US Domestic News Roundup: California wildfires; Florida recount; clergy abuse

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

City of San Francisco threatens court action over Trump's acting Attorney General

San Francisco's city attorney on Monday questioned the recent appointment of a new acting Attorney General, saying in a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice that his office may take court action if DOJ does not provide a legal justification. President Donald Trump last week named Matthew Whitaker to replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was forced out after months of attacks by Trump for recusing himself from an ongoing probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Authorities search for missing in wind-whipped California wildfires

Authorities searched on Monday for more than 200 people unaccounted for in one of the wildfires rampaging through parts of California, voicing concern about a possible rising death toll, as gusty, dry winds spurred the spreading flames. The raging blaze in northern California known as the Camp Fire, the state's most destructive on record, had left at least 228 people missing as of early Monday, according to Kory Honea, sheriff of Butte County, site of the fire. That fire and one in southern California called the Woolsey Fire have killed at least 31 people.

U.S. bishops delay action on clergy abuse at Vatican's request

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will delay action to deal with a crisis involving sexual abuse of minors by clergy until after a global meeting in February at the request of the Vatican, conference president Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said on Monday. The Catholic Church worldwide is reeling from crises involving sexual abuse of minors, deeply damaging confidence in the Church in the United States, Chile, Australia, Ireland and elsewhere.

Trump seeks end of Florida recount as Republicans' leads shrink

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday urged Florida election officials to end a recount and declare his fellow Republicans the winners of disputed races in last week's elections as a judge urged both parties to be careful with unsubstantiated allegations of fraud. As Florida officials scrambled to review more than 8 million ballots by Thursday, Trump, without providing evidence, cast doubt on the recount process.

U.S. plans new limits on heavy-duty truck emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce plans to propose new rules to significantly decrease emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxide from diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks, an agency official said. Industry groups and state environmental officials have urged the EPA to set new nationwide rules as the state of California has been moving forward with plans to set new state emissions limits. California also wants nationwide rules, in part because more than half of all trucks delivering goods in the state are registered in other states.

Party at Mark's: U.S. congressman offers to put up D.C. newcomers

A leader of the Democratic Party's progressive wing in Congress on Monday extended an invitation meant to reassure new representatives worried about affording Washington rent: "Crash at my place." Representative Mark Pocan, co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, spoke at a news conference with about 10 newly elected colleagues including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was caught up in a flurry of media coverage over the weekend after telling the New York Times she would not be able to take on a lease until her government salary kicked in.

U.S. movie theater chains fear Justice Department review may hit profits

U.S. movie theatre chains fear that a Justice Department review of little-known mid-century rules may result in studios getting free rein to force them to show unpopular movies in exchange for getting blockbuster releases, threatening their profits. Before the rules went into effect, studios commonly sold multiple films to theaters as a package. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1948 ruled against the practice, called "block booking," and others that favoured studios, leading the plaintiff, Paramount Pictures, Inc, and its peers to sign consent decrees over the next few years with the Justice Department that banned such deals.

(With inputs from Reuters)

(With inputs from agencies.)