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U.S. judge strikes down Mississippi ban on abortions after 15 weeks

It had already been put on hold by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves after the state's lone abortion clinic, Jackson Women's Health Organization, immediately sued. Under U.S. Supreme Court precedent, states may not ban abortions before a fetus is viable, and the medical consensus is that viability typically begins between 23 and 24 weeks, Reeves wrote on Tuesday. The judge acknowledged feeling "frustration" that Mississippi lawmakers passed the statute even though similar bans in other states have also been thrown out by federal courts.

Exclusive: Trump weighs authorizing U.S. troops to medically screen migrants

The proposal, which is still in draft form and circulating within the administration, would involve the military in screenings for things like illness and injury only if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency personnel were overwhelmed and unable to do so on their own, the officials said. The proposal would expand the mission for the Pentagon, which said previously it did not expect its forces to directly interact with migrants. The Pentagon declined to comment on internal deliberations.

Traffic jams, bitter cold on this year's Thanksgiving menu

Americans may need an extra helping of patience this Thanksgiving weekend, with the largest number of travelers in a decade expected to hit the road or board flights to celebrate with family and friends after a prosperous year for many. The weather could complicate the journey in many parts of the country, as bitter, record-breaking cold blankets much of the Northeast on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and heavy rain in Northern California threatens to bring mudslides. Beginning on Tuesday, more than 54 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the traditional feast, jamming highways, airports, railroads and waterways, according to the American Automobile Association, the largest U.S. automotive advocacy group.

Witness at 'El Chapo' trial tells of high-level corruption

The witness, Jesus Zambada, also said he paid millions of dollars in bribes to former Mexican government official Genaro Garcia Luna on behalf of his brother, drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who remains at large. A spokesman for Lopez Obrador did not immediately respond to a call and text message seeking comment. Garcia Luna could not immediately be reached through an email to GLAC Consulting, a security consulting firm he heads.

Interior's Zinke blames environmentalists for California wildfires

"Radical environmental groups that would rather burn down the entire forest than cut a single tree or thin the forest," have brought lawsuits to stop forest management, Zinke told reporters in a teleconference about the California wildfires. "Yes, I do lay it on the feet," of environmentalists, he said. Randi Spivak, lands director for the Center of Biological Diversity, an environmental group that has sued the government over forest practices, said there have been just 38 lawsuits over the federal government's 576 forest management decisions involving California from 2009 to 2017.

Californians left homeless by wildfire brace for heavy rain

State and federal officials warned people to be alert to the risk of sudden flows of debris down the scorched, denuded slopes of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, where the Camp Fire has killed at least 79 people since breaking out on Nov. 8. "There are people still living in tents," Eric Kurth, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service's Sacramento office, said in a telephone interview. The fire largely obliterated the town of Paradise, a community of nearly 27,000 people about 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco.

Chicago police investigate hospital shooting that left four dead

Chicago police on Tuesday were seeking a motive for a shooting rampage outside and inside a hospital late Monday that left four people dead, including the gunman, a physician who was his former girlfriend and a police officer, officials said. The gunman, Juan Lopez, 32, was the former boyfriend of Dr. Tamara O'Neal, 38, who he shot and killed outside Mercy Hospital on Monday, Officer Jose Jara of the Chicago Police Department said. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson on Monday described that first killing as an act of domestic violence.

U.S. judge blocks Trump asylum restrictions

A U.S. judge on Monday temporarily blocked an order by President Donald Trump that barred asylum for immigrants who enter the country illegally from Mexico, the latest courtroom defeat for Trump on immigration policy. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order against the asylum rules. Tigar's order takes effect immediately, applies nationwide, and lasts until at least Dec. 19 when the judge scheduled a hearing to consider a more long-lasting injunction.

EPA plans biofuel 'reset' as program misses Congress' targets

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will propose new targets for the final three years of the nation's renewable fuel program in January, replacing ambitious decade-old goals set by Congress with volumes closer to the industry's current output, two people familiar with the matter said. The planned reset of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard is likely to set up a fresh battle between two industries, with corn growers wanting the highest possible targets to spur investment, and oil companies eyeing the smallest to reduce costs. Oil companies say the policy costs them a fortune.

Fatal New York limo crash victim's family sues owner, operator

Ten John Doe defendants representing additional parties whose acts contributed to the woman's injuries and death were also named in the lawsuit filed in New York state supreme court. Amanda Rivenburg was among 20 people killed in the Oct. 6 crash. The Ford Excursion limousine carrying 17 people to a birthday party ran a stop sign at a highway intersection in Schoharie, about 40 miles (65 km) west of Albany, officials said.

House Democrats target DOJ decision not to defend Obamacare

Democrats will scrutinize the Trump administration's decision not to defend Obamacare in federal court, when Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year, a leading Democrat said on Monday. In June, the Department of Justice declared the healthcare law's individual mandate unconstitutional in federal court, which threatened to undermine insurance protections for people with preexisting conditions, and helped make healthcare a winning issue for Democrats in House elections on Nov. 6.

White House restores access for CNN's Acosta, ending legal fight

The White House on Monday restored press access for CNN reporter Jim Acosta, ending a legal fight that had so far gone against the Trump administration. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement the press pass for Acosta, which was revoked after a contentious Nov. 7 news conference with President Donald Trump, was restored but reporters who ignored new rules for news conferences could have their credentials taken away. The White House Correspondents' Association said it had not helped craft the White House's list of rules for news conferences.

Trump likely to give U.S. troops authority to protect immigration agents

Ahead of U.S. congressional elections earlier this month, Trump denounced the approach of a caravan of migrants as an "invasion" that threatened American national security, and he sent thousands of U.S. troops to the border to help secure it. Currently, the troops do not have authority to protect U.S. Customs and Border Patrol personnel. U.S. officials briefly closed the busiest border crossing from Mexico early on Monday to add concrete barricades and razor wire amid concerns some of the thousands of Central American migrants at the border could try to rush the crossing.

Chicago hospital shooting leaves four dead, including police officer and gunman

The shooter knew the doctor he shot outside Mercy Hospital, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told a news conference, describing the initial killing as an act of domestic violence. The gunman was the ex-fiance of the doctor, Chicago media outlets reported, with one witness saying he demanded a ring back. The shooting sent doctors and patients streaming out of the facility, some with their hands up, as heavily armed police officers sought to secure the hospital.

'El Chapo' killed man after he refused to shake his hand: trial witness

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was a ruthless killer who ordered the murder of a man who had refused to shake his hand at a meeting, a prosecution witness told jurors at Guzman's U.S. trial on Monday. Jesus Zambada, the brother of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada who was Guzman's alleged partner in running the Sinaloa Cartel, gave his most dramatic testimony after three days on the witness stand as he described Guzman's involvement in a series of murders. In a cross-examination, one of Guzman's defense lawyers launched an attack on Zambada's credibility, highlighting inconsistencies between his testimony and his original statements to U.S. prosecutors.

White House restores access for CNN's Acosta, ending legal fight

The White House on Monday restored press access for CNN reporter Jim Acosta, ending a legal fight that had so far gone against the Trump administration. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement the press pass for Acosta, which was revoked after a contentious Nov. 7 news conference with President Donald Trump, was restored but reporters who ignored new rules for news conferences could have their credentials taken away. The White House Correspondents' Association said it had not helped craft the White House's list of rules for news conferences.

Two killed in shooting at Chicago hospital, including gunman: local media

Two people were killed and two others critically wounded in a shooting at a Chicago hospital on Monday, and among the dead was the gunman who started shooting in the parking lot and then burst into the medical facility and opened fire, according to local media. A police officer was among those wounded in the shooting on Chicago's South Side at Mercy Hospital, officials said. Police cars and ambulances swarmed the hospital after the shooting.

House Democrats target DOJ decision not to defend Obamacare

Democrats will scrutinize the Trump administration's decision not to defend Obamacare in federal court, when Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year, a leading Democrat said on Monday. In June, the Department of Justice declared the healthcare law's individual mandate unconstitutional in federal court, which threatened to undermine insurance protections for people with preexisting conditions, and helped make healthcare a winning issue for Democrats in House elections on Nov. 6.

Fatal New York limo crash victim's family sues owner, operator

Ten John Doe defendants representing additional parties whose acts contributed to the woman's injuries and death were also named in the lawsuit filed in New York state supreme court. Amanda Rivenburg was among 20 people killed in the Oct. 6 crash. The Ford Excursion limousine carrying 17 people to a birthday party ran a stop sign at a highway intersection in Schoharie, about 40 miles (65 km) west of Albany, officials said.

U.S. briefly shutters border crossing to brace for migrants

U.S. officials briefly closed the busiest border crossing from Mexico early on Monday to add concrete barricades and razor wire amid concerns that some of the thousands of Central American migrants at the border could try to rush the crossing. Northbound lanes at the San Ysidro crossing from Tijuana to San Diego, California, were closed "to position additional port hardening materials," a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said.

Trial spotlights U.S. drug safety concerns at compounding pharmacies

Janet Woodcock, who heads the FDA's pharmaceuticals division, testified in Boston federal court that she had never seen an outbreak like the one New England Compounding Center's mold-tainted steroids caused in 2012. Compounding pharmacies make tailor-made drugs for patients whose needs cannot be met by FDA-approved medications. Woodcock's testimony came during the sixth week of a trial of six former NECC employees or executives indicted after the outbreak.

U.S. judge questions Trump administration on asylum policy

A U.S. judge closely questioned the government on Monday as he weighed whether to temporarily halt an order from President Donald Trump that bars asylum for migrants who illegally cross the border with Mexico. Trump cited an overwhelmed immigration system for his recent proclamation that officials will only process asylum claims for migrants who present themselves at an official entry point. Civil rights groups argue that Trump's Nov. 9 order violated administrative and immigration law.

