On the latest episode of Hot off the Wire:
For election coverage, please listen to the special midterm election bonus episode.


Facebook parent Meta is laying off 11,000 employees, 13% of its workforce, as it contends with faltering revenue and broader tech industry woes.


American basketball star Brittney Griner's lawyers say she has been sent to a penal colony in Russia to serve her sentence for drug possession.


A surge in COVID-19 cases has spurred lockdowns in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou.
In sports, Georgia led a major poll on Election Day, the Golden Knights and Devils extended their long winning streaks, the Blues lost again and baseball's free agency list now tops 150 players.
Guitarist Jeff Cook, who co-founded the successful country group Alabama, has died. He was 73. Cook had Parkinson’s disease and disclosed his diagnosis in 2017.
Tropical Storm Nicole is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane as it churns toward the northwestern Bahamas and Florida’s Atlantic coastline. A range of warnings and watches remained in place Tuesday throughout the region.
A Tyrannosaurus rex skull is expected to sell for $15 million or more at auction in New York next month. Officials with Sotheby's said Tuesday that the 200-pound skull fossil is being sold Dec. 9 by an owner who wishes to remain anonymous.
The European Union has launched an investigation into Microsoft’s planned takeover of video game giant Activision Blizzard, fearing the $69 billion deal would distort fair competition to popular titles like Call of Duty.
“Captain America” star Chris Evans has a new title — he's been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.
An ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar has described homosexuality as a “damage in the mind” in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF only two weeks before the opening of the soccer tournament in the Gulf state.
The cryptocurrency exchange Binance said it plans to buy its rival FTX Trading, in the latest example of how fortunes can change rapidly in the crypto world.

—The Associated Press

On the latest episode of Hot off the Wire:
<ul>
<li>For election coverage, please listen to the special <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/hot-off-the-wire/voters-head-to-the-polls-to-decide-balance-of-powe">midterm election bonus episode</a>.</li>
<li>
Facebook parent Meta is laying off 11,000 employees, 13% of its workforce, as it contends with faltering revenue and broader tech industry woes.
</li>
<li>
American basketball star Brittney Griner's lawyers say she has been sent to a penal colony in Russia to serve her sentence for drug possession.
</li>
<li>
A surge in COVID-19 cases has spurred lockdowns in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou.
</li>
<li>In sports, Georgia led a major poll on Election Day, the Golden Knights and Devils extended their long winning streaks, the Blues lost again and baseball's free agency list now tops 150 players.</li>
<li>Guitarist Jeff Cook, who co-founded the successful country group Alabama, has died. He was 73. Cook had Parkinson’s disease and disclosed his diagnosis in 2017.</li>
<li>Tropical Storm Nicole is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane as it churns toward the northwestern Bahamas and Florida’s Atlantic coastline. A range of warnings and watches remained in place Tuesday throughout the region.</li>
<li>A Tyrannosaurus rex skull is expected to sell for $15 million or more at auction in New York next month. Officials with Sotheby's said Tuesday that the 200-pound skull fossil is being sold Dec. 9 by an owner who wishes to remain anonymous.</li>
<li>The European Union has launched an investigation into Microsoft’s planned takeover of video game giant Activision Blizzard, fearing the $69 billion deal would distort fair competition to popular titles like Call of Duty.</li>
<li>“Captain America” star Chris Evans has a new title — he's been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.</li>
<li>An ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar has described homosexuality as a “damage in the mind” in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF only two weeks before the opening of the soccer tournament in the Gulf state.</li>
<li>The cryptocurrency exchange Binance said it plans to buy its rival FTX Trading, in the latest example of how fortunes can change rapidly in the crypto world.</li>
</ul>
—The Associated Press

Hot Off The Wire is a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press. 

Hot Off The Wire is a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press.&nbsp;

Hot Off The Wire

Welcome to Hot Off The Wire, a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press. Music is by Skilsel and provided through Pixabay.

Welcome to Hot Off The Wire, a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press. Music is by Skilsel and provided through Pixabay.

Facebook parent Meta cuts 11,000 jobs; Griner sent to penal colony; Alabama guitarist dies | Top headlines for Nov. 8 & 9, 2022

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.

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 <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/hot-off-the-wire">Hot off the Wire</a> news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/behind-the-headlines-pod">Behind the Headlines</a> program, co-hosts the <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/just-to-be-nominated">Streamed &amp; Screened </a>movies and television program and is the former producer of <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/across-the-sky">Across the Sky,</a> a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.
Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. <a href="https://linktr.ee/leepodcasts">Learn more here</a>.

New details in killing of American-Palestinian teen; Jim Harbaugh heading to the NFL; Jon Stewart returning to 'The Daily Show'

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.

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 <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/hot-off-the-wire">Hot off the Wire</a> news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/behind-the-headlines-pod">Behind the Headlines</a> program, co-hosts the <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/just-to-be-nominated">Streamed &amp; Screened </a>movies and television program and is the former producer of <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/across-the-sky">Across the Sky,</a> a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.
Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. <a href="https://linktr.ee/leepodcasts">Learn more here</a>.

Trump wins New Hampshire primary; three elected to Baseball Hall of Fame; 'Oppenheimer' leads Oscar nominations

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.

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 <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/hot-off-the-wire">Hot off the Wire</a> news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/behind-the-headlines-pod">Behind the Headlines</a> program, co-hosts the <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/just-to-be-nominated">Streamed &amp; Screened </a>movies and television program and is the former producer of <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/across-the-sky">Across the Sky,</a> a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.
Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. <a href="https://linktr.ee/leepodcasts">Learn more here</a>.

Facebook parent Meta cuts 11,000 jobs; Griner sent to penal colony; Alabama guitarist dies | Top headlines for Nov. 8 & 9, 2022

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