Wednesday morning news: January 3, 2024

NY/NJ migrant buses » New York City Mayor Eric Adams is calling the governor of Texas “mean spirited.”

That’s in response to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott skirting the mayor’s recent executive order restricting buses carrying migrants from the southern border to New York City.

ADAMS: We’re dealing with a person who just wants to disrupt. He just wants to create chaos.

His order says, among other things, that charter buses have to provide at least 32 hours' notice before arriving in his city and can only drop off migrants at designated locations.

In response, Texas is busing migrants to New Jersey, where they can easily catch a train into New York City.

Republican New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew says his state is also being overwhelmed by migrants who illegally entered the country.

DREW: Americans, and of course New Jersians, are tired of illegal immigration. Every single state should be concerned about it.

Gov. Abbott says sanctuary cities like New York have added to the border crisis by incentivizing migrants to cross the border.

Ukraine/Russia » Russian missiles rained down on Ukraine’s two biggest cities on Tuesday, the latest in a series of deadly airstrikes. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Ukraine’s air defenses were able to shoot down many — but not all — of the Russian missiles. The barrage included Moscow’s advanced Kinzhal missiles which can fly at 10 times the speed of sound.

The airstrikes against Kyiv and Kharkiv killed at least five people and wounded well over a hundred.

Moscow launched its latest round of urban airstrikes on Friday with its largest single assault since it invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago. The attacks have killed more than 40 civilians in recent days.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

AUDIO: [Palestinian protesting]

Beirut-Hamas » Palestinian protesters in the West Bank taking to the streets after Hamas has confirmed that one of its leaders is dead following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon.

Saleh Arouri was one of Hamas’s political and military leaders. Israel had aimed to kill him even before the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

HAGARI: [Speaking Hebrew]

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari saying that Israel remains focused on its war efforts and that it is continuing to destroy terrorist infrastructure. He said Israeli forces are continuing to operate “above and below the ground.”

He added that Israel is prepared for any scenario… as some speculate that the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah could increase its attacks against Israel in response to Arouri’s death.

Japan plane » Japanese officials are investigating a fiery plane crash Tuesday at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.

A Japan Airlines Airbus A350 collided with a Japanese Coast Guard plane on the runway killing all five crew members aboard that plane.

Aboard the Airbus the flight crew quickly evacuated the more than 350 passengers,

SOUND: [Passengers yelling]

just before flames engulfed the jetliner.

Aviation consultant Tim Atkinson:

ATKINSON: This is the kind of thing which is completely beyond certification requirements. You know, aircraft are not built to withstand, not designed, are not built to withstand colliding with one another on the runway.

Investigators are trying to determine how and why the crash occurred.

The coast guard says its plane was departing for Japan’s west coast to aid in relief efforts following Monday’s earthquake in the region.

Kim Davis ruling » A former county clerk in Kentucky who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples must now pay more than a quarter of a million dollars in legal fees. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: A federal judge ruled that Kim Davis is on the hook for $260,000 in legal fees and expenses to attorneys representing a couple who successfully sued Davis.

That’s on top of $100,000 in damages that a jury had already ordered her to pay.

Her attorneys are expected to contest the ruling.

Davis made national headlines in 2015 when she declined to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. She argued that being compelled to do so would violate her First Amendment religious rights.

Her stand led to a brief jail term until her staff issued the licenses without her name. That prompted state lawmakers to remove all clerks' names from marriage licenses.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Sen. Menendez latest » The Department of Justice is adding new claims to the indictment of New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez.

The Democrat faces a range of corruption charges.

And prosecutors now say Menendez introduced a member of Qatar’s royal family and a leader with a company tied to Qatar’s government to a New Jersey businessman named Fred Daibes.

He is a co-defendant with Menendez in the criminal case.

The DOJ says after that introduction the company invested millions of dollars in a real estate project planned by Daibes.

While prosecutors rewrote the indictment, they did not add any new charges.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: What’s ahead for Congress. That’s on Washington Wednesday. Plus, winning souls—and points—in pickleball.

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