NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
_1 Deadly fire: A mother and three children, ages 11, 7 and 3, died Monday in a New York City house fire that also left the children’s father and two teenagers in critical condition, a fire official said. The fire was reported around 2:30 a.m. in Brooklyn. Aliza Azan, 39, was dead on the second floor of the single-family home, near the children who perished: 11-year-old Moshe; 7-year-old Yitzah and 3-year-old Henrietta. In all, nine people were in the house — the couple, their six children and a cousin. Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the fire was accidental but the cause was not immediately known.
_2 McCain health: Republican Sen. John McCain, who is battling brain cancer, is back home in Arizona after being treated for a viral infection. The 81-year-old was admitted last week to Walter Reed Medical Center, where he was dealing with the side effects of his treatment for cancer. He returned to Arizona over the weekend where he will undergo physical therapy and rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. McCain tweeted Monday that he’s feeling well and looking forward to returning to work in Washington after the holidays. He also thanked his many well-wishers for their support and encouragement.
_3 Sexual harassment: Tavis Smiley defended himself Monday from allegations he had sexual relationships with subordinates and created an abusive workplace, denying any wrongdoing and saying PBS made a mistake by suspending him from his talk show. PBS almost immediately fired back, saying he “needs to get his story straight.” Smiley told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he’s never coerced anyone into a relationship but has had consensual relationships in the workplace. PBS said Smiley’s acknowledgment of multiple relationships contradicted his previous statements.
_4 Nominee withdraws: A judicial nominee whose inability to answer basic legal questions at his confirmation hearing brought him widespread ridicule has withdrawn his nomination, a White House official said Monday. Matthew Petersen, nominated by President Trump to the federal court for the District of Columbia, became an internet sensation after the video of his confirmation hearing — during which Petersen was unable to define basic legal terms — was posted online. In his resignation letter to the president, Petersen said, “it has become clear to me over the past few days that my nomination has become a distraction — and that is not fair for you or your Administration.” _5 Hawaii politics: State Attorney General Douglas Chin, who has been fighting President Trump’s travel ban and other policies over the past year, announced Monday that he will run for U.S. Congress. Chin, a Democrat, seeks to replace Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is running for governor. Hanabusa is also a Democrat. Before Trump was sworn in, Chin and five other attorneys general asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general. The prosecutors said they had “grave concern” about whether Session’s would “diligently and fairly enforce all laws protective of civil rights, public safety, health and welfare.” Chin told the Associated Press that he first considered running for office while listening to a Sessions speech that he regarded as “so troubling that it really woke me up in terms of the actions I think all of us need to take responsibility for in order to make a difference.”