Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Nov. 14 at 7 a.m. CT:

A major rally will take place Tuesday at the National Mall in Washington in support of Israel. 

Gaza’s largest hospital, Shifa, is surrounded by Israeli troops and the lives of dozens of patients, including newborns, are at risk. The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory proposed Tuesday that the facility be evacuated under the supervision of the Red Cross.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The last time Congress tried to fund the government to prevent a federal shutdown, it cost House Speaker Kevin McCarthy his job. This time, new Speaker Mike Johnson appears on track for a better outcome. On Tuesday, the House is expected to vote on another stopgap package to keep the government running. If approved, the Senate would act next, ahead of Friday’s shutdown deadline.

A new international report says the world is off track in its efforts to curb global warming in 41 of 42 important measurements and is even heading in the wrong direction in six crucial ways. Tuesday's report shows the only bright spot is global sales of electric passenger vehicles is now on track to help limit future warming to just another couple tenths of a degree. Study authors say public money spent to create more fossil fuel use is going in the wrong direction and faster than it has in the past.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation in the United States likely remained high last month, a trend that if sustained could raise concerns at the Federal Reserve, which is considering whether to raise interest rates again. Still, cheaper gas might have slowed a broad measure of overall inflation in October. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, core inflation is forecast to have risen 0.3% from September to October for a third straight month. Monthly increases at that pace would be too high to meet the Fed’s 2% annual inflation target. Economists pay particular attention to core prices, which are believed to provide a good signal of inflation’s likely future path.

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s cybersecurity agency says artificial intelligence poses a threat to the country’s next national election. The National Cyber Security Center also says cyberattacks by hostile countries and their proxies are proliferating and getting harder to track. The center said Tuesday in its annual review that “this year has seen the emergence of state-aligned actors as a new cyber threat to critical national infrastructure” such as power, water and internet networks. The center is part of Britain’s cyberespionage agency, GCHQ. It said the past year also has seen the emergence of cyberattackers who are "sympathetic to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine and are ideologically, rather than financially, motivated.”

Denver knocks off Buffalo on Monday Night Football, the Celtics and Bucks were among key NBA winners, an upset in college basketball, a pair of games in the NHL, and MLB hands out rookie of the year awards. 

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. CT:

Fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants outside Gaza’s largest hospital has prompted thousands of people to flee from the medical facility. But health officials said Monday that hundreds of patients and others displaced by the war remained inside. President Joe Biden said Shifa hospital “must be protected” and called for “less intrusive action” by Israeli forces.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The new Supreme Court code of conduct agreed to by all nine justices does not appear to impose any significant new requirements on them. The code leaves compliance to the justices themselves and does not create any other means of enforcement. The Supreme Court disclosed the code on Monday, in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices. The justices say the code largely represents a codification of principles they've long regarded as governing their conduct. Liberal critics of the court were not satisfied, with one group saying the code “reads a lot more like a friendly suggestion than a binding, enforceable guideline.”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Prosecutors are bringing forward law enforcement officials to discuss video that’s at the crux of their case against the man accused of attacking former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband at the couple’s San Francisco home last year. The trial against David DePape is in it's second day. Paul Pelosi is expected to testify. DePape has pleaded not guilty to attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official with intent to retaliate against the official for performance of their duties. His attorney told jurors last week that she won't dispute that DePape attacked Paul Pelosi, but that the charges don't fit.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says Jill Biden will be in charge of a new initiative to boost federal government research into women's health. Women make up more than half the U.S. population but advocates say they remain understudied and underrepresented in health research. The first lady and other officials say the goal of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research is to fundamentally change the government's approach. The first lady said former California first lady Maria Shriver raised the idea for the initiative during a meeting earlier this year. Jill Biden says she brought the idea to President Joe Biden and he took action.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — One of the highest ranking leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has died. M. Russell Ballard was 95. Ballard was acting president of a top governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the church’s second-highest leadership body. He was second in line to the church presidency. A church statement says Ballard died Sunday surrounded by family at his home. Ballard had been a member of the Quorum since 1985. He was the quorum’s acting president since 2018. He is survived by his seven children, 43 grandchildren, 105 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Exxon Mobil is drilling for lithium in Arkansas and expects to begin production of the critical material for electric vehicles by 2027. Exxon on Monday announced the project and said by 2030 it expects to produce enough lithium to supply the manufacturing needs of more than 1 million electric vehicles. The oil giant in early 2023 acquired the rights to 120,000 gross acres of the Smackover formation in southern Arkansas. The formation is considered one of the most prolific lithium resources of its type in North America. The project comes as the U.S. faces a greater need for lithium sources to meet its clean energy goals.

NEW YORK (AP) — Maryanne Trump Barry, a retired federal judge and former president Donald Trump’s oldest sister, has died at age 86 at her home in New York. Until her retirement in 2019, Barry was a senior judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a level below the Supreme Court. Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the former president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. called it “a rough day for myself and my family” after he spent Monday testifying in a civil fraud trial in New York.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secret Service agents protecting President Joe Biden’s granddaughter have opened fire after three people tried to break into an unmarked Secret Service vehicle in Washington. That's according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday. It happened late Sunday night in the Georgetown neighborhood. The official says the agents were assigned to protect Naomi Biden when they saw the three people breaking a window of the parked and unoccupied SUV. The Secret Service says one of the agents opened fire but did not strike anyone. Washington has seen a significant rise in the number of carjackings and car thefts this year.

