Nation

Garrison Keillor fired, says he put hand on woman’s back

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Garrison Keillor, the former host of “A Prairie Home Companion,” said Wednesday he has been fired by Minnesota Public Radio over allegations of what the network called improper behavior.

NBC fires Matt Lauer over ‘inappropriate sexual behavior’

NEW YORK (AP) — NBC News fired “Today” show host Matt Lauer for what it said Wednesday was “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a colleague, making him perhaps the most familiar figure in America brought down so far by the misconduct accusations that have swept through Hollywood and the media over the past two months.

Rich San Francisco homeowners get sold-off street back

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Residents of an exclusive San Francisco neighborhood who failed to pay taxes on their private, gated street for two decades got the street back Tuesday after supervisors voted to rescind the sale of the tax-defaulted property.

Nov. 29 American Oddities

New Jersey police try to trace source of loud banging noise

SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Police in New Jersey are trying to trace the source of a loud banging noise that’s waking residents and causing dogs to bark.

Dancing ballerinas help kick off Christmas at White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ballerinas leaping to the strains of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” helped launch Christmas at the White House, featuring a traditional decor that Melania Trump chose for her family’s first holiday season in the White House.

The first lady’s theme is “Time-Honored Traditions,” a nod to 200 years of holiday celebrations at the executive mansion.

2 battle for control over US consumer watchdog

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The battle between two supposed directors of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is making for compelling optics but only seems to be delaying a tidal shift at the powerful consumer watchdog.

Families of Navajo Code Talkers decry Trump’s political jab

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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Families of Navajo war veterans who were honored Monday at the White House say they were dumbfounded that President Donald Trump used the event to take a political jab at a Massachusetts senator, demeaning their work with an unbreakable code that helped the U.S. win World War II.

Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez to retire after 13 House terms

CHICAGO (AP) — Longtime U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, a Democratic party leader on efforts to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws, is scheduled to announce Tuesday that he’s retiring after 13 terms in office and won’t seek re-election next year.

Tensions spike as N. Korea launches missile

WASHINGTON (AP) — North Korea abruptly ended a 10-week pause in its weapons testing Tuesday by launching what the Pentagon believes was an intercontinental ballistic missile, a move that will escalate already high tensions with Washington.

Senate race gives GOP voters an uncomfortable choice

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HOMEWOOD, Ala. (AP) — With two weeks to go until the Alabama election for U.S. Senate, Kathie Luckie of Hoover said she is “teetering” with her choice.

A Republican, she usually supports the GOP candidate. But she said Roy Moore has always been “a little radical” for her taste, even before he was hit with recent allegations of sexual misconduct.

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