New Orleans attack details revealed; Pearl Harbor survivor dies at 103

Hot Off The Wire

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — President Joe Biden says the U.S. Army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans had posted videos to social media hours before the carnage saying he was inspired by the Islamic State group and expressing a desire to kill. The driver killed 15 people as he steered around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by police.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday. The blast killed a suspect inside the vehicle and sparked an intense investigation into possible terrorism.

President Joe Biden is bestowing the second highest civilian award on Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, who led the congressional investigation into the Capitol riot. Donald Trump has said that Cheney, a former Wyoming congresswoman, and Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, should be jailed for their roles in the inquiry Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 people on Thursday.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The new year will bring a pair of lunar eclipses. But don't expect any sun-disappearing acts like the one that mesmerized North America last year. While the world will have to wait until 2026 for the next total solar eclipse, the cosmos promises plenty of other wow moments in 2025.

In other news:

• FBI found 150 homemade bombs at Virginia home during search in December, prosecutors say.
• Harry Chandler, Navy medic who survived Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 103.
• 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni sues New York Times for libel over Blake Lively story.
• Pope calls for commitment to protect life as he doubles down on abortion in New Year's Day message.
• Rescuers find gruesome scene at a Honolulu home after a fireworks blast kills 3, injures over 20.
• New York employers must now offer paid medical leave during pregnancy.
• PlayStations for guns are offered up in New Orleans.
• Power is restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after a major blackout.
• Parts of UK flooded by heavy rain as wild weather continues to disrupt New Year events.
• The New Orleans terror attack postpones the Sugar Bowl, Ohio State eliminates the last undefeated team in the Rose Bowl, Texas pulls out a dramatic victory in the Peach Bowl, the Knicks extend their winning streak into the new year, and Saquon Barkley will rest rather than attempt to break the NFL single season rushing record on Sunday.

—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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