Kansas remained at No. 1 in the first Associated Press men's college basketball poll of the season. The Jayhawks received 51 first-place votes from a media panel and were followed by Purdue, Arizona, Marquette and Connecticut. Arizona had the biggest jump from the preseason poll, moving up nine spots after beating No. 9 Duke on the road. No. 24 James Madison moved into the AP Top 25 for the first time following a road win over No. 18 Michigan State.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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 Nov. 13 at 6:30 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson has unveiled his proposal to avoid a partial government shutdown next weekend by extending government funding for some agencies and programs until Jan. 19 and continuing funding for others until Feb. 2. The approach is unusual for a stopgap spending bill. Generally, lawmakers extend funding until a certain date for all programs. Johnson decided to go with the combination approach, addressing concerns from GOP lawmakers who want to avoid being presented with a massive spending bill just before the holidays, as has often occurred in the past.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the need to destroy Hamas as the path forward to peace on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday. Israeli forces and Hamas militants continued to fight outside of a hospital in Gaza.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott says he is ending his 2024 bid for president in a move that surprised his donors and stunned his campaign staff. The South Carolina senator made the announcement on Fox News Channel's “Sunday Night in America” with Trey Gowdy. Scott says, "I think the voters who are the most remarkable people on the planet have been really clear that they’re telling me, ‘Not now, Tim.’” The decision comes as Scott continued to struggle in the polls in a field dominated by former President Donald Trump. Scott, the Senate’s only Black Republican, entered the race with more cash than any other Republican candidate but couldn’t find a way to break through.

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s lawyers will start calling witnesses in the New York civil fraud trial that threatens the former president’s real estate empire. First up on Monday is Trump’s oldest son Donald Trump Jr. He is a Trump Organization executive vice president and a co-defendant in the case. He'll be returning to the witness stand two weeks after state lawyers quizzed him during a major stretch of the trial that also featured testimony from his father and siblings Eric and Ivanka Trump. Trump Jr. originally testified on Nov. 1 and 2. He said he never worked on the annual financial statements at the heart of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officials say Los Angeles motorists should expect traffic snarls as crews assess how much damage was caused by a weekend fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown. Hazardous materials teams removed burned material from underneath Interstate 10 on Sunday to make way for engineers to see if the columns and deck of the highway can support the normal traffic of about 300,000 vehicles per day. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says officials can’t yet offer a timeline for when the highway might reopen. Commuters are being urged to work from home or take public transportation into downtown Los Angeles.

LONDON (AP) — Former British Prime Minister David Cameron has made a shock return to high office. He was appointed foreign secretary on Monday in a major shakeup of the Conservative government that also saw the firing of divisive Home Secretary Suella Braverman. It’s rare for a former leader, and a non-lawmaker, to take a senior government post. The government said Cameron will be appointed to Parliament’s unelected upper chamber, the House of Lords. Sunak was under growing pressure to fire Braverman, a divisive figure popular with the authoritarian wing of the governing Conservative Party who drew anger for accusing police of being too lenient with pro-Palestinian protesters.

BERLIN (AP) — U.S. officials say five U.S. service members were killed when a military helicopter crashed during training over the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The military's European Command said all five crew members were killed when the copter went down “during a routine air refueling mission as part of military training.” The military said the cause is under investigation but there are no indications hostile activity was involved. It first reported the crash Saturday and said on Sunday that search and rescue efforts began immediately. The aircraft's branch of service wasn't immediately clear. The Air Force has sent additional squadrons to the region, and the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has been operating in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Browns, Texans, Seahawks and Lions all win on game-ending field goals, while the Rockets, Sixers and Mavericks each prevail on the NBA hardwood.

NEW YORK (AP) — Since 2008’s “Iron Man,” the Marvel machine has been one of the most unstoppable forces in box-office history. Now, though, that aura of invincibility is showing signs of wear and tear. The superhero factory hit a new low with the weekend launch of “The Marvels." It opened with $47 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The 33rd installment in the MCU managed less than a third of the $153.4 million its predecessor “Captain Marvel," launched with. Sequels, especially in Marvel Land, aren’t supposed to fall off a cliff. The previous low for a Walt Disney Co.-owned Marvel movie was “Ant-Man,” which bowed with $57.2 million in 2015.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said use of AI was a a key point for striking actors as part of the new contract. 

And just like at the box office, “Barbie” will be seen — and heard — at the Grammys. Music from the hit film’s soundtrack earned 11 nominations, including nabbing four of the five slots in the visual media song category.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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. 

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

This week Bruce Miller and I discussed the new movies “The Holdovers,” out now in theaters, and “Nyad,” which is on Netflix.

Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here. 

This week’s top headlines include:

Those stories and more from The Associated Press. But first, Bruce Miller talks about “The Holdovers” on the latest episode of Streamed & Screened. 

— Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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 Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. CT:

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Grammy nominations have been announced and SZA leads the way with nine nominations. The R&B star earned record, album and song of the year nominations for her album “SOS” and her hit song “Kill Bill.” The Recording Academy announced the nominations Friday. Phoebe Bridgers and Victoria Monét closely followed with seven nominations apiece. That includes six nominations for Bridgers' band boygenius. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Brandy Clark, Jon Batiste and Jack Antonoff also have six nods each. The 2024 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 4 live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Fans have pushed the Fisher-Price Corn Popper into the National Toy Hall of Fame. It joins baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids and NERF foam toys in the class of 2023, announced Friday. The Fisher-Price push toy was voted in by fans as part of the Toy Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary celebration. Baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids and NERF toys were chosen in the usual way, with input from a panel of national experts. Each year, the Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, recognizes a group of toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed long-lasting popularity.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Florida has declined for now to postpone former President Donald Trump’s classified documents trial. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon pushed back several pretrial deadlines in a ruling Friday but left the May 2024 trial date intact. Trump faces four criminal cases unfolding in different cities as he seeks to reclaim the White House next year. The Florida felony charges accuse the Republican ex-president of illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and hiding them from government investigators. Trump denies wrongdoing.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man has been arrested in the alleged assault of former U.S. Sen. Martha McSally who says she was molested as she jogged along the Missouri River in Iowa. Council Bluffs police said in a statement that the 25-year-old suspect from Papillion, Nebraska, was spotted by officers in Omaha, Nebraska, at 3:23 a.m. Friday and arrested. Police say the man will be extradited back to Council Bluffs. McSally is a former senator from Arizona. She was in the area for a speaking engagement and was jogging Wednesday morning. She told police a man came up from behind and grabbed and molested her until she fought him off. Police say video surveillance helped lead them to the suspect.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — In Wisconsin, the old fashioned cocktail comes with brandy, not bourbon. Now, state lawmakers have made it somewhat official. A resolution declaring the brandy old fashioned as the official Wisconsin state cocktail cleared the state Assembly on a bipartisan voice vote. It’s a resolution, not a bill, so even if it also clears the Senate, the brandy old fashioned won’t make it onto the list of other official state symbols that include milk as the official beverage, kringle as the official pastry, and corn as the official grain. For the unfamiliar, the old fashioned cocktail in just about every place other than Wisconsin is traditionally made with a whiskey, like bourbon, sugar and bitters.

