New prosecutor takes on the Georgia election case against Trump and others

ATLANTA (AP) — A longtime Georgia prosecutor has announced that he will take over the state’s election interference case against President Donald Trump and others. This follows the removal of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the case. The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia was tasked with finding a new leader after Willis was disqualified due to an “appearance of impropriety.” The organization’s executive director, Pete Skandalakis, said Friday that he would handle the case himself. While legal action against Trump is unlikely while he’s president, 14 others face charges, including Rudy Giuliani and Trump’s former White House chief of staff.

Court blocks new rules limiting which immigrants can get commercial drivers’ licenses

(AP) — The Transportation Department’s new restrictions that would severely limit which immigrants can get commercial driver’s licenses to drive a semitrailer truck or bus have been put on hold by a federal appeals court. The court in the District of Columbia ruled Thursday that the rules Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced in September a month after a truck driver not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people can’t be enforced right now. The court said the federal government didn’t follow proper procedure in drafting the rule and failed to “articulate a satisfactory explanation for how the rule would promote safety.”

Judge says he’ll approve opioid settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue and Sackler family

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal bankruptcy court judge on Friday said he will approve OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma’s latest deal to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids that includes some money for thousands of victims of the epidemic. The deal overseen by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane would require members of the Sackler family who own the company to contribute up to $7 billion and give up ownership. The new agreement replaces one the U.S. Supreme Court rejected last year, finding it would have improperly protected members of the family against future lawsuits. The judge said he would explain his decision in a hearing on Tuesday.

Protesters arrested after clashing with police outside Chicago-area immigration facility

CHICAGO (AP) — Authorities arrested 21 protesters Friday outside a Chicago-area federal immigration facility that activists say functions as a de facto detention center and is plagued by inhumane conditions. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said the arrests were made by midday, and that it was working on verifying identities and potential charges. Just moments before the clash, demonstrators were singing and chanting. Around 10 a.m., a large group, knowing they were going to be arrested, allegedly crossed the protest barrier and attempted to walk up toward the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Some protesters carried signs reading, “God’s Love Knows No Borders” and “God Demands Freedom.” Some of them prayed. The crowd numbered about 300 before it began to disperse.