West
All eyes on California as House majority still hinges on tight races
Congressional leaders are anxiously watching several outstanding races in the West as the battle for the majority in the House of Representatives continues.
Most of those races are in California, where Republican incumbents are fighting to hold on to several seats, including districts around the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The Democratic stronghold was pivotal to House Republicans clinching the majority in 2022, and their leaders are looking for it to deliver again.
“California’s got a lot of the outstanding races, and I’ve talked to each one of our incumbents who are in those 50/50 races — they’re all leading, by the way — but they feel like what is outstanding … are good areas for them,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told “Fox & Friends” Friday.
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Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are battling over the House majority (Getty Images)
It’s a different story in New York, the other deep blue coastal state critical to the House GOP’s midterm success.
Of the four sitting House Republicans projected to lose their seats, three were first-term GOP lawmakers from New York who got elected as part of a suburban backlash against big cities’ progressive crime policies.
They were also expected to be some of the more vulnerable incumbents in Congress.
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Rep. Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., is among the New York incumbents to lose his seat (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)
Scalise said he anticipated a four- to six-seat majority for Republicans when all the races were over, not a dissimilar scenario to the one the House GOP has grappled with for much of the 118th Congress.
Ballots are being counted in other close races in Arizona, Oregon, Alaska, Nebraska and Iowa.
House Democrats, who privately expressed dismay over their narrowing path to victory earlier this week, are also closely watching the western states for the final results.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pointed out that the election is still undecided.
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Republicans are fighting for a GOP government trifecta after President-elect Trump won back the White House. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
“It has yet to be decided who will control the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. We must count every vote and wait until the results in Oregon, Arizona and California are clear,” Jeffries said Thursday.
“I am proud that the Democratic Party does not believe in election denial. Our democracy is precious, and it involves elevating public trust in our system of free and fair elections, not undermining it.”
The first party to reach 218 seats will claim the House majority.
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Montana
10-year-old Chicago boy killed, 7 others injured in 2 separate Gary shootings minutes apart: police
GARY, Ind. (WLS) — Two separate shootings that happened minutes apart overnight left a child dead and at least seven others injured in northwest Indiana, police said.
Gary police said officers responded to reports of shots fired in the area of 19th Avenue and Hanley Street around 12:34 a.m. Sunday.
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While officers were responding, they were told multiple victims had arrived at Methodist Northlake Hospital. Six people self-transported to the hospital, and their conditions were not immediately known.
Minutes later, around 12:49 a.m., officers started heading to the 200-block of Chase Street, about 4 miles away from the first scene, for a report of a gunshot victim. While on their way, officers learned that a 10-year-old boy and a 50-year-old man had been shot and went to Methodist Northlake Hospital.
The 10-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Lake County, Indiana Coroner’s Office identified him as Montana Weathers, of Chicago.
The 50-year-old man was transported to another Chicago-area hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Police asked anyone with information on the 19th Avenue and Hanley Street shooting to contact Detective Corporal Melendez at 219-881-1209.
Police asked anyone with information on the Chase Street shooting to contact Detective Salazar with the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force at 219-755-3720.
Further information was not immediately available.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Nevada
RV crash on I-15 near Mesquite sends two to hospital
MESQUITE (FOX5) — Two people were transported to a hospital after an RV crashed and caught fire on Interstate 15 near the Arizona-Nevada state line, according to Mesquite Police.
Investigators believe the RV, which was traveling southbound, blew a tire, lost control, and entered northbound lanes. The vehicle made contact with the trailer of a semi-truck before bursting into flames.
Condition of those injured
One of the two people transported from the scene was listed in very critical condition. The semi-truck sustained minor damage, and its driver was not reported among those transported.
Investigation ongoing
Mesquite Police are investigating the crash. No additional information about the identities of those involved has been released.
Drivers traveling northbound are advised to use alternate routes. Updated road conditions are available at nvroads.com.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
New Mexico
Less smoke and better storm chances Sunday in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Good to moderate air quality will persist in Albuquerque but may be worse in places where wildfires, like the Sacaton Fire, are burning Sunday.
The smoke may be little thicker to the south near the Sacaton fire into Socorro County and near Truth of Consequences. No weather advisories are in effect but we may see some showers and thunderstorms pop up this afternoon. That may mostly be over the eastern and southern counties. The Sacaton Fire might get little rain, which would be relief for the ever-growing fire.
Rain chances in the Albuquerque metro are lower — maybe 10%. We’re more likely to see a shower or storm over the East Mountains or Sandia Mountains later this afternoon.
Storms in eastern New Mexico, closer to Texas, might have some strong winds later. About the same weather is expected Monday. Highs in the 90s both days will trend back to drier and hotter weather later in the week.
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