NEW YORK (AP) — The proportion of U.S. kindergartners exempted from school attendance vaccination requirements has hit its highest level ever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday released a report detailing the trends. Nationally, 3% of kindergartners got exemptions. Hawaii saw the largest jump, with the statistic nearly doubling from the year before. Idaho was highest overall, with 12%. Experts say more parents are questioning routine childhood vaccinations that they used to automatically accept. It's an effect of the political schism that emerged during the pandemic around COVID-19 vaccines. It also raises the chances of outbreaks of measles, polio and other diseases.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice says Alabama cannot use conspiracy laws to prosecute people and groups who help women leave the state to obtain an abortion. The department filed a statement of interest in consolidated lawsuits brought by an abortion fund and others against Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Marshall has suggested his office would “look at” groups who provide abortion assistance. Alabama bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape and incest. The only exemption is if a pregnancy seriously threatens the pregnant patient’s health. Marshall's office said he is prepared to defend state law.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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 Nov. 10 at 6:15 a.m. CT:

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes hit near several hospitals in Gaza City early Friday as the military pushed deeper into dense urban neighborhoods in its battle with Hamas militants. The fighting has prompted increasing numbers of civilians to flee toward the south of the besieged territory. Israel has accused Hamas fighters of hiding in hospitals, and using the Shifa Hospital complex as its main command center. The militant group and hospital staff deny the claim, saying Israel is creating a pretext to strike it. The head of the Hamas-run media office in Gaza said Israel struck the Shifa courtyard and the obstetrics department as well as two other hospitals early Friday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities are trying to determine who sent suspicious letters, including some containing fentanyl or other substances, to local election offices in at least five states. It's the latest instance of threats faced by election workers around the country. Elections offices in California, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon and Washington appeared to have been targeted. The Pierce County auditor’s office in Tacoma, Washington, released images of the letter it received, showing the letter was postmarked in Portland, Oregon, and read in part, “End elections now." Authorities are also trying to intercept a letter headed to an elections office in Fulton County, Georgia, the largest voting jurisdiction in one of the nation’s most important presidential swing states.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — After a marathon week of negotiations, the Las Vegas hotel workers union says it has reached a tentative deal with Wynn Resorts. It was the last contract the Culinary Workers Union needed to avoid a strike Friday. The new five-year contract covers 5,000 employees at the company’s flagship hotel-casino and Encore Resorts. It came early Friday after the union’s tentative deals earlier in the week with Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts. The union says the contracts will provide workers with historic pay raises and other unprecedented wins, like mandatory daily room cleanings. The contract came after seven months of bargaining and is their first since the pandemic.

ST. PETER, Minn. (AP) — A 96-year-old Korean War veteran from Minnesota has been waiting for 70 years for a Purple Heart medal. The Army keeps turning him down. He has provided documents to back up his assertion that he was wounded in combat in June 1951. His doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs accepted his account that the shrapnel in his thigh came from a mortar attack. But an Army review board has issued what it called a final rejection in April, citing insufficient documentation. Meyer sued the Army in September. Now the Office of the Sergeant Major of the Army says it’s going to take another look.

The Bears hold the Panthers offense out of the end zone for a Thursday night win, the Blackhawks snap an eight-game losing streak to the Lightning in Tampa, Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers withstand a huge night from Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Bucks, and Trae Young leads the Hawks to victory in Mexico City over the Magic. 

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. CT:

The nation’s top accident investigator says a surge in close calls between planes at U.S. airports this year is a clear warning sign that aviation is under stress. Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, told a Senate panel Thursday that close calls are incredibly rare, but we cannot ignore the recent increase in such events. Witnesses at the hearing say staffing and irregular schedules are problems at the Federal Aviation Administration and airlines.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia says he won’t seek reelection in 2024, giving Republicans a prime opportunity to gain a seat in the heavily GOP state. The 76-year-old Manchin said Thursday he made the decision “after months of deliberation and long conversations” with his family. Manchin's decision to retire marks the end of an era for West Virginia and severely hampers Democratic hopes of holding on to the coal country seat. For the last few years, Manchin has been the only Democrat elected to statewide office in West Virginia. Manchin is a longtime politician who's served as governor, secretary of state and state legislator.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested that the Fed is in no hurry to further raise its benchmark interest rate, given evidence that inflation pressures are continuing to ease at a gradual pace. At the same time, in a panel discussion at the International Monetary Fund, Powell did not rule out another rate hike to help reduce inflation to the Fed’s 2% target level. “We are not confident,” he said, that the Fed’s benchmark rate is high enough to steadily reduce inflation to its 2% target. Powell added: “We know that ongoing progress toward our 2% goal is not assured. Inflation has given us a few head fakes.”

BELVIDERE, Ill. (AP) — President Joe Biden has gone to Belvidere, Illinois, to celebrated a labor deal that will prevent a Stellantis plant in the city from closing. During an appearance before cheering automakers, the president put on a red United Auto Workers shirt and reminded his audience that he stood with members during their strikes against Ford, General Motors and Jeep-maker Stellantis. Biden learned in June that the Stellantis plant was set to close and he made keeping it open a priority. The plant will expand as part of the tentative contract with the UAW. Biden met with UAW President Shawn Fain and Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and plans to hold a fundraiser later in Chicago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says Israel has agreed to put in place four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in its assault on Hamas in northern Gaza. The Biden administration says it has secured a second pathway for civilians to flee fighting. President Joe Biden had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to institute the daily pauses during a Monday call. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says the first humanitarian pause will be announced Thursday and the Israelis have committed to announcing each four-hour window at least three hours in advance. Biden says he asked the Israelis for a pause of at least three days during negotiations over the release of hostages held by Hamas.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Eight people died in a South Texas car crash Wednesday while police chased a driver suspected of smuggling migrants. Texas Department of Public Safety says it happened around 6:30 a.m. when the driver of a Honda Civic tried to outrun deputies from the Zavala County Sheriff’s Office. The department says the driver tried to pass semi truck. The Civic collided with a Chevrolet Equinox, killing two passengers in that car. Six people in Civice died, including the driver. It is the latest deadly vehicle crash involving police chasing migrants, and the deadliest since 13 people died in a collision in California, in 2021.

TOKYO (AP) — An undersea volcano's eruption off Japan three weeks ago has provided a rare view of the birth of a tiny new island, but experts say it may not last long. The undersea volcano just off the southern coast of Iwo Jima started its latest series of eruptions on Oct. 21. A Japan Meteorological Agency volcanic analyst said that by early November, a new island had formed that is about 328 feet in diameter and as high as 66 feet above the sea. About one-tenth of active volcanos around the world are in Japan which sits on the Pacific “ring of fire.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Missed your favorite actors? After nearly four months of striking, they’re coming back. Wednesday’s deal between striking actors and studios and streaming services won’t immediately restore filming to its full swing. That will take months. But the tentative agreement that both sides say include extraordinary provisions means that more than six months of labor strife in the film and television industries is drawing to a close. Soon, tens of thousands of entertainment sector workers could get back to work. And popular franchises like “Deadpool,” “Abbott Elementary” and “The Last of Us” will be a step closer to returning to screens.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas hotel workers union says it has reached a deal with MGM Resorts International, the largest employer on the Las Vegas Strip, on the heels of its breakthrough agreement with Caesars Entertainment. The Culinary Workers Union announced the tentative five-year agreement with MGM early Thursday that it says covers about 25,000 workers at the Aria, Bellagio, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, New York-New York and Park MGM. The union had threatened to begin a strike in the pre-dawn hours Friday at properties along the Strip if negotiations failed. A walkout still could happen on a much smaller scale if the union can't reach a deal for 5,000 workers at Wynn Resorts. Negotiations with Wynn are scheduled for Thursday.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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 Nov. 9 at 6:50 a.m. CT:

Republican presidential candidates used the third debate of the GOP primary campaign to show their support for Israel and display at least some willingness to criticize Donald Trump, the front-runner in the race. Some of the most notable criticism of Trump came from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhile, Trump’s debate counterprogramming tour continued in South Florida before a friendly crowd about a half-hour’s drive from where his rivals gathered.

Negotiations are being held for a three-day humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza in exchange for the release of about a dozen hostages held by Hamas. That is according to two officials from Egypt, one from the United Nations and a Western diplomat. They were speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic efforts. The Israel-Hamas war, now in its second month, was triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly half of Democrats disapprove of how President Joe Biden is handling the Israel-Hamas conflict. That's according to a new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. Taken over five days in November, the poll shows a deep divide in the Democratic Party over the war. The poll found 50% of Democrats approve of how Biden has navigated the conflict while 46% disapprove. The two groups diverge substantially in their views of U.S. support for Israel. The war could complicate Biden’s reelection effort. He faces having to balance factions of his party with very different views on the conflict and who is ultimately responsible.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood's actors union has reached a deal with studios to end its strike. The contract agreement reached Wednesday must still be approved by the union's board and its members, but the leadership said actors will be allowed to return to work starting Thursday. They can rejoin writers, whose own long strike ended in late September. For the first times since spring, all the parts of Hollywood production will be back in action. The actors chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland tells The Associated Press that they reached a deal that was worth the cost on issues including pay and the use of artificial intelligence in production.

Lainey Wilson took home five trophies including entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards. The 31-year-old Louisiana singer also won album of the year and female vocalist of the year at the Wednesday night ceremony at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Rapper-turned-singer Jelly Roll both opened and closed the show with performances, and was named best new artist during the ceremony. Luke Combs won single of the year for his cover of Tracy Chapman's “Fast Car,” and Chapman won song of the year for the tune, 35 years after she wrote it.

The 12 months ending in October were the hottest ever recorded on Earth and likely the planet’s hottest 12-month period ever recorded, according to a report from the nonprofit science research group Climate Central. The report said burning gasoline, coal and natural gas along with other human activities are to blame for the unnatural warming.

The Celtics, Knicks and Nuggets are among the NBA’s big winners, the Panthers beat the Capitals in one of the NHL’s three games and the Angels have a new manager.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Voters have thrown their support behind abortion rights in races in Ohio, Virginia and elsewhere. And now, Democrats look to springboard off those wins by using the issue to drive turnout and shape next year’s races for the White House, Congress and other elections. Ohio sent the clearest sign of the issue’s importance more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the nationwide right to abortion.

