LOS ANGELES (AP) — A wildfire whipped up by extreme winds is sweeping through a Los Angeles hillside dotted with celebrity residences. Homes have burned and tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders, some of whom abandoned cars and fled on foot due to clogged roads. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says many structures have already been destroyed in the Pacific Palisades wildfire. 

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The plunging polar vortex is bringing subfreezing temperatures to some of the southernmost points of the U.S. A forming storm system is threatening to dump snow on parts of Texas and Oklahoma, while communities in Louisiana and Florida may see frigid cold. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jimmy Carter's state funeral has moved to Washington after observances in his native Georgia. The 39th president's remains left the Carter Presidential Center on Tuesday morning and flew to the Washington area aboard Special Air Mission 39. 

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he won't rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security. 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say two bodies have been found in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue aircraft at a South Florida airport. The airline says the bodies were discovered in the wheel well area during a routine post-flight inspection on Monday night at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The singer-songwriter and social activist best known as one-third of the folk-music group Peter, Paul and Mary, has died at age 86. Peter Yarrow died Tuesday at his home in New York. 

In other news:

• Biden administration bans unpaid medical bills from appearing on credit reports.
• Appeals court rejects Trump's latest attempt to get Friday's hush money sentencing called off.
• Jack Smith finalizing Trump investigation report that could be released as early as Friday.
• Meta replaces fact-checking with X-style community notes.
• Man pleads not guilty to burning woman to death on a New York City subway train.
• Jean-Marie Le Pen, French far-right leader known for fiery rhetoric against immigration, dies at 96.
• The Titans are making a change in leadership and the Chargers are bulking up their roster ahead of the playoffs.
• 49ers head home early following a trying season that started with Super Bowl hopes.
• Gaudreau suspect pleads not guilty to homicide charges after turning down 35-year prison sentence.

—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.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX