On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Jan. 3 at 7:15 a.m. CT:

Former President Donald Trump is appealing a decision by Maine’s Democratic secretary of state that he cannot be on the ballot there because he violated a constitutional ban against people who “engaged in insurrection” holding office. The Republican presidential candidate’s appeal to Maine’s Superior Court came Tuesday, and he is expected to soon appeal a similar ruling by Colorado’s Supreme Court to the U.S. Supreme Court.

An apparent Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut has killed Hamas’ No. 2 political leader, marking a potentially significant escalation of Israel’s war against the militant group and heightening the risk of a wider Middle East conflict. Saleh Arouri was the most senior figure in the group killed since the Israel-Hamas war began nearly three months ago.

Harvard University President Claudine Gay has resigned amid plagiarism accusations and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say unequivocally that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy. Gay announced her departure, which came just months into her tenure, in a letter to the Harvard community on Tuesday.

Air Canada, Canada’s largest carrier, had the worst on-time performance among large airlines in North America in 2023. According to a report from Cirium, the aviation analytics company, Canada's flag-carrying airline landed 63% of its 276,451 flights on time last year, placing it last among the continent’s 10 largest airlines. Delta Air Lines led the list for the most on-time airline in North America with its over 1.6 million flights arriving on time 85% of the time.

Other top headlines:

In sports, the Thunder and 76ers get big games from star players in wins Tuesday night, the Hurricanes tightened the race in the NHL's Metropolitan division, the top ranked team in men's college basketball won on the road and a University of North Carolina star forward reached a career milestone. Yamamoto's contract with the Dodgers includes two opt outs, but timing depends on elbow health. Steelers QB Kenny Pickett denies speculation he told coaching staff he wouldn't be No. 2 behind Mason Rudolph. Dalvin Cook is being waived by the Jets with one game left in the season.

The earliest iteration of Mickey Mouse is on a rampage, barely two days in the public domain. Slashed free of Disney’s copyright as of Monday, the iconic character from “Steamboat Willie” is already the focus of two horror films. On Monday, just hours after the 1928 short entered the public domain, a trailer for “Mickey’s Mouse Trap” dropped on YouTube. Another yet-to-be-titled film was announced Tuesday. 

—The Associated Press

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

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