Reuters US Domestic News Summary

But with former President Donald Trump an overwhelming frontrunner for the Republican nomination and Iowa’s first-in-the-nation contest less than two months away, it remains unclear whether the endorsement can make a significant difference for DeSantis’ chances. Vehicle explodes at Niagara Falls, forcing US-Canada border closings A vehicle exploded on Wednesday on the Rainbow Bridge linking Canada with the United States at Niagara Falls, prompting authorities to close that border crossing and the three others between western New York and southern Ontario, officials said.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

A Thanksgiving tradition returns: busy roads, crowded airports

Millions of Americans crowded into airports or hit the road on Wednesday ahead of Thanksgiving Day, creating the busiest travel day since the pandemic virtually shut down the tradition of visiting friends and family over the long holiday weekend. A sprawling storm that brought downpours and gusting winds to much of the eastern U.S. on Tuesday was moving offshore on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, easing fears of significant flight delays.

Music industry veteran Jimmy Iovine faces sexual abuse allegation

Music industry veteran Jimmy Iovine was sued on Wednesday by an woman who claims she was sexually abused. In a complaint filed in New York state court in Manhattan, a woman identified only as "Jane Doe" said she was sexually abused, forcibly touched and subject to sexual harassment and retaliation in August 2007.

A.M. Lukas sues actor Nuno Lopes for alleged rape in New York court

American writer and filmmaker A.M. Lukas has accused "White Lines" actor Nuno Lopes of drugging and raping her in 2006, in a filing lodged just days before a one-year window to sue over historic sexual abuse expires. Lopes denied any wrongdoing and said he would not be afraid to take legal action against anyone who tried to defame him.

Biden steps up Trump attacks as economic message falls flat

U.S. President Joe Biden is more aggressively going after his likely 2024 election rival Donald Trump as polls show efforts to campaign on his own economic record are not working.

Ramping up the rhetoric, Biden has in recent weeks said Trump uses "language you heard in Nazi Germany," is singularly responsible for American women losing abortion rights and should not be allowed to become president again because he is "determined to destroy American democracy."

Recalled WanaBana puree still on Dollar Tree shelves - US FDA

The WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree, a product potentially contaminated with lead, was still being sold at Dollar Tree stores despite a recall that began last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Wednesday. The agency is working with Dollar Tree to ensure an effective recall, it said, weeks after the regulator first issued a safety alert on the purchase of WanaBana pouches following reports of four children with elevated blood lead levels.

US EPA opens $2 billion in grants to environmental justice communities

The Biden administration announced on Tuesday it has opened up $2 billion in grants for lower-income communities overburdened by pollution and vulnerable to climate change for projects to bolster their resilience to climate impacts and strengthen their ability to monitor air and water quality. The Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice that has been made by an administration, and a key measure to achieve the administration's goal of ensuring that 40% of federal clean energy investment benefits flow to disadvantaged communities.

DeSantis super PAC head quits, latest blow to struggling Republican's presidential bid

The head of a political action committee (PAC) supporting Republican Ron DeSantis resigned on Wednesday, dealing a further blow to the Florida governor's struggling White House campaign. Chris Jankowski, the chief executive of Never Back Down, the main super PAC backing DeSantis's bid to become the Republican presidential nominee, quit after he said in a statement provided to Reuters that his position had become "untenable."

Top Iowa evangelical backs DeSantis over Trump in US presidential race

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was endorsed on Tuesday by an influential Iowa evangelical leader, Bob Vander Plaats, a much-needed boost for a presidential campaign still struggling to find momentum ahead of next year’s Republican nominating contests. But with former President Donald Trump an overwhelming frontrunner for the Republican nomination and Iowa’s first-in-the-nation contest less than two months away, it remains unclear whether the endorsement can make a significant difference for DeSantis’ chances.

Vehicle explodes at Niagara Falls, forcing US-Canada border closings

A vehicle exploded on Wednesday on the Rainbow Bridge linking Canada with the United States at Niagara Falls, prompting authorities to close that border crossing and the three others between western New York and southern Ontario, officials said. The vehicle's driver and a passenger were killed in the explosion, and one U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer was injured, a person with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

Three Americans expected to be included in Gaza hostage release-US official

Three Americans held by Hamas in Gaza since its attack on Israel last month are expected to be among at least 50 hostages to be released by the Islamist Palestinian group under a deal arranged with Israel, the U.S. and Qatar, a senior U.S. official said. The three include a 3-year-old girl whose parents were among the more than 1,200 people killed in Hamas' initial Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, the official said. Israeli bombardments since have flattened large swaths of Hamas-led Gaza and killed 13,300 civilians, according to authorities in Gaza.