Not a Lot Like Christmas: Record-breaking warm weather has moved into the central and eastern states just before Christmas with temperatures running as much as 20 degrees above normal. Christmas day in some cities could be the warmest on record. …

Political Climate: Delegates to the world climate change summit in Paris were expected to release the draft of an agreement that would commit nearly every country on earth to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. The target is to keep …

—From Pilot Knob, NY.   Heavy Weather: Flash flood warnings have been declared in parts of Texas and evacuations are underway as rivers and creeks continue to rise. The floods have hit Houston while more rain is in the forecast. …

—From Franklin, Tenn.   Sons of Anarchy: Nine people were killed and 18 wounded yesterday in a shooting melee between rival biker gangs at a Waco, Texas restaurant in a shopping mall. Police said that a fight over parking spaces …

Nation: Laying the groundwork for what could turn into a big fight, leaders of Congressional tax writing policy agreed yesterday to give President Obama “fast track” authority to strike a trade deal with 11 other Pacific countries. The bill gives …

Ferguson: Two St. Louis County police officers were shot during demonstrations outside the Ferguson, Mo. police station last night. The shooting broke what had been a night of tense but mostly peaceful protests in the hours after Ferguson’s police chief …

Jersey Shaw: New Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor this morning denied holding Hoboken’s storm relief money hostage in exchange for approval of a major development deal.   It’s a case of she said, she said. As Chris Christie’s political swamp grows, the …