News Wrap: Virginia state senator charged with running criminal marijuana enterprise

Geoff Bennett:

In the day's other headlines: Federal authorities charged one of Virginia's most powerful Democrats, state Senator Louise Lucas, with running a criminal marijuana enterprise today. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel announced the charges this morning, which include drug trafficking and money laundering.

Todd Blanche, U.S. Attorney General:

The charges listed in the indictment reflect the alleged behavior of a public servant who put her own financial interests before the people she was elected to serve.

Geoff Bennett:

The indictment against Lucas and six other defendants comes a month after the FBI searched her district office and a cannabis shop that she co-owns. Lucas left a Norfolk courthouse this afternoon after surrendering herself earlier today.

She's been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and played a leading role in redrawing Virginia's congressional maps to favor Democrats. That effort was later thrown out by the courts. In a statement, Lucas said today: "I will not be intimidated, I will not be bullied, and I will not back down."

In Arizona, a tornado watch remained in effect today for a large part of that state, as a storm system brought more severe thunderstorms and heavy rain across the Southwest. Powerful storms swept across Central Arizona starting yesterday, bringing golf ball-sized hail that damaged homes, shattered windows, and dented cars.

In the Phoenix metro area, strong winds uprooted trees. And in Navajo County, a possible tornado left a trail of destruction, leaving residents there shaken as they surveyed the damage.

Jackie Pearsall, Heber-Overgaard, Arizona, Resident:

The lights went out. The power went out and it started hailing rolling bad. And we heard this big boom.

Geoff Bennett:

Local authorities reported no deaths or serious injuries.

Meantime, Subtropical Storm Josephine is strengthening off the East Coast. While it's not a hurricane, it has some hurricane-like characteristics and could bring heavy rain, damaging winds, and rough seas to parts of the coastal Northeast through Saturday.

In Ukraine, officials say at least four people were killed in strikes that started just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in principle to resume talks with the U.S. and Ukraine. Eyewitness video shows the attacks hitting the capital, Kiev, overnight.

Firefighters across 12 regions battled blazes after Russia hit residential buildings, energy facilities, a railway station and Kyiv's subway system. Residents there say they don't see any signs that the war will end anytime soon.

Anna, Ukraine Resident (through interpreter):

I don't believe in anything. A lot is damaged. How can we even talk about humanism and peace after this? It's simply impossible.

Geoff Bennett:

Also, today, President Trump was asked about the limiting of Elon Musk's Starlink services to Ukraine, and, in particular, a report from The Wall Street Journal saying that the president called Musk to ask him to lift restrictions on the service.

President Donald Trump:

Yes, I don't want to comment on it. Whether I called or whether somebody else called doesn't make any difference. I guess the bottom line, he put it back.

Geoff Bennett:

Ukraine's forces use the military grade system of Starlink called Starshield in their fight against Russia. Today, U.S. and Ukrainian officials reportedly said it's now operating normally.

In France, thousands of protesters returned to the streets of Paris today despite bans on such demonstrations in several cities.

(SINGING)

Geoff Bennett:

Students sang and chanted in a peaceful demonstration after organizers said a Paris court had overturned a ban on gatherings. French President Emmanuel Macron says additional restrictions are expected in the coming days.

Meantime, in Serbia, drums and whistles echoed through the streets of Belgrade as students there poured into Serbia's capital last night. They're gathering for a massive rally ahead of Sunday's elections, challenging the rule of President Aleksandar Vucic, whom critics accuse of growing authoritarianism.

And in Southern Italy, truckers protesting high diesel prices have disrupted production of one of the region's signature products. That's buffalo mozzarella. The industry estimates losses of more than $3 million in a single day.

A federal judge in Florida has ordered President Trump to sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC by December 11. If he fails to appear, the case could be dismissed. Mr. Trump sued the BBC last year over its editing of his speech to supporters on January 6, 2021. He was scheduled to be deposed last week, but backed out, citing what his lawyers described as a matter of national importance.

The president was actually campaigning in Georgia that day. The deadline for gathering evidence in the case is December 18.

In New York City, lawmakers have voted to ban horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park months after a teenager died in a fall from one of the carriages in June. The tourist tradition dates back more than 150 years, but today the city council approved a bill that would bring it to an end by 2028.

Julie Menin, New York City Council Speaker:

Midtown Manhattan is not where horses belong.

Geoff Bennett:

Animal rights advocates have long argued that the horses endure harsh working conditions and pose safety risks to pedestrians. But carriage drivers insist the animals are well cared for and say the ban threatens their livelihoods.

Alexus Lawson, Horse Carriage Driver:

Some horses are OK with stopping work and going out to a pasture. Some horses like this one would not be OK with that. Like, I raised this horse. We did everything together. And I'm like, the fact that somebody wants to try and tear that from me because they don't like her job?

Geoff Bennett:

The legislation requires Mayor Zohran Mamdani to develop a plan to help the more than 150 current drivers find other work. The labor union representing the drivers has vowed to challenge the bill.

On Wall Street today, falling AI stocks weighed on the broader markets. The Dow Jones industrial average managed a slight gain of about 11 points. But the Nasdaq tumbled more than 2.5 percent. The S&P 500 also ended sharply lower.

And actor Tom Skerritt has died.

Tom Skerritt, Actor:

Maverick, you will get you RIO when you get to the ship. And if you don't, give me a call. I'll fly with you.

Geoff Bennett:

His career spanned more than six decades and included memorable roles such as Viper opposite Tom Cruise in the 1986 blockbuster "Top Gun" and the spaceship captain in the science fiction classic "Alien." He also appeared in the film "MASH," "Steel Magnolias," and "A River Runs Through It." On television, Skerritt won an Emmy for his portrayal of Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the CBS drama "Picket Fences."

His family says he died Wednesday of natural causes. Tom Skerritt was 93 years old.