AFN NEWS

Thursday, December 6, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. A somber ceremony for former President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral. Broken up by light moments, his friends and family recalled the 41st President’s love of jokes. The common theme in all of the eulogies for former President George H.W. Bush on Thursday, his sense of humor. His son George W. Bush, “He placed great value on a good joke, so I chose Simpson to speak.” A reference to Alan Simpson, former senator from Wyoming who had the crowd laughing with lines like this about Bush 41. “And he threw his head back and gave that great laugh, but he never, ever could remember a punchline. And I mean never.” Karen Travers, ABC News, Washington. The casket carrying the 41st President’s body is now on its way to Houston, where he will be buried tomorrow.

2) On this national day of mourning, stock markets were closed. The day after, the Dow dropped almost 800 points, following a tweet from President Trump calling himself Tariff Man. “A key issue here on Wall Street is confusion over the true prospects for a deal with China on tariffs coming out of the G 20 Summit. It sounded from the White House like there was a very real possibility of a long-term deal being struck, but in a series of tweets yesterday from President Trump, we received some mixed signals.” ABC’s Rebecca Jarvis. President Trump once again tweeted today about the possibility of a deal with China, saying that country is sending quote “very strong signal that plans to deliver.”

3) A search and rescue operation is under way for U.S. Marine aircraft off the coast of Japan. They say there was a mishap during training.

4) And a Border Patrol agent who confessed to shooting four women in the head and leaving their bodies in rural Texas has been charged with capital murder. Now, the charge is upgraded against Juan David Ortiz by grand jury. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; to honor the life and legacy of President George H.W. Bush, U.S. markets were closed today during a national day of mourning. The last time the markets closed to honor the death of a president was more than a decade ago in 2007 after President Gerald Ford died. // And most Federal Reserve districts reporting modest or moderate economic growth in recent weeks, though four regions said growth had slowed or was slight. According to the Fed’s Beige Book, a snapshot of the economy gleaned from discussions with business contacts in the Fed’s 12 districts. Policymakers will review the Beige Book report as they prepare for their mid-December meeting where they’re expected to approve a quarter point rate hike for the fourth time this year. // And Google’s self-driving car spin-off is finally ready to give it a whirl today in profit from its nearly decade-old technology. Waymo introducing a small-scale ride-hailing service in the Phoenix area that will include a human behind the wheel in case the robotic vehicles malfunction. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, November 29, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. House Democrats voted to nominate Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House once again. The majority of House Democrats chose the nominee longtime leader Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House. The California Representative became the first female speaker in 2007. This time she ran unopposed but a small group of members vowed to vote against her. Pelosi will have several weeks to firm up her support, cut deals and flex her power before the full House vote on her nomination January 3rd. Kenneth Moton, ABC News, the Capitol.

2) The Senate has advanced the resolution to end U.S. military involvement in Yemen. This is a rebuke to the White House that comes after lawmakers on both sides __ were upset about a briefing they got this afternoon. “Secretary Mattis met with senators on U.S.-Saudi relationships and concerned about the war in Yemen, and what the CIA knows about Jamal Khashoggi’s death. ‘We have no smoking gun that the Crown Prince was involved.’ CIA reports there is a high probability he was. President Trump saying the U.S.-Saudi relationship isn’t worth risking over that possibility. Andy Field, ABC News, Washington.

3) President Trump’s lead attorney says lawyers for former Trump campaign Chairman Paul Manafort shared information with the President’s legal team about what Manafort told the special counsel. “This cooperation with the Trump lawyers simply shows how scared, literally petrified both Manafort and Trump are.” This afternoon Senate blocked a vote on the bill that would protect Mueller, if the President tried to fire him.

4) Officials say a body discovered in North Carolina is believed to be missing 13-year-old Hania Aguilar who was kidnapped outside of her house three weeks ago. “This is the outcome that we all feared that was going to happen. We did not want to hear this.” Lumberton Police Chief Michael McNeil and investigators say her body was discovered yesterday along a road.

