Each week Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight.
• How to sum up 2024 The Oxford University Press word of the year is 'brain rot.'
• A list of mispronounced words provides a retrospective of 2024, from Kamala to Chappell
• Small business owners brace for Trump's proposed tariffs.
• Small business owners breathe easier over labor costs after decision to strike down overtime rule.
• Trump won about 2.5M more votes than in 2020, some in unexpected places.
• Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election.
• Cryptocurrency entrepreneur who bought banana art for $6.2 million eats the fruit in Hong Kong.
• 'AI Jesus' avatar tests man's faith in machines and the divine.
• Police deny sitting on evidence as Netflix doc brings renewed attention to JonBenet Ramsey's killing.
• Mexico's Senate votes to charge cruise ship passengers $42 per head for port calls.
• Rats feast on New York’s City's bagged garbage. Can putting it in bins end the smorgasbord.
• Libraries are offering free health and wellness classes across the US.
• Scientists gather to decode puzzle of the world's rarest whale in 'extraordinary' New Zealand study.
• These Native tribes are working with schools to boost attendance.
• Hong Kong launches panda sculpture tour as the city hopes the bear craze boosts tourism.
• A chef whose van was stolen with 2,500 pies inside is urging the thieves to donate the loot.
• Ailing kids wait months for Israeli permission to leave Gaza for treatment. Some die in the meantime.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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