu, California. Named for the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father once served as pastor, he was just 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968. He became chairman of the King Center, where he shepherded his parents' legacy and focused on protecting the King family's intellectual property.

The Baseball Hall of Fame makes room for three new members, the Bucks fire a first-year coach with an excellent win-loss record, the Nuggets rely on their big guns to win at Indiana, South Carolina shocks AP sixth-ranked Kentucky, and the Oilers' long win streak gets longer.

NEW YORK (AP) — The 2024 Oscar nominations have been announced. The nominees for best picture are: “American Fiction”; “Anatomy of a Fall”; “Barbie”; “The Holdovers”; “Killers of the Flower Moon”; “Maestro”; “Oppenheimer”; “Past Lives”; “Poor Things”; “The Zone of Interest.” Lily Gladstone, star of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” became the first Native American nominated for best actress. For the 10th time, Scorsese was nominated for best director. Leonardo DiCaprio, though, was left out of best actor. Among the nominated films is the Ukraine war documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” which is a joint production between The Associated Press and PBS' “Frontline” and will compete in the best documentary category.

—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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 23 at 7 a.m. CT:

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Donald Trump is aiming for a commanding victory in New Hampshire, securing a sweep of the first two Republican primary races and making a November rematch with President Joe Biden look likelier than ever. The biggest question is whether Trump’s last major rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, will be able to eat into his margin or pull off an upset victory Tuesday. Haley has dedicated time and money to New Hampshire, hoping to appeal to its independent-minded electorate. Trump has concentrated on winning decisively enough to effectively end the competitive phase of the primary. All six registered voters of tiny Dixville Notch cast their ballots for Haley in the first results released early Tuesday.

CHICAGO (AP) — A man suspected of shooting and killing eight people in suburban Chicago fatally shot himself after a confrontation at a gas station with law enforcement officials in Texas. Police in Joliet said on Facebook late Monday that at about 8:30 p.m. Central time Romeo Nance was located by U.S. Marshals near Natalia, Texas, and that after a confrontation Nance shot himself. Police in Will County in Illinois and the city of Joliet previously said they did not know of a motive for the killings, but said Nance knew the victims.

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says that Palestinian militants carried out the deadliest single attack on Israel’s forces since the Hamas raid that triggered the war. Twenty-one soldiers were killed. It was a significant setback that could add to mounting calls for a cease-fire. Hours later on Tuesday, the military announced that ground forces had encircled the southern city of Khan Younis. That marked a major advance, but it was unclear how much closer it would bring Israel to defeating Hamas or freeing Israeli hostages as cease-fire talks appear to be gathering pace. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned the soldiers. But he vowed to press ahead until “absolute victory,” even as Israelis are increasingly divided over whether it’s possible to both crush Hamas and free scores of captives.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian missiles have targeted three Ukrainian cities, including its two biggest, damaging apartment buildings and killing at least six people. The attack came hours after Moscow shunned any deal backed by Kyiv and its Western allies aimed at ending the nearly 2-year-old war. Officials said Tuesday's barrage injured at least 20 people in four districts of Kyiv, the capital. In Kharkiv, in northeast Ukraine, authorities said the onslaught killed five people and injured 42 as the missiles damaged about 30 residential buildings. One death from a missile strike was also reported in Pavlohrad, an eastern industrial city. Analysts say Russia stockpiled missiles at the end of last year to press a winter bombardment campaign.

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — A judge has ordered court records to be made public in the divorce involving a special prosecutor hired in the Georgia election case against Donald Trump and accused of having an affair with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The judge says records must be unsealed in the divorce case involving Nathan Wade, whom a defense attorney has alleged is in an inappropriate relationship with Willis. The newly unsealed court records, however, didn’t include any references to the affair allegations. The judge put off a final decision on whether Willis will have to sit for questioning in the divorce case but delayed her deposition that had been scheduled for Tuesday. Willis has defended her hiring of Wade.

ATLANTA (AP) — Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died after battling prostate cancer. The King Center in Atlanta says the 62-year-old son of the civil rights leader died in his sleep on Monday at his home in Malibu, California. Named for the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father once served as pastor, he was just 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968. He became chairman of the King Center, where he shepherded his parents' legacy and focused on protecting the King family's intellectual property.

