National News

JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinians are preparing to celebrate Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the historic birthplace of Jesus. Sunday's festivities are being held against the backdrop of protests over President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Vatican officials crossed an Israeli military checkpoint from Jerusalem ahead of midnight…

By ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California wildfire that has killed two people and seared its way through cities, towns and wilderness northwest of Los Angeles became the largest blaze ever officially recorded in California on Friday, authorities said. The Thomas fire took only 2 ½ weeks to burn its way into…

By PHUONG LE, Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Video from the cab of the Amtrak train that hurtled off the tracks in Washington state, killing three people and injuring dozens, shows that the engineer did not appear to be using a cellphone or any other personal electronic device just before the derailment, federal investigators said Friday.…

WASHINGTON (AP) —  President Donald Trump is in Florida celebrating the holidays and a much-needed political victory. Before departing for his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump signed the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul into law. He also put off a government shutdown by signing a temporary spending bill. The tax cut is a long-held Republican goal. Starting next…

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he's getting ready to sign into law a $1.5 trillion tax overhaul package. It provides generous cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans and smaller ones for the middle class and low-income families. Trump tweeted that he'll sign the law in the Oval Office…