News Wrap: Americans go to the polls on off-year election

Geoff Bennett:

In the day's other headlines: Major races are being decided as polls start closing on this off-year Election Day.

Governor's contests are the marquee match-ups, with two incumbents, Kentucky Democrat Andy Beshear and Mississippi Republican Tate Reeves, defending their seats. In Ohio, voters are deciding whether to add an abortion rights amendment to the state constitution and control of the Virginia legislature is at stake.

The special prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden denied any political interference in his probe today. David Weiss appeared before the House Judiciary Committee, the first time a special counsel has done so during an investigation. In prepared remarks behind closed doors, Weiss said — quote — "Political considerations played no part in our decision-making."

Weiss testified to address concerns raised by whistle-blowers and some House Republicans about the pace of the investigation.

In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and 16 state governors reached an agreement today on curbing a surge of migrants into that country. That came as shelters have filled up and applications for asylum have jumped 70 percent over last year. Scholz had come under growing pressure to take action. He announced the agreement at a news conference in Berlin.

