Comment on House and Senate pursue spending deals as shutdown looms

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito spoke with President-elect Donald Trump about a former law clerk the day before Trump went to the high court in a push to delay the sentencing in his New York hush-money case, the justice said Wednesday. Related Articles National Politics | More Americans jailed in Venezuela pose a test of Trump’s deal-making foreign policy National Politics | A new book alleges that someone at Fox News gave Trump’s team an early look at town hall questions National Politics | Florida sues Miramar company to recover $5.8 million COVID overpayment.

Authorities have identified the driver of the Delray Beach fire truck and Brightline train engineer involved in the crash on Dec. 28. Driver Engineer David Wyatt, already identified by Delray Beach Fire Rescue as one of four employees under investigation related to the crash, was driving the truck, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which is assisting in investigating the crash, said Wednesday.

GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Todd Golden liked his team’s chances against top-ranked Tennessee. Las Vegas oddsmakers agreed. But no one, especially the unbeaten, 2.5-point underdog Vols, anticipated the 73-43 beatdown the No. 8 Gators delivered Tuesday night. Florida limited Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier, the SEC’s leading scorer, the top-ranked Vols to just 12 field goals during a 73-43 win Tuesday night at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville.

By BRITTANY PETERSON For some 15 hours as wildfires spiraled out of control in Los Angeles, the public water system faced four times its usual demand, causing some hydrants to run dry and hindering the fight against the flames, local water officials said Wednesday. Related Articles Environment | New research shows a quarter of freshwater animals are threatened with extinction Environment | Why Greenland?

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER WASHINGTON (AP) — After 23 years, the fate of the last remaining Guantanamo detainees swept up worldwide after al-Qaida’s shattering Sept. 11, 2001, attacks is reaching a pivotal moment this month. Court battles and dealmaking are deciding the future of many of those last men at the U. S.

By JOSHUA GOODMAN MIAMI (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in for a third term Friday while hundreds of government opponents arrested since his disputed reelection last summer languish in the country’s packed prisons. Sharing cells with them are as many as 10 Americans. Related Articles World News | Guantanamo’s prisoners have reached a pivotal moment.