Calls continue for a humanitarian pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

NEW YORK (AP) — Ivanka Trump is testifying that she had no role in her father’s personal financial statements — the documents central to the civil fraud trial that could reshape former President Donald Trump’s family business. Trump's elder daughter took the witness stand Wednesday at the New York trial. Her father and her brothers Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump testified earlier. Ivanka Trump has been in her father's inner circle in both business and politics. But unlike him and her brothers, she was dismissed as a defendant in the New York attorney general's lawsuit. It alleges that Donald Trump’s asset values were fraudulently pumped up for years on financial statements that helped him get loans and insurance. He and other defendants deny wrongdoing.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden's attorney says subpoenas issued by House Republicans to members of President Joe Biden’s family are a “political stunt." Wednesday's subpoenas are the most aggressive step yet by Republicans in an impeachment inquiry bitterly opposed by Democrats. The move by House Oversight Committee chair James Comer to subpoena the Democratic president’s son Hunter and brother James comes as Republicans look to gain ground in their nearly yearlong investigation. The Republicans have thus far failed to uncover evidence directly implicating the president in any wrongdoing. The White House and the family's lawyers say the investigation has been a political ploy but Hunter's attorney indicated that he could be inclined to appear “at the right time.”

HOUSTON (AP) — A fire at a chemical plant in rural Texas had sent a massive plume of black smoke into the sky Wednesday morning but was contained by the afternoon. Officials ordered residents around Shepherd, Texas, to take shelter. They also closed an adjacent highway that connects the community to Livingston. Livingston and Shepherd are northeast of Houston. Officials say the explosion took place at Sound Resource Solutions and one employee suffered minor burns but was in stable condition. They say the fire was contained Wednesday afternoon. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the plume could be heading toward the nearby Livingston area.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are moving forward in their quests to join the European Union. But countries in the volatile Balkans that have waited years longer to become members appeared to slip back in the queue. The European Commission recommended Wednesday in a series of reports that war-ravaged Ukraine should be permitted to open membership talks soon once it’s addressed some shortfalls. Neighboring Moldova was told the same thing. Georgia was granted official status as a candidate to join. The recommendations provide technical guidance to the 27 EU member states about how much progress countries have made in aligning their laws and standards with those of the bloc. EU leaders will weigh those recommendations on Dec. 14-15.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four California men linked to the “Three Percenters” militia movement have been convicted on charges including conspiracy and obstruction for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Erik Scott Warner, Felipe Antonio Martinez, Derek Kinnison, and Ronald Mele were found guilty on Tuesday after a trial in Washington’s federal court. Attorneys for Martinez and Warner declined to comment, and emails seeking comment were sent to an attorney for Mele. Kinnison’s lawyer said he is disappointed with the verdict and they are considering all available legal options.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Adidas says it may write off the remaining 300 million euros ($320 million) worth of Yeezy shoes left unsold after it cut ties with rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. The company said Wednesday that it will decide in the coming weeks whether to sell them next year to generate more donations to groups fighting antisemitism. The shoe and sports clothing company, which cut ties with Ye in October 2022 after he made antisemitic remarks online, has sold 750 million euros worth of the shoes in two stages earlier this year through Adidas smartphone apps and its website. Part of the profits went to groups like the Anti-Defamation League.

TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo is developing a live-action film based on its hit video game “The Legend of Zelda.” The Japanese maker behind the Super Mario franchise said Wednesday said it's financing the movie with Sony Pictures Entertainment. It will be directed by Wes Ball, the American director of the upcoming “Planet of the Apes” film. It’s being co-produced by Nintendo and Arad Productions Inc., which is behind the live-action Spider-Man films and headed by Avi Arad. The move highlights Nintendo’s strategy to leverage various aspects of its business, including theme parks and merchandising to boost machine and software sales, and vice versa.

DETROIT (AP) — GM's Cruise autonomous vehicle unit is recalling all 950 of its cars to update its software after one dragged a pedestrian to the side of a San Francisco street last month. The company says in documents posted by U.S. safety regulators Wednesday that with the updated software, Cruise vehicles will remain stationary in similar cases. The Oct. 2 crash prompted Cruise to suspend driverless operations nationwide after California regulators found its cars were a safety hazard. The California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the license for Cruise, which was transporting passengers without human drivers throughout San Francisco. In the crash, a human-driven vehicle hit a pedestrian, pushing them in front of a Cruise autonomous vehicle.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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 Nov. 8 at 6:45 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats have plenty of good news to celebrate in Tuesday’s off-year elections and more evidence that they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion. Abortion rights supporters won big in an Ohio ballot measure. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was reelected in Kentucky after running television ads painting his challenger as extremist on abortion. And Virginia's statehouse will be fully in Democratic control, preventing state Republicans from pursuing new abortion restrictions and delivering a big loss to Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The off-year elections provide a snapshot of American politics heading into 2024. But two big names — Joe Biden and Donald Trump — weren’t on the ballot this time.