5) On Wall Street, the Dow gained more than 600 points today. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, all the major averages ending sharply higher for the third straight day of gains. Investors are welcoming remarks by Fed Chair Jerome Powell who painted a rosy picture of the U.S. economy, while addressing the economic club of New York today. Powell suggested that the Fed might be willing to raise interest rates at the slower pace next year. // Among the Dow leaders today, Boeing, Caterpillar and Visa, while Verizon and United Technologies were among the laggers. The Dow ending its session high, closing up 618 points. The NASDAQ up 209, S&P 500 up 62. // And shares of online furniture and home goods retailer Wayfair rallying today, closing up over 14% after the company said its online sales were up 58% over the holiday shopping weekend compared with the last year. While Cyber Monday was the peak sales day of the holiday weekend, Black Friday marked the highest growth day. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, November 22, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Michelle Franzen.  __ now one of the busiest travel days of the year. “We have 165 ___ today and 95% of those planes are gonna be going out full.” Justin Franco, a spokesman for American Airlines describing the scene of LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Airports coast to coast have reported few cancellations today, while tens of millions of other travelers are out on the road. “The roads have been actually pretty good. You’ve seen a volume start now, which is kind of what I expected. I was hoping it to get through the main part of New York around this time, so I think we’re working good so far.” Another busy travel day expected to be this Sunday.

2) High winds and low temperatures could impact the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tomorrow in New York City. ABC’s Aaron Katersky is on Central Park West, where the balloons are being inflated. “Here is a question of how high these balloons are going to fly because the wind is going to be an issue. The balloons have only been grounded once in the whole history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. That was back in 1971 when it was just far too windy.”

3) President Trump is spending Thanksgiving at his Mar-a-Lago estate. He is facing some pushback from one of his recent comments. “For the first time ever, Chief Justice John Roberts is pushing back after President Trump slammed the federal judge who ruled against his migrant asylum policy, and in his statement, Roberts writes we do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, what we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best. ABC’s Emily Rau. The President responding in a tweet to Roberts striding in part quote “You do indeed have Obama judges and they have a much different point of view than people who are charged with the safety of our country.”

4) The two big wildfires that burned in California this month could end up costing insurance companies between 9 and 13 billion dollars, according to new analysis. 

5) And the Dow closed down just shy of a point today after yesterday’s triple digit loss. You’re listening to ABC New.

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From the Fox Business Network; I am Tom Graham with the Fox Business Report. Stocks rebounding today sort of closing mixed after taking a beating Monday and Tuesday. The Dow off slightly following nearly a point after a quick drop just before the bell. The NASDAQ climbing 63 points, for the S&P jumped 11. Global oil prices bouncing back, stabilizing after the worst drop for U.S. crude in three years. Tech shares also showing gains, helping lift U.S. stocks. // Bad news for one popular clothing brand, Gap sales for stores have dropped 7% over the last twelve months. Brick-and-mortar furniture retailers also struggling. IKEA is slashing 7500 jobs. // Next to the turkeys gone, the biggest shopping period of the year kicked off Black Friday. Some retailers will actually be opening their doors even on Thanksgiving, including Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Business news twice an hour on Fox News Headlines 24/7. I’m Tom Graham.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, November 15, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. Scorched ground and burned-out buildings in the Northern California left behind by the deadly Camp Fire. “It looks like a warzone. It is. It’s the devastation that only fires of this kind can bring about.” Gov. Jerry Brown and officials don’t know what sparked that blaze blamed for at least 48 deaths, but Pacific Gas & Electric had an issue with a line right before it started. Already after being linked to so many wild fires, Pacific Gas & Electric has been floating the possibility that if found liable, it could go bankrupt. In the Camp Fire now, PG&E’s telling the Securities and Exchange Commission that if it’s found liable in that fire, it would exceed its insurance coverage and it would have a major impact on the company. PG&E stock immediately took a dip. ABC’s Alex Stone in Malibu. A total of 51 people died in the wildfire statewide.