Rain may hamper search for California wildfire victims

The remains of 77 people have been recovered, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said late on Sunday, as it cut the number of missing to 993 from 1,276. The Camp Fire broke out in northern California on Nov. 8 and quickly all but obliterated Paradise, a mountain town of nearly 27,000 people around 90 miles (150 km) north of the state's capital, Sacramento. It has burned about 151,000 acres (61,107 hectares) and was 66 percent contained early on Monday, up from 65 percent late on Sunday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

Colorado man gets life for murders of pregnant wife, children

A Colorado man was sentenced to life without parole on Monday for strangling his pregnant wife, smothering their two young daughters and dumping their bodies in an oil field so he could pursue a romantic affair. Christopher Watts, 33, was spared the death penalty at the urging of family members of his wife, Shanann, 34, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and their daughters Celeste, 3, and Bella, 4. "This is perhaps the most inhumane and vicious crime I have handled," Judge Marcelo Kopcow, who has 17 years on the bench, said in the packed and windowless courtroom in Weld County District Court.

Grim search for 993 missing after deadliest California wildfire

The number of believed missing fell 283 late on Sunday, down from 1,276 people, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, but gave no other details. The blaze ignited on Nov. 8 was 65 percent contained, up from 60 percent earlier in the day. The death toll far surpasses the previous fatality record from a single California wildfire - 29 in the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles - and already ranks among the deadliest U.S. wildfires since the turn of the last century.

Republican Scott secures Florida U.S. Senate seat after recount

Rick Scott, Florida's outgoing governor, was declared the winner on Sunday of his hard-fought U.S. Senate race against incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson following a hand recount of ballots, giving Republicans control of both of the state's Senate seats for the first time since the 19th century. In the recount of the Nov. 6 election, Scott won by 10,033 votes out of 8.19 million cast statewide, Florida elections officials said. Scott took 50.05 percent, compared to 49.93 percent for Nelson, they added.

Grim search for 1,276 missing after deadliest California wildfire

Early on Sunday the blaze, which ignited on Nov. 8, was 60 percent contained, officials said, up from 55 percent Saturday. The death toll far surpasses the previous fatality record from a single California wildfire - 29 in the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles - and already ranks among the deadliest U.S. wildfires since the turn of the last century. Minnesota's Cloquet Fire in October 1918 killed 450 people.

Fiery mailboxes and dogs in bags: fleeing California's wildfire

Nicole Montague and her 16-year-old daughter Destiny noticed a red glow on the horizon as they drove to school in Paradise, California, that Thursday morning. "As we were driving out, the mailboxes were on fire," Nicole said. California's deadliest ever wildfire, the innocuous-sounding "Camp Fire," swept into Paradise early on Nov. 8, as a rapid-moving, wind-fueled disaster that has left at least 76 people dead and more than 1,276 missing.

Republican DeSantis secures Florida governor's seat after rival Gillum concedes

Gillum, the 39-year-old liberal mayor of Tallahassee, had initially conceded the race on the night of the Nov. 6 election to DeSantis, a conservative former congressman. This fight for Florida continues." DeSantis, 40, said on Saturday on Twitter, "This was a hard-fought campaign. Now it's time to bring Florida together." After a machine recount ended on Thursday, official results showed DeSantis with a lead of 33,683, or 0.41 percent.

Teams search for 1,000 missing in California's deadliest wildfire

Forensic recovery teams searched for more victims in the charred wreckage of the northern California town of Paradise on Saturday as the number of people listed as missing in the state's deadliest wildfire topped 1,000. President Donald Trump visited the devastated small community in the Sierra foothills, 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco, where authorities say the remains of at least 71 people have been recovered. "Nobody could have thought this would ever happen," Trump told reporters amid the charred wreckage of the town's Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park.

Evacuation plan 'out the window' when fire hit California town

As strong winds sent flames roaring into Paradise at 2 miles per minute, emergency personnel and locals realized their escape plans, crafted after a 2008 blaze, would not work. "The lessons we had learned in the past kind of went out of the window due to the sheer speed and intensity of this fire," Paradise Emergency Operations Coordinator Jim Broshears said in a phone interview. The small mountain town was facing the so-called Camp Fire, one of a series of recent "megafires" fueled by drought, erratic winds and overgrown forests that quickly torch over 100,000 acres.

California presses search for fire victims, number of missing soars

Remains of at least 63 people have been recovered so far in and around the Sierra foothills hamlet of Paradise, which was home to nearly 27,000 residents before the town was largely incinerated by the deadly Camp Fire on the night of Nov. 8. More than a week later, firefighters have managed to carve containment lines around 45 percent of the blaze's perimeter, up from 35 percent a day earlier, even as the burned landscape grew slightly to 142,000 acres (57,000 hectares). More than 11,000 evacuees were being housed in 14 emergency shelters set up in churches, schools and community centers around the region, American Red Cross spokeswoman Greta Gustafson said.

Abrams admits defeat in hard-fought Georgia governor race

Abrams' announcement effectively hands victory to Republican Brian Kemp in a bitter race that has drawn national attention both for her historic campaign and for Kemp's role as the state's top election administrator. Abrams accused Kemp of using his position as Georgia Secretary of State to interfere with the vote - an allegation he has strongly denied. "To watch an elected official who claims to represent the people in this state baldly pin his hopes for election on the suppression of the people’s democratic right to vote has been truly appalling," Abrams told supporters in Atlanta.