On the lines, Double proposal; KCRA 3 Morning News Brief 12/18

Thousands of firefighters tried Sunday to shield coastal communities from one of the biggest wildfires in California history while a funeral procession rolled past burn-scarred hillsides in honor of one of their colleagues who was killed battling the flames. Crews cleared brush and dug containment lines above hillside neighborhoods in Santa Barbara County, taking advantage of slightly calmer winds a day after gusts fanned a flare-up that prompted more evacuations.

How Fox News and President Trump create an anti-Mueller ‘feedback loop’

An anti-Robert Mueller, anti-FBI fervor is intensifying among Trump supporters -- partly thanks to a campaign by Fox News and other conservative media sources. The right-wing commentary and President Trump's criticism of the FBI are part of a vicious circle.

How Dare The New York Times Highlight Campus Insanity

Frank Bruni, by all accounts a standard liberal, noted in a Sunday column how universities are increasingly promoting a disturbing animus for white people, taking as his inspiration a recent op-ed by a Texas State University student that garnered national attention. "It used to be that when someone called me an abomination, I was in the presence of a homophobe," Bruni began his Times column.

Nikki Haley on Trump accusers: Women who accuse anyone ‘should be…

Donald Trump, Roy Moore, and the Degradation of the G.O.P. - In less than a year, the President, with help from the Alabama Senate candidate, has so damaged the Party that it may never recover. - When Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokeswoman, was explaining last week Alabama Sen. Shelby: 'I couldn't vote for Roy Moore' - STORY HIGHLIGHTS - Washington Sen. Richard Shelby says he wants a Republican elected to the Senate on Tuesday to represent Alabama, but that he didn't vote for GOP candidate Roy Moore in the special election.

Judge Sets March 19 as Start Date for AT&T-Time Warner Antitrust Trial

Richard Leon said he will aim to reach a decision in the case by late April or May, beyond companies' April 22 merger-agreement expiration date WASHINGTON-The judge presiding over the Justice Department's antitrust challenge to AT&T Inc.'s proposed acquisition of Time Warner Inc. has set March 19 as the trial's start date, warning the companies he cannot reach a decision by the time their merger agreement expires on April 22. "It's just not realistic to be done on the 22nd," U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said Thursday during a first preliminary court hearing.

Trump officially recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,…

Sen. Al Franken will resign, Democratic official says - A Democratic official who has spoken to Al Franken and key aides says Franken will resign his Minnesota Senate seat on Thursday, the official tells MPR News. - The official spoke to Franken and separately to Franken's staff.

US anchor leaves long Univision post, seeks new audience

Spanish-language broadcasting in the U.S. is losing one of its most prominent figures as Maria Elena Salinas retires from Univision News after more than three decades of blending the role of anchor and advocate. Salinas, who hosts the main news broadcast on Univision with co-anchor Jorge Ramos, has been weighing her departure for several years and says the time is right to pursue independent projects, including some in English.

Trump denies asking FBI to drop Flynn probe

U.S. President Donald Trump denied having asked then FBI director James Comey to stop investigating ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn, who has since pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about discussions with Russia. "I never asked Comey to stop investigating Flynn.

NYT report: White House planning Tillerson’s exita

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks to the media about North Korea during White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee's daily press briefing at the White House on November 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. The White House has a plan ready to oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson from the State Department, the New York Times reported Thursday.

Garrison Keillor off the air after misconduct allegations

Keillor said Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, he has been fired by Minnesota ... . FILE - In this July 26, 2017 file photo, Garrison Keillor, creator and former host of, "A Prairie Home Companion," talks at his St. Paul, Minn., office.

White House director for legislative affairs: Shutdown isn’t likely

The debate over the spending bill could dictate the path forward for the tax plan - some Republicans are calling for triggers that would eradicate tax cuts if the deficit is not sufficiently reduced. "If it's important enough for members to have the trigger is not going to stand in the way of that," Short said.

Fox’s Lachlan Murdoch says company would never buy CNN

Twenty-First Century Fox "would never be interested" in buying CNN, Fox Executive Chair Lachlan Murdoch said on Wednesday at the Business Insider IGNITION Conference in New York. FILE PHOTO: Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch, 21st Century Fox CEO, arrives at the annual Allen and Co.

Meredith, backed by Koch brothers affiliate, to acquire magazine publisher Time

'Ashamed' Franken says he'll return to work on Monday - Breaking an eight-day silence, the Minnesota senator tells the Star Tribune that he needs to regain trust of those he's let down. - Sen. Al Franken broke his eight-day silence Sunday, reaching out to Minnesota media outlets to talk Sen. Al Franken: 'This has been a shock to me' A week-and-a-half after the first of four allegations of sexual misconduct against DFL Sen. Al Franken surfaced, Franken told MPR News he has felt shocked, embarrassed and ashamed but that he will not leave the Senate.

Funeral held for Border Patrol agent whose death in Texas remains a mystery

Family, friends and law enforcement officers converged Saturday on west Texas to mourn a Border Patrol agent whose death last weekend in a rugged, remote area has not been explained. Bagpipes played as pallbearers carried the U.S.-flag-draped coffin of Rogelio Martinez into a Catholic church in El Paso for a private funeral.