2) Moments ago in Washington, President Trump announced his support for criminal justice reform bill called the First Step. “It will provide new incentives for low-risk inmates to learn the skills they need to find employment.” He says it will also allow federal inmates to be placed in prisons close to their homes. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expected to push the bill through by the end of the year.

3) This afternoon, McConnell posed for pictures with incoming Republican senators including a candidate whose race has not yet been called. “The new senate Republicans taking their place in the 116th congress took their photo with the Majority Leader Wednesday.” “Florida Governor Rick Scott was there too. His state is currently recounting the ballots cast in the senate race. Rick Scott was running to unseat Democratic senator Bill Nelson. Scott and Florida Republicans have filed multiple lawsuits to return to the election night result which had Scott ahead. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schemer said Scott is simply afraid that a recount might lead to Nelson winning the race. Ali Rogin, ABC News, Capitol Hill.”

5) British Prime Minister Theresa May says the cabinet supports the draft agreement on BREXIT. The Parliament will have to approve. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; lots of swings on Wall Street with stocks closing in the red. Among the laggards today, tech and financials, while industrials and energy companies gained, oil snapping the record 12-day losing streak. Apple is the biggest drag on the Dow suffering its fifth day of losses. Among the Dow gainers today, Verizon and Home Depot. The Dow closing down for a fourth straight session dove 206 points, the NASDAQ down 64, S&P 500 down 21. // And Victoria’s Secret’s CEO Jan Singer is stepping down from her role of the lingerie company. Victoria’s Secret is a part of L Brands and the bland has struggled lately with competition and changing tastes in women’s underwear. L Brands is taking steps to focus, including the announcement that it will close Henri Bendel stores and its E-commerce sites after the holiday shopping season. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, November 8, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Scott Goldberg. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is packing up his office after being forced out of it by the President who asked for his resignation today. “In a tweet, President Trump announced the departure of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, writing quote, ‘We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become a new Acting Attorney General of the United States.’ Whitaker, who had previously said that the Mueller investigation has gone too far, has not recused himself and now as Acting A.G. will oversee the Mueller probe. Laura Behnke, ABC News, the White House.” ABC News political director Rick Klein says Sessions didn’t just resign, Jeff Sessions was fired. That is Washington called for firing the Attorney General of the United States, and it is very much mixed into both the election results with the President getting more of Republican senators feeling like this is a moment to clear the deck, and of course the Robert Mueller probe. Top Senate Democrat Jack Schumer says protecting Special Counsel Robert Mueller is most important now as the future of the Russian investigation is in question. “It would create a constitutional crisis if this were a prelude to ending or greatly limiting the Mueller investigation.” Schumer’s calling on Acting A.G. Whitaker to recuse himself from the probe, so Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Leader of the House with Democrats, will now take over after last night’s midterm elections. They’ve picked up 29 seats in that Chamber. In a lengthy news conference earlier today, President Trump threatened those Democrats if they start investigating him. “They can look at us, then we can look at them, and it’ll go back and forth, and it’ll probably be very good for me politically. I could see it being extremely good politically, because I think I’m better at that game than they are, actually.” Despite losing the House, the President says he thinks the elections proved he is popular.

2) On Wall Street, stocks rallied on those election results, the Dow closed up 545 points, gaining more than 2%, S&P 500 at the highest close in four weeks.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, stocks soaring on the midterm election bounced to major averages hitting session highs after President Trump indicated he’s willing to work with Democrats on policy initiatives that will help the economy to keep growing. Among the gainers today, tech stocks and healthcare companies with the Dow closing up 545 points, the NASDAQ up 195, S&P 500 up 58. Also energy stocks rose after a swath of oil-and-gas companies reported earnings that topped expectations and after Colorado voters rejected limits on fracking. // And pot stocks soaring as Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigned. Sessions was vocally opposed to cannabis legalization, and the midterm election having ushered in the green way with Michigan voting to legalize recreational marijuana. And other states supporting medical cannabis use. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.