Thanksgiving travel, LeBron returns to Cleveland, 'Creed II': 5 things to know Wednesday
Thanksgiving weekend set to begin, and travel will be busy
This Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which unofficially starts Wednesday, 54.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more, a 4.8 percent increase over last year. That will be the highest volume of Thanksgiving travelers since 2005, with an additional 2.5 million people taking to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways compared with last year; Thanksgiving will also be the busiest for air travel this year. Congestion on the roads will be heaviest during the evening commute, INRIX and AAA predict. The worst congestion will take place in San Francisco, New York City and Boston. Need help navigating through the busy roads? You might want to consult this handy interactive 'Mapping Thanksgiving' site Google has put together to find travel information in your area.
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Rain may bring both relief, problems for wildfire-worn California
The scorched Northern California town of Paradise could get its first significant rainfall in six months starting Wednesday, a forecast that would interrupt one of the most horrific fire seasons in state history. Paradise could see up to four inches of rain Wednesday to Friday. Because of the precipitation, hundreds of workers who are scouring the areas are looking for remains of victims before the rain washes them away. Other problems include slippery roads and downpours, along with flash floods, ash flows and mudslides because the blackened earth won't be able to absorb the water. Still, the rains are expected to provide a huge boost for firefighters battling the historic Camp Fire, which was 70 percent contained as of early Tuesday.
LeBron returns to Cleveland for first time since joining Lakers
When LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers and took his talents to South Beach to join the Miami Heat in 2010, fans were understandably upset. When he made his first return to Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena on Dec. 2, 2010, it was an unforgettable night for all the wrong reasons. James left the Cavaliers for a second time this summer, this time for the Los Angeles Lakers. The four-time MVP returns to Cleveland again Wednesday night as the Lakers take on the Cavaliers (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). It will be the Lakers’ only game in Cleveland this year.
Interpol elects new president, thwarting Russian bid to lead
Interpol elected South Korea's Kim Jong-yang as its new president Wednesday. Kim's election - during Interpol's annual general assembly in Dubai - averted a crisis because it thwarted efforts by Russia to lead the international police body. Russian national Alexander Prokopchuck, a senior general who for the past 12 years has been the head of Moscow’s national Interpol bureau, was widely tipped to win the post. Prokopchuck is close to the Kremlin and has been accused of routinely abusing Interpol's Red Notice system – global arrest warrants – to target critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The prospect of a Russian sitting atop the international police organization raised red flags in Washington and among critics of the Kremlin who believed Putin would have further tried to aggressively influence Interpol to go after his political opponents. Kim, 57, was previously an Interpol vice president for Asia. Until his election, he was serving as acting Interpol president following the disappearance of Meng Hongwei, who ran Interpol before vanishing in China two months ago.
Michael B. Jordan is back for round two
Just in time for a family-filled weekend, "Creed II," the sequel to Ryan Coogler’s surprise 2015 hit and 1985’s “Rocky IV,” hits theaters nationwide on Wednesday. There are jabs, hooks and haymakers aplenty, but the drama outside the boxing ring packs the most punch in the film, starring Michael B. Jordan alongside his grizzled mentor, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). One thing that may stand out on the big screen: Jordan's chiseled physique. The newest "Rocky" spinoff features Jordan's body even more ripped than in "Black Panther" and the first "Creed." And it took a lot of work to get there.
Contributing: Associated Press