US Domestic News Roundup: Grand jury in Georgia heard recording of Trump call to state House speaker -report; California flooded with rain, Northeast buried under snow and more

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs. Grand jury in Georgia heard recording of Trump call to state House speaker -report The Atlanta grand jury that probed ex-President Donald Trump's 2020 election meddling heard a taped telephone call he placed to Georgia's Republican House leader seeking to reverse Democrat Joe Biden's victory in that swing state, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Wednesday.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Grand jury in Georgia heard recording of Trump call to state House speaker -report

The Atlanta grand jury that probed ex-President Donald Trump's 2020 election meddling heard a taped telephone call he placed to Georgia's Republican House leader seeking to reverse Democrat Joe Biden's victory in that swing state, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Wednesday. The existence of such a recording, or that it was played for the 23-member special grand jury during the course of its eight-month investigation, has not been previously reported.

California flooded with rain, Northeast buried under snow

An atmospheric river dumped more torrential rain on California on Wednesday, forcing evacuations, power outages and road closures, while the remnants of a powerful Nor'easter blizzard buried much of upstate New York and New England under snow. The West Coast is getting pounded by an usually wet season following two decades of drought, creating havoc on roads and endangering blufftop homes along the coast in southern California's Orange County.

Nearly two years later, US Senate confirms Garcetti as ambassador to India

The U.S. Senate confirmed President Joe Biden's nominee Eric Garcetti as ambassador to India on Wednesday, ending a nearly two-year nomination fight over allegations the former Los Angeles mayor mishandled workplace harassment complaints. Senators backed Garcetti by 52-42, as seven Republicans joined the majority of Democrats in supporting Garcetti and three Democrats joined most Republicans in voting no.

Alzheimer's Association lobbies for Medicare coverage of Leqembi and other drugs

The Alzheimer's Association has deployed 1,000 people diagnosed with, or caring for someone with the disease, to meet with all 535 members of Congress across the United States and urge them to press Medicare for early access to a new class of drugs, beginning with lecanemab, that promise to slow the disease. The grassroots lobbying campaign, which has not been reported in detail, is being led by state-based chapters, according to interviews with four Association national and local officials.

Americans are wary of bailouts as banking concerns mount - Reuters/Ipsos poll

A bipartisan majority of Americans oppose U.S. taxpayers footing the bill when bad management causes a bank to fail, though Republican opposition to bank bailouts has softened over the last decade, a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Wednesday found. The poll's results point to a potential political problem for Democratic President Joe Biden's administration should the signs of shakiness in the U.S. banking sector worsen and prompt more aggressive government action.

Explainer-How recent lawsuits could affect access to abortion pills

A federal judge in Texas held a hearing on Wednesday in a case seeking to ban the abortion drug mifepristone nationwide, while at least three other lawsuits seek to expand access to it. Below is a guide to what is at stake. WHAT IS MEDICATION ABORTION?

Stormy Daniels speaks with prosecutors probing payment from Trump

Stormy Daniels, a porn star who says she had an affair with Donald Trump, on Wednesday spoke with prosecutors investigating the former U.S. president's role in a payment for her silence about the sexual liaison before the 2016 election, her lawyer said. Trump, who has denied having an affair with Daniels, is seeking the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2024. The Manhattan District Attorney's office has given him a chance to testify before the grand jury probing the payment, a sign prosecutors may be close to bringing charges against him.

Wisconsin man pleads guilty to role in plot to kidnap Michigan governor

A Wisconsin man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a reduced charge for his role in a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, handing another victory to prosecutors who have viewed the scheme as domestic terrorism. Michigan prosecutors accused Brian Higgins, 54, of aiding the conspiracy by surveilling the Democratic governor's vacation home. As part of a plea deal, he admitted in Antrim County court that he attempted to provide material support for terrorism and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement.

BNSF says train carrying corn syrup derailed in Arizona

BNSF Railway confirmed on Thursday that a train carrying corn syrup derailed near Topock in western Arizona close to the California border on Wednesday, with preliminary reports indicating no involvement of hazardous materials. "There were no injuries as a result of the derailment and preliminarily reports indicate there are no hazardous materials involved," BNSF said in a statement.

U.S. charges exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui with $1 billion fraud

The U.S. government on Wednesday charged Guo Wengui, an exiled Chinese businessman with ties to former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, with leading a complex conspiracy to defraud Guo's online followers out of more than $1 billion. Authorities said Guo, with help from longtime financial adviser Kin Ming Je, cheated thousands of followers since 2018 by promising "outsized" investment returns, but diverting much of their money to fund lavish lifestyles for himself and his family.

(With inputs from agencies.)