Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including a federal judge handed the Capitol rioter known as the “QAnon Shaman” a 41-month sentence; Western monarch butterflies appear to have bounced back in California; Kyle Rittenhouse’s defense attorneys again asked for a mistrial, and more.

National

‘QAnon Shaman’ will spend over 3 years in prison for Capitol riot

The spear-toting Arizona man whose iconic look at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot made him the unwitting face of the insurrection returned to court humble and penitent for sentencing Wednesday, stunning U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth with his introspective account about what he’s learned from his time in jail.

Jacob Chansley, right with fur hat, is seen during the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

As abortion dominates US politics, Catholic bishops avoid hard rebuke of Biden

U.S. Catholic bishops avoided harsh critique of President Biden and his support of abortion rights Wednesday as they passed a new document on the sacrament of Communion.

Bishop Manuel Cruz, front left, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., reads scripture during a morning prayer at the Fall General Assembly meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Nov. 17, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Rittenhouse attorneys again ask for mistrial, judge lets jury continue deliberations

Kyle Rittenhouse’s defense attorneys again asked for a mistrial on Wednesday, adding precarity to proceedings in the middle of the jury’s second day of deliberations over the charges against the 18-year-old, including first-degree murder.

Judge Bruce Schroeder speaks to attorneys about how jurors will view evidence as they deliberate during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

Gosar censured, ejected from House committee positions over violent video

In a move with little practical effect, forcing Republican Representative Paul Gosar to stand in the well of the House chamber for a ceremonial rebuke, the House voted largely along party lines Wednesday to censure the Arizona congressman for disseminating a threatening cartoon.

Representative Paul Gosar, a Republican from Arizona, speaks before the House ahead of a vote to censure him on Nov. 17, 2021. (Image via Courthouse News)

Bannon pleads not guilty to contempt of Congress charges

In a court filing on Wednesday, Trump ally Steve Bannon pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of criminal contempt of Congress stemming from his refusal to comply with requests from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon pauses to speak with reporters after departing federal court in Washington on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Regional

Monarch butterfly populations rebound in California

The population of Western monarch butterflies appears to have bounced back in California, reversing a trend that many feared pointed to a swift decline toward extinction.

A monarch butterfly in Vista, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

Idaho court administrator hit with injunction request over blackout on press access

Courthouse News asked a federal judge for an injunction against Idaho’s court administrator over her policy of blocking access to new court records when they are received.

(Image by Philippe Ramakers from Pixabay via Courthouse News)

$31 billion surplus projected for California

California could be flush with cash going into the new year thanks to a projected $31 billion surplus spurred by unprecedented growth in the stock market coupled with increased consumer spending and windfalls from the federal stimulus, the California Legislative Analyst’s Office said during a Wednesday press conference.

The California Capitol building. (Pixabay image via Courthouse News)