Top eight today

Top eight stories for today including Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to shield his Jan. 6 records from congressional oversight; Former police officer Kim Potter was found guilty of manslaughter for the shooting of Daunte Wright; A Mexican pre-Christmas radish carving competition was canceled for the second straight year, and more.

National

To keep Jan. 6 records under wraps, Trump goes for high court Hail Mary

Fighting the release of almost 800 pages of White House records concerning the Capitol riot, former President Donald Trump headed to the Supreme Court on Thursday to seek relief from the justices — three of whom he appointed.

Trump supporters rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, ahead of a joint session of Congress to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. (John Minchillo/AP)

Kim Potter found guilty of manslaughter for killing Daunte Wright

Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter has been found guilty of first- and second-degree manslaughter for the shooting of Black man Daunte Wright in April.

Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter reacts as Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu reads the guilty verdict in her manslaughter trial on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. (Court TV via AP, Pool)

Biden caps year full of judicial appointments with two more nominees

President Joe Biden made two new judicial nominations on Thursday, including nominating the first Black woman to the 11th Circuit.

President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House on Dec. 3, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Four Capitol rioters plead guilty in time for Christmas break

Four men from Missouri and Alabama pleaded guilty Thursday to their role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, accepting what has become the standard plea deal for nonviolent, low-level rioters.

Supporters of then-President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Judge advances privacy claims over Chrome ‘incognito’ mode

For the second time, a federal judge denied Google’s bid to dismiss a class action case where users of its Chrome internet browser claim they were being tracked while in private browsing mode despite the company’s claims to the contrary.

A screenshot of a Google Chrome browser in Incognito mode.

Regional

4 workers injured by explosion and fire at Exxon refinery

ExxonMobil said Thursday it is trying to determine what sparked an early morning fire and explosion at its Houston-area refinery that injured four workers.

Flames shoot up from ExxonMobil's refinery in Baytown, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. (K. Moreland/Facebook via Courthouse News)

Court losses for state complicate Virginia gambling rules

Legal challenges to changes in Virginia’s gambling laws have resulted in the deregulation of some types of gaming.

A collection of shuttered skill games at a Lucky gas station in downtown Richmond, Virginia. (Brad Kutner/Courthouse News)

International

Covid blamed for Oaxaca’s radish-carving festival. Striking city workers cite protest over bonuses

Locals and visitors alike were looking forward to Oaxaca’s pre-Christmas radish carving competition, but the Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) was canceled for the second straight year amid fears of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, according to official sources.

City maintenance workers protest near the site where Oaxaca’s canceled radish carving festival was to be held. They said the government’s reason for calling off the event wasn’t true. (Cody Copeland/Courthouse News)