The New Hampshire attorney general’s office says it is investigating reports of an apparent robocall that used artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden’s voice and discourage voters in the state from participating in Tuesday’s primary election. Attorney General John Formella said Monday that the recorded message that was sent Sunday appears to be an illegal attempt to disrupt and suppress voting. He says voters should disregard its contents. The apparent attempt at voter suppression using generative AI is one example of what experts warn will make 2024 a year of unprecedented election disinformation around the world.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court is allowing Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire that Texas installed on the U.S.-Mexico border while a lawsuit over the wire continues. The justices, by a 5-4 vote Monday, granted an emergency appeal from the Biden administration, which has been in an escalating standoff at the border with Texas and had objected to an appellate ruling in favor of the state. The concertina wire is part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's broader fight with the administration over immigration enforcement.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip, who has steadfastly maintained his innocence and averted multiple attempts by the state to execute him. Glossip was sentenced in a 1997 murder-for-hire of the owner of the motel where he worked. The case will be argued in the fall. Glossip is backed by Republican Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who says his life should be spared because he did not get a fair trial. Glossip also has been supported by “Dead Man Walking” actor Susan Sarandon, and his case was featured in a 2017 documentary.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials are recommending that airlines inspect the door plugs on more Boeing 737s after one of the panel blew off a Boeing jet in midflight. The Federal Aviation Administration says airlines should also inspect the panels on an older model, the 737-900ER. Those planes have door plugs that are identical in design to the one that flew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing Max 9 jetliner this month. Boeing said Monday that it supports the FAA action. The plugs are panels that seal holes left for extra doors when the extra doors aren't needed to meet emergency-evacuation standards.

A pair of players had record setting nights in the NBA, the Bruins winning streak continues, and third ranked team in men's college basketball gets a career night from one of their guards, to pick up a conference win.

CHICAGO (AP) — Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. In a statement released by the Baseball Hall of Fame, the 64-year-old Sandberg says he has started treatment. Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 16 seasons in the majors. He made his big league debut with Philadelphia in 1981 and appeared in 13 games with the Phillies before he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in January 1982. Sandberg turned into one of the majors’ best all-around performers with the Cubs. He made 10 All-Star teams and won nine Gold Gloves. He also was the NL MVP in 1984.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have promoted Dan Morgan to president of football operations and general manager. Morgan is a former Panthers linebacker. Now he's tasked with turning around the struggling franchise. Morgan spent the past three seasons as Carolina's assistant GM. The Panthers are 31-68 since David Tepper bought the team in 2018, tied with the New York Jets for the worst record in the league in that span. They have not been to the postseason since 2017 and have been criticized for poor trades and draft picks. Morgan replaces Scott Fitterer, who was fired after the season.

Patrice Bergeron says he is not making a comeback to the NHL. The former Boston Bruins captain says he is enjoying retirement. Rumors about him returning came after word spread that Bergeron was back on the ice skating. He said his time on the ice is just a weekly gathering of retired players and friends. Bergeron announced his retirement last summer after 19 seasons with the Bruins. He helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2011 and reach the final two more times.

NEW YORK (AP) — Filmmaker Norman Jewison has died at 97. The Canadian-born director’s work ranged from Doris Day comedies and “Moonstruck” to social dramas such as the Oscar-winning “In the Heat of the Night." Jewison was a three-time Oscar nominee who in 1999 received an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement. Throughout his long career, Jewison combined light entertainment with topical films. He also worked on the Cold War spoof “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming,” the Steve McQueen thriller “The Thomas Crown Affair” and a pair of movies featuring Denzel Washington: the racial drama “A Soldier’s Story” and “The Hurricane."

Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “Leader of the Pack,” has died. She was 75. Miriam Linna, founder of Weiss’ label, Norton Records, said Sunday that Weiss died Friday in Palm Springs, California. No cause of death was given. Rolling Stone first reported her death Friday. The four members of the Shangri-Las met at school in Queens, New York, and performed at school dances and teen hops. They found enormous success as a pioneering girl group with a tough, working-class image and drama-filled songs of teen dreams and heartbreak. After the group disbanded in 1968, Weiss stayed away from music for four decades. In 2007, she released her solo debut.

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — A giraffe named Benito has started a 40-hour road trip to leave the cold and loneliness of Mexico’s border city of Ciudad Juarez, and maybe find love and warmth in his new home. He is a tall load, about 16 feet high, with a tarp above so he won't get scared looking out over the top. After a campaign by animal rights activists, the four-year-old giraffe is being taken by truck from a city zoo in Ciudad Juarez to a new, warmer home in Puebla state in central Mexico. It has been a long and lonesome road for Benito. But the Africam Safari park where he is being taken has female giraffes and better weather.

—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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 22 at 5 a.m. CT:

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended his Republican presidential campaign just before the New Hampshire primary and endorsed Donald Trump. He ended his White House bid Sunday after failing to meet lofty expectations that he would seriously challenge the former president and after finishing a distant second in the leadoff Iowa caucuses. Early primary polls had suggested DeSantis was in a strong position to challenge Trump. He and his allies amassed a political fortune well in excess of $100 million. But his campaign was hamstrung by missteps. He now turns to completing his second and final term as Florida governor, ending in 2027.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A politically treacherous dynamic is taking hold in Congress as negotiators work to strike a bipartisan deal on the border and immigration, with vocal opposition from the hard right and former President Donald Trump threatening to topple the carefully negotiated compromise. Senators are finalizing the details of an agreement on border measures that could unlock Republican support for Ukraine aid in the Senate as soon as next week. But the deal is already wobbling as House Speaker Mike Johnson faces pressure from Trump and his House allies to reject a bipartisan compromise.