TOKYO (AP) — Top diplomats from the Group of Seven leading industrial democracies have announced a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war after intensive meetings in Tokyo, condemning Hamas, supporting Israel’s right to self-defense and calling for “humanitarian pauses” to get aid to desperate civilians in Gaza. In a statement, the nations sought to balance condemnation of Hamas’ attacks against Israel and a push for “urgent action” to help civilians in Gaza left without food, water, medical care and shelter. The ministers emphasized that they “support humanitarian pauses to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement and release of hostages.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has voted to censure Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan for her rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war. Tuesday night's action was an extraordinary rebuke of the only Palestinian American in Congress. The resolution to censure Tlaib was introduced by Republican Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia in response to what he called Tlaib’s antisemitic rhetoric. The debate on the censure resolution was emotional and intense. With other Democrats standing by her side, Tlaib defended her stance, saying she “will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words.” Lawmakers who opposed censuring Tlaib cited free speech and warned of the precedent it would set.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping says potential risks associated with artificial intelligence are challenges that countries should deal with together. Xi's remarks come against the backdrop of China's rigid control of free speech on the internet while maximizing the internet's economic benefits and social media's propaganda contributions to the ruling Communist Party's authoritarian agenda. Xi's prerecorded speech was broadcast on Wednesday to a major internet conference. He called for common security in cyberspace instead of confrontation. He said China would work with other countries to address risks brought by the development of AI and expressed his objections to “cyberspace hegemony.” The World Internet Conference Summit is being held in the eastern city of Wuzhen.

NEW YORK (AP) — It's Ivanka Trump's turn to take the witness stand in the civil fraud trial that is publicly probing into former President Donald Trump's family business. His eldest daughter is due to testify Wednesday, after trying unsuccessfully to block her testimony. She's following her father and her brothers Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump to the stand. Ivanka Trump has been in her father's inner circle in both business and politics. But unlike him and her brothers, she was dismissed as a defendant in the New York attorney general's lawsuit. It alleges that Donald Trump’s asset values were fraudulently pumped up for years on financial statements that helped him get loans and insurance. He and other defendants deny wrongdoing.

Ten NHL games highlight the sports schedule, the second College Football Playoff rankings are out, the Rams sign a quarterback, and a college basketball coach signs an historic contract. 

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. CT:

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli army says its forces are battling Hamas fighters inside Gaza’s largest city, signaling a major new stage a month into a war that has claimed thousands of lives and leveled swaths of the territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is likely to maintain control of security in Gaza once Hamas is defeated. The move into Gaza City risks a further escalation in casualties one month into the war. Netanyahu’s comments pointed to the uncertainty surrounding the endgame of a war that Israel says will go on for some time until it destroys Hamas rule.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — California authorities are seeking help as they investigate the death of a 69-year-old Jewish man after a confrontation during competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department says Paul Kessler died Monday at a hospital from a head injury, a day after getting in a fight with a pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Thousand Oaks, northwest of Los Angeles. An autopsy determined he suffered head trauma and the medical examiner says the injuries are consistent with a fall. The Sheriff's Department says it hasn't ruled out the possibility of a hate crime.

Off-year elections held on Tuesday will decide governors in Kentucky and Mississippi, the fate of abortion and marijuana amendments in Ohio, legislative control in Virginia and mayoral races in two of the nation's biggest cities.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The prosecutor overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation is testifying before congressional investigators that he had the ultimate authority over the yearslong case. The closed-door interview on Tuesday marks the first time a special counsel is appearing before Congress in the middle of a probe. It comes as House Republicans are aiming to ramp up their impeachment inquiry into the president and his family after weeks of stalemate. Members of the House Judiciary Committee questioned David Weiss on allegations that was not the decision-maker in the case into the president’s son and that the probe was influenced by political pressure. A spokesperson for Weiss calls his testimony “unprecedented.”

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge has set a June 3 date for the murder trial of a former Southern California street gang leader charged with killing hip-hop music icon Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas. Duane “Keffe D” Davis made a brief court appearance Tuesday with his court-appointed public defenders. He pleaded not guilty last week and remains jailed in Las Vegas. The 60-year-old is originally from Compton, California, and was arrested Sept. 29 outside a Las Vegas-area home. He has said publicly in recent years that he orchestrated the drive-by shooting that killed Shakur and wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. Davis is the only person still alive who was in the vehicle from which shots were fired.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A mixture of smoke and fog, known as “super fog,” has led to accidents involving multiple vehicles and at least one death on Interstate 10 in Louisiana. New Orleans police say a stretch of the interstate is closed Tuesday due to the smoke, fog and vehicle crashes. The closure is reminiscent of a super fog event on October 23, when seven people died and about two dozen were injured in pileups involving about 160 vehicles on Interstate 55. Smoke from nearby marsh fires mixed with dense fog has caused the super fog events. Drivers on Tuesday were faced with visibilities of a quarter-mile or less.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seems likely to preserve a federal law that prohibits people under domestic violence restraining orders from having guns. The justices on Tuesday suggested they'll reverse a ruling from an appeals court in New Orleans that struck down the 1994 ban on firearms for people under court order to stay away from their spouses or partners. It's the court's first guns case since last year’s expansion of gun rights. Liberal and conservative justices sounded persuaded by arguments from the Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer that the prohibition is in line with the longstanding practice of disarming dangerous people. The case involves a Texas man who was accused of threatening to shoot his girlfriend.

Starbucks is increasing pay and benefits for most U.S. hourly workers after ending its fiscal year with record sales. But the company said Monday that unionized workers won’t be eligible for some of those perks, a sign of the continuing tension between the Seattle coffee giant and the union trying to organize its U.S. stores. The National Labor Relations Board says least 366 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since 2021. But Starbucks and the Workers United union have yet to reach a labor agreement at any of those stores. Starbucks plans to increase wages starting Jan. 1.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The decades-old surgical drug ketamine has found a new use — as an alternative to opioids for patients with chronic pain. Ketamine is now being prescribed as a psychedelic therapy for an array of unapproved uses, including depression and anxiety. Behind the trend are investors setting up for-profit ketamine clinics, as well as online prescribing services that send the drug through the mail. There is limited evidence that it's effective for arthritis, migraines and other forms of pain. Some experts worry the U.S. may be repeating the mistakes that gave rise to the opioid crisis by overprescribing an unproven drug with safety and abuse risks.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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 Nov. 7 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio is the latest flashpoint in the nation’s ongoing battle over abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a constitutional right to the procedure last year. Voters on Tuesday are deciding whether to pass a constitutional amendment guaranteeing an individual right to abortion and other forms of reproductive healthcare, including fertility treatments. Ohio is the only state to consider a statewide abortion-rights question this year, so advocates on both sides of the issue are watching the outcome for signs of voter sentiment heading into 2024 — when abortion-rights supporters are planning to put measures on the ballot in several other states.

