December 7, 2023 5:05 am
With the Iowa caucuses rapidly approaching, a shrinking field of Republican White House hopefuls gathered Wednesday in Alabama for the fourth presidential debate. As usual, former President Donald Trump, who is dominating the GOP primary, didn’t appear. Instead, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie continued their effort to gain a sliver of the spotlight in the race. Haley was under attack from the opening seconds of the debate, while Trump was largely ignored — until Christie complained that his three rivals have been silent about the threats Trump presents to democracy.
December 7, 2023 5:01 am
Russian lawmakers have set the date of the 2024 presidential election for March 17, moving Vladimir Putin closer to a fifth term in office. Putin hasn’t yet announced his intention to run again but is widely expected to do so in the coming days now that the date has been set. Under constitutional reforms he orchestrated, he is eligible to seek two more six-year terms after his current one expires next year, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036. Having established tight control over Russia’s political system, Putin’s victory in the March election is all but assured. Prominent critics who could challenge him on the ballot are either in jail or living abroad, and most independent media have been banned.
December 7, 2023 4:58 am
Norfolk Southern railroad plans to stop paying relocation aid to people displaced by last February’s fiery derailment in eastern Ohio right after the one-year anniversary of the crash. Railroad officials announced the change this week as they reiterated their long-term commitment to helping the town of East Palestine, Ohio, and the surrounding area recover. Norfolk Southern has committed more than $103 million in aid to the area, and the railroad said fewer than 100 households are still receiving the relocation aid at this point because most have returned home. Altogether, the railroad’s response to the derailment has cost nearly $1 billion. That total will continue to grow as the cleanup continues and lawsuits move forward.
December 7, 2023 2:51 am
Preparing for Hanukkah – Judaism’s celebration of finding light in the darkness – feels uniquely somber – yet defiant this year for the Jewish community across the country. Hanukkah began Thursday night and Rabbi Mendel Wolowik, with Chabad, a Jewish outreach organization in the area, says this year, perhaps more so than others, is very special, given the increase in anti-semitic behavior across the United States on the heels of the Israel/Hamas war. Rabbi Mendel says that in addition to personal celebrations of Hanukkah for the next eight days, there will also be a public Menorah Lighting on Monday, December 11th on the lawn of the Washington County Courthouse. He says there will be music, raffles, treats and traditional Hanukkah food like latkes. The celebration begins at five p.m. In addition to Monday’s activities, there is also an ongoing Hanukkah Toy Drive through the month of December. The public is encouraged to drop off a toy at Citizen’s Library, or bring in on Monday. All toys collected will go to underprivileged and hospitalized children.
December 6, 2023 4:58 pm
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A Nevada grand jury has indicted six Republicans who submitted certificates to Congress falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election, making the Western swing state the third to seek charges against so-called “fake electors.” Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford began investigating the fake electors last month. He says he would do everything in his power to defend the institutions of the nation and the state. The announcement represents a shift for Ford, who had been quiet on whether he would investigate the fake electors before saying that state law would not allow him to do so.
December 6, 2023 3:33 pm
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police say a suspect has been found dead as officers responded Wednesday to a “confirmed active shooter” in a building at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas police said in a separate post on X that there appeared to be multiple victims. “This is not a test,” the university wrote. “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.” The university said the shooter was at the Beam Hall, Frank and Estella Building, home of UNLV’s Lee Business School, and that police had responded to a report of additional shots fired at the nearby student union.
December 6, 2023 1:14 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Time magazine has named Taylor Swift its person of the year. Swift was picked from a group of nine finalists that included Barbie, King Charles III, and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, among others. Her year included the wildly popular Eras Tour and concert movie, the release of her reimagined ‘1989’ album, and her closely watched relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. She’s even the subject of several college courses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was Time’s 2022 person of the year. (Photo: AP)
December 6, 2023 12:59 pm
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California says he’s resigning from his congressional seat two months after his historic ouster as House speaker. McCarthy announced in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday he’ll step down at the end of the year, saying he’ll “serve America in new ways.” McCarthy made history in October when a contingent of hard-right conservatives made him the only speaker to be voted out of the job. It was a stunning fall for a one-time deli counter owner from Bakersfield who ascended through state and national politics to become second in line to the presidency. McCarthy served in the post less than nine months before a rogue faction of eight Republicans engineered his removal. (Photo: AP)
December 6, 2023 9:09 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Norman Lear has died. The producer who made TV topical in the 1970s with the sitcom “All in the Family,” died Tuesday night at the age of 101 years old. “All in the Family” starred Carroll O’Connor as diehard conservative Archie Bunker, who clashed with his liberal son-in-law over racism, feminism and the Vietnam War. It was one of a string of TV hits for Lear and then-partner Bud Yorkin that also included “Maude” and “The Jeffersons.” Lear’s series reflected his political beliefs, which he put into action by founding the nonprofit, liberal advocacy group People for the American Way.
December 6, 2023 5:14 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is declining to rule out abusing power if he again wins the presidency. Trump has talked about targeting his rivals and has referred to them as vermin. Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity asked Trump on Tuesday night to respond to growing Democratic criticism of his rhetoric, asking if he would promise that he “would never abuse power as retribution against anybody.” Trump responded, “Except for day one.” President Joe Biden has stepped up his warnings about Trump, contending Trump is “determined to destroy American democracy.”