A lawyer for a writer who says Donald Trump sexually abused her in the 1990s and then defamed her while president in 2019 says the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape and two women who accused Trump of abuse will not be put before a New York jury. Attorney Roberta Kaplan said Saturday that she would not show jurors the 2005 tape in which Trump is heard speaking disparagingly of women. And she says she won't call other Trump accusers as witnesses. The jury is considering whether Trump owes writer E. Jean Carroll more than the $5 million that a jury last year awarded her.

A man convicted in a post-9/11 terrorism sting was ordered freed from prison by a judge who criticized the FBI for relying on an “unsavory” confidential informant in an agency-invented conspiracy to blow up New York synagogues and shoot down National Guard planes. U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon on Friday granted James Cromitie compassionate release from prison. The order came six months after she ordered the release of his three co-defendants for similar reasons. The men are known as the Newburgh Four, and they were convicted of terrorism charges in 2010.

In sports: Jared Goff throws two TD passes and the Lions advance to the NFC title game with a 31-23 win over the Buccaneers. Christian McCaffrey's second TD rallies the 49ers to a 24-21 playoff win over Jordan Love and the Packers. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens pull away in the second half to beat the Texans 34-10 and reach AFC title game. Stanford's Tara VanDerveer is the all-time winningest coach in college basketball history with her 1,203rd career victory.

The jobs of people who produce Sports Illustrated were in limbo after the company that paid to maintain the iconic brand’s print and digital products told staff that its license was revoked. In an email to employees Friday morning, the Arena Group, which operates Sports Illustrated and related properties, said that because of the revocation, “we will be laying off staff that work on the SI brand.” Authentic later said in a statement it intends to keep Sports Illustrated going. The company is negotiating with Arena and other publishing entities to determine who will do that, according to a person with knowledge of the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about them.

NEW YORK (AP) — On a quiet weekend in movie theaters, “Mean Girls” repeated atop the box office with $11.7 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, while a handful of awards contenders sought to make an impact ahead of Oscar nominations on Tuesday. Only one new film debuted in wide release: “I.S.S.,” a modestly budgeted sci-fi thriller starring Ariana DeBose. The film debuted with $3 million on 2,518 screens. Even for January, historically a low ebb for moviegoing, it was a sparsely attended weekend, with paltry options on the big screen. The top 10 films collectively accounted for just $51.3 million in box office, according to Comscore.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Alec Baldwin once again is facing a felony involuntary manslaughter charge after a grand jury indicted the actor in connection with the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie in New Mexico. The new charge was filed Friday and defense attorneys indicate they'll fight it. Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Adam Harrison, one of three sons of reality TV show “Pawn Stars” celebrity Richard “Rick” Harrison, has died in Las Vegas at age 39. A family representative confirmed Saturday that Adam Harrison died Friday and said a drug overdose was suspected. A family statement expressed extreme sadness and asked for privacy to grieve his loss. Las Vegas police didn't immediately respond Saturday to messages about an investigation of the death. “Pawn Stars” dates to 2009 on the History Channel. Adam Harrison was not a featured character.

Getting through winter healthy means trying to protect yourself from respiratory viruses. January can be the worst month for these illnesses and vaccination rates are low. When relatives, friends and co-workers are coming down with coughs, nasal congestion, fatigue and fever, keeping viruses at bay means thorough hand-washing, good ventilation and wearing a mask in crowded areas. If you do get sick, prompt testing can help determine whether you have COVID-19 or influenza. That’s important to see if you need one of the medicines that can help prevent severe illness: Paxlovid for COVID-19 and Tamiflu for flu.

In this week's religion roundup: A Franciscan friar has the pope's ear on Artificial Intelligence and Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue begins demolition.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to visit the North at an unspecified “early date” as the countries continue to align in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the United States. The North Korean Foreign Ministry highlighted Putin’s intent for a visit following North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui’s meetings with Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow last week. North Korea has been actively strengthening its ties with Russia as leader Kim Jong Un tries to break out of diplomatic isolation and strengthen his footing.

MOSCOW (AP) — More than 300,000 people have signed a petition calling for a train conductor in Russia to lose her job after she threw a pet cat off a train, believing it was a stray. The white and ginger tom cat, known as Twix, escaped from his carrier on a train traveling between Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg on Jan. 11. He was found by the conductor, who forcibly ejected the animal as the train was stopped in the town of Kirov, east of Moscow. Hundreds of people banded together in sub-zero temperatures to search for Twix, who was later found dead, sparking widespread outrage on social media.

31 A pet cat thrown off a train died in cold weather. Now thousands want the conductor to lose her job

—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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment. 

I’m Terry Lipshetz, Managing Editor of the National Newsroom at Lee Enterprises and your host. Subscribe to Hot Off The Wire through Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss daily news updates.

As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television. 

Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here. 

This week’s top headlines include:

Those stories and more from The Associated Press.

— Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.