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel will take “overall security responsibility” in Gaza indefinitely after its war with Hamas. That was the clearest indication yet that Israel plans to maintain control over the coastal enclave one month into a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and leveled whole swaths of the territory. In an interview with ABC News that aired late Monday, Netanyahu expressed openness to “little pauses” in the fighting to facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza or the release of some of the more than 240 hostages seized by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack into Israel that triggered the war. But he ruled out any general cease-fire without the release of all the hostages.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Taxpayers will be able to digitally submit all sorts of tax documents and other communications to the IRS months earlier than originally planned. That's according to a new timetable being announced Tuesday. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the IRS is three months ahead of schedule on going paperless. She plans to discuss the effort in a speech at IRS headquarters that is intended to signal that a new infusion of cash for the IRS is working. But as IRS and Treasury plan to outline new customer service improvements for the 2024 filing season, Republicans continue to try to cut funding for the agency.

NEW YORK (AP) — WeWork has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, marking a stunning fall for the office sharing company once seen as a Wall Street darling that promised to upend the way people went to work around the world. WeWork said it entered into a restructuring support agreement with the majority of its stakeholders to “drastically reduce” the company’s debt while further evaluating WeWork’s commercial office lease portfolio. WeWork added that it was requesting the ability to cancel leases in particular locations that WeWork described as largely non-operational as part of its filing. All affected members have received advanced notice.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The field of candidates onstage for the third Republican presidential debate will be the smallest yet. The Republican National Committee says five candidates will participate in Wednesday night’s debate in Miami. They are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Former President Donald Trump, the field's current front-runner, is yet again skipping the debate and holding an event of his own. The escalating qualification markers have become increasingly difficult for candidates to satisfy. Former Vice President Mike Pence suspended his campaign last month, avoiding the ignominy of failing to qualify.

Monday's sports highlights: The Chargers roll past the Jets on Monday Night Football, James Harden makes his debut for the Clippers and college basketball opens with 4th ranked Michigan State getting stunned. 

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have hired manager Craig Counsell away from Milwaukee, landing the former big leaguer with a record-breaking contract and firing David Ross in a tandem of surprising moves. The 53-year-old Counsell became the majors’ highest paid manager with a five-year contract worth more than $40 million. That's according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the terms weren’t announced. Ross went 262-284 in four seasons with Chicago, winning the NL Central in 2020 in his first year in charge. Counsell led the budget-conscious Brewers to five playoff appearances in the last six years.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are hiring Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as their manager, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced. Mendoza spent the past four seasons across town as Aaron Boone’s bench coach with the New York Yankees. He replaces Buck Showalter, who was fired by the Mets at the end of last season. It's the first high-profile hire by new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who took over his hometown team early last month.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians have hired Stephen Vogt, a journeyman catcher with no managerial experience, as their new manager to replace Terry Francona. Vogt was Seattle’s bullpen coach last season. Although the 39-year-old Vogt has never been a manager, he checked every other box for the Guardians, who also spoke with Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell last week. A two-time All-Star, Vogt played for six teams in 10 seasons before retiring with Oakland in 2022. He homered in his final at-bat for the Athletics. The Guardians are beginning a new era following 11 successful seasons with Francona, the winningest manager in the club’s 123-year history.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. CT:

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is vigorously defending his wealth and his business as he testifies in a civil fraud lawsuit accusing him of dramatically inflating his net worth. He suggested on Monday that the New York judge hearing the case was biased against him and he called the state attorney general who brought the case a “political hack.” The testy exchanges underscored Trump’s unwillingness to adapt his famously freewheeling rhetorical style to a formal courtroom setting governed by rules of evidence and legal protocol.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Personal appeals from President Joe Biden to his Israeli counterpart and a grueling Middle East diplomatic tour by his Secretary of State Antony Blinken have left the Biden administration with little to show for its efforts to ease civilian suffering. More than a week after the U.S. began its public calls for “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza, Israel is intensifying its war against Hamas. Biden on Monday appeared to be rebuffed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when he repeated during their first conversation in eight days his for call for lulls in the fighting to allow civilians to flee and for humanitarian aid to flow to hundreds of thousands in need.

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago man has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and other charges for allegedly firing his gun into a crowd at a Halloween party, injuring 15 people. Police said Tuesday the 48-year-old man faced 15 counts each of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm and single counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated discharge of a firearm into an occupied building. The shooting occurred around 1 a.m. Sunday after the man was thrown out of the party and returned with a gun. Police say all of the victims are expected to recover.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets are hiring Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza as their manager, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced. Mendoza spent the past four seasons across town as Aaron Boone’s bench coach with the Yankees. He replaces Buck Showalter, who was fired by the Mets at the end of last season. It's the first high-profile hire by new Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who took over his hometown team early last month.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. regulators are warning drivers to steer clear of aftermarket decals used to embellish a car’s logo on the center of its steering wheel. Such metal or plastic emblems are typically adorned with rhinestones or other decorations and attached to the steering wheel with an adhesive back. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says they can cause serious injury if ejected when the airbag deploys during a crash. The agency says that at least one driver lost sight in one eye after an aftermarket decal covered in rhinestones became dislodged from the wheel during a crash and hit them in the face.

LONDON (AP) — Four men have been charged over the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, the sprawling English mansion where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born. The toilet, valued at $5.95 million, was the work of Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan. It was part of an art installation that had been installed at Blenheim Palace, near the city of Oxford, before it vanished overnight in September 2019. The Crown Prosecution Service said Monday it has authorized criminal charges against four men, ages 35-39, over the theft. They are accused of burglary and conspiracy to transfer criminal property. The golden toilet, titled “America,” was intended to be a pointed satire about excessive wealth. It has never been found.

BEAR, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden has promoted new cash for Amtrak. He visited Bear, Delaware, to announce more than $16 billion in new funding that will go toward 25 passenger rail projects between Boston and Washington. Bear is close to Wilmington, where Biden has a home and spends many weekends away from the White House. His remarks Monday were held at the Amtrak Bear Maintenance Shops, where trains are maintained and repaired. The White House says investments will help trains run faster, cut delays and create union jobs. And the money comes from Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law, which is one of several legislative accomplishments he will tout during his reelection campaign.

NEW YORK (AP) — James Corden may be off TV screens after leaving CBS’ “The Late Late Show” but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped chatting with celebrities. The multiple Emmy- and Tony Award-winner who gave the world “Carpool Karaoke” is launching a new weekly show set for early 2024 on SiriusXM called “This Life of Mine with James Corden.” The show will feature in-depth conversations with the world’s biggest stars. In a statement, Corden called his new show “a new chapter,” adding “it’s a dream to have a space to engage in deep conversations with the people whose work and talent I greatly admire.”

On this week's AP religion roundup, Muslim Americans are skeptical about President Biden's fight against Islamophobia as the United States supports Israel's war in Gaza.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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 Nov. 6 at 7 a.m. CT:

NEW YORK (AP) — When Donald Trump takes the stand Monday in a Manhattan courtroom to testify in his civil fraud trial, it will be an undeniable spectacle. He'll be a former president and the leading Republican presidential candidate defending himself against allegations that he dramatically inflated his net worth. The charges cut to the very heart of the brand Trump spent decades carefully crafting and put him at risk of losing control of much of his business empire. But the appearance will also mark the beginning of what will likely be a defining feature of the 2024 election: a major candidate, on trial, using the witness stand as a campaign platform.

Israeli troops have divided the northern and southern parts of Gaza, as communications across the besieged territory were temporarily cut Monday for a third time since the war started. Israeli media reported the troops are expected to enter Gaza City on Monday or Tuesday. The developments came after Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. Israel has so far rejected U.S. suggestions that it take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza and the rising civilian deaths. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says the Palestinian death toll has reached 9,700. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has confirmed that 19 service members were killed by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia during a military awards ceremony. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it's a “tragedy that could’ve been avoided” and the defense minister has ordered an investigation into why the event was held so close to front lines. The announcement came as officials say Russian drone and missile strikes wounded eight people in Odesa and damaged an art museum that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show damage done by a Ukrainian missile strike on a Russian naval ship.

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Two senators from Maine are asking the U.S. Army inspector general to provide a full accounting of interactions with a reservist before he killed 18 people at a bowling alley and bar. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King told Lt. Gen. Donna Martin in a letter Monday that it’s important to understand “what occurred, or failed to occur” at the federal level, including the Army. The senators posed several questions including under what circumstances the Army reports personnel to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Fellow soldiers expressed concerns about Robert Card’s mental health before the Oct. 25 shootings. It was the deadliest shooting in Maine history.

Universal and Blumhouse's video game adaptation “Five Nights at Freddy's” topped the North American box office in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” placed second. The weekend had plenty of high-profile films opening or expanding, including Sofia Coppola's “Priscilla” and Meg Ryan's “What Happens Later.” But in aggregate it's also one of the slowest weekends of the year. Before the SAG-AFTRA strike, this was the weekend “Dune: Part Two” was supposed to open. When Warner Bros. and Legendary pushed that opening back to March 2024 and no other blockbuster stepped in to take its spot.

NEW YORK (AP) — The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but their spending pace will slow given all the economic uncertainty. The group said Thursday that it expects holiday sales to be 3% to 4% for November through December, compared with 5.4% growth of a year ago. Sales for the two-month period will increase to between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion. The pace is consistent with the average annual holiday increase of 3.6% from 2010 to pre-pandemic 2019. Americans ramped up spending during the pandemic, which accounted for some outsized sales numbers. For the holiday 2021 season, sales for the two-month period surged 12.7%.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ruth Glenn knows from personal experience the danger of putting a gun in the hands of a violent spouse or partner. That's the issue at the heart of a case before the Supreme Court this week. Glenn was shot three times and left for dead outside a Denver car wash in 1992. The shooter was her estranged husband, Cedric, who was under a court order to stay away from Glenn. Two years later Congress enacted a law to keep people like Cedric Glenn from having a gun. The high court is hearing arguments Tuesday in a challenge to the 1994 law. It's the first case involving guns to reach the justices since last year's landmark decision expanding gun rights.

The Eagles win an NFC East showdown, the Chiefs defense shines in Germany, NASCAR has a first-time champion, while the NBA and NHL featured light schedules.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sheryl Crow and Olivia Rodrigo kicked off the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday night and Missy Elliott closed the show more than four hours later with a roof-shaking set, as the hall celebrated a strong representation of women and Black artists. Chaka Khan, Kate Bush, “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius, The Spinners and DJ Kool Herc were also inducted in a celebration of funk, art-rock, R&B and hip-hop, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Country music was represented by Willie Nelson, punk had Rage Against the Machine, the late George Michael repped pure pop and Link Wray defined guitar heroes.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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. 

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

This week Bruce Miller and I discuss “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” the new anthology series on Paramount+.

Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here. 

This week’s top headlines include:

Those stories and more from The Associated Press. But first, Bruce Miller and I talk about “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” on the latest episode of Streamed & Screened. 

— Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 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.