WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial. She’s been a vocal critic of the criminal cases against Trump. She has also been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. Gaetz stepped aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer.

FORESTVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A major storm moving through Northern California has toppled trees and dropped heavy snow and record rain after knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people in Washington and Oregon.

VANG VIENG, Laos (AP) — A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died, according to a family statement sent to Australian media.

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations says more aid workers, health care staffers, delivery personnel and other humanitarians have been killed in 2024 than in any other single year.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s parliament has canceled a session as security was tightened after Russia deployed a new ballistic missile that threatens to escalate the nearly three-year war.

U.S. health officials say a deadly outbreak of listeria food poisoning tied to a massive recall of popular Boar's Head deli meats is over. Ten people died and 61 were sickened in 19 states in the outbreak. The outbreak is considered over 60 days after the last reported illness.

In other news:

• Democrats strike deal to get more Biden judges confirmed before Congress adjourns.
• The FBI and DHS leaders won't testify publicly about national security threats before the Senate.
• A Mexican cartel leader arrested in the US faked his death and assumed a phony name, prosecutors say.
• Justice Department finds a pattern of misconduct by police in Trenton, New Jersey.
• Bank makes hundreds of millions in loans available to assist Helene recovery in North Carolina.
• Alabama carries out nation’s third nitrogen gas execution on a man for a hitchhiker's killing.
• Jussie Smollett’s conviction in 2019 attack on himself is overturned.
• What will happen to CNBC and MSNBC when they no longer have a corporate connection to NBC News.
• Stock market today Wall Street rises with Nvidia as bitcoin bursts above $99,000.
• Average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the US rises to highest level since July.
• US home sales rose in October, notching their first annual gain in more than three years.
• US applications for jobless benefits fall to 213,000, remaining near 7-month lows.
• 6 agencies investigate after a photographer says he found remains in a burned Georgia funeral home.
• Penn State wins trademark case over retailer's use of vintage logos, images.
• The Steelers and Browns brave the elements in Thursday Night Football, the Lakers put their winning streak to the test against the Magic, baseball announces its MVP awards, and one of hockey's stars suffers a significant injury.
• At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan.

—The Associated Press

About this program

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

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