Dealmaker: President-elect Trump has named Rex Tillerson, the chief of Exxon Mobil, to be Secretary of State. He has no government or foreign policy experience other than doing business overseas, but appears to be friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. …

Skyfall: Look out for blustery weather reports and television reporters wading through snow drifts. A Polar Vortex has swept down into the Northern states and across upper New England. It’s zero in Great Falls, MT; 3 in Duluth; 27 in …

In Transition: Rex Tillerson, the chief of Exxon Mobil who’s had extensive dealings with Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, is expected to be named Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of State. Trump aides have signaled that Tillerson is the …

The Manchurian Candidate: The NY Times reports that US intelligence agencies have concluded “with high confidence” that Russia acted covertly to sway the November election to Donald Trump. The Times report says US intelligence believes the Russians hacked Republican computer …

Godspeed: John Glenn, the last surviving member of the Mercury 7 astronauts and the first American to orbit Earth, died yesterday at age 95. In 1962 with the US losing the space race and the nuclear arms buildup to the …

In Denial: Donald Trump has chosen Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a climate change skeptic and ally of the fossil fuel industry, to head the Environmental Protection Agency.  Pruitt has been a leader in the fight against President Obama’s climate …

Earthquake: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the Aceh province on the island of Sumatra, burying an unknown number of people in homes and buildings. Indonesian authorities say up to 100 people are already known to be dead. Aceh was …

Ghost Ship: The Alameda County prosecutor says charges of murder or manslaughter may result from the warehouse fire that killed at least 36 people over the weekend in Oakland, Calif. “It’s too premature to say where the investigation will lead …

Ghost Ship: Thirty-three people are confirmed dead in the Oakland warehouse fire and authorities expect to find still more bodies. Some of the bodies were found with personal identification, and the names of seven have been released. Identification of others …

Oakland Fire: At least nine people died overnight Friday and about 30 remain missing in a warehouse fire in Oakland, Calif., where a large party was being held. Portions of the roof collapsed. The two-story building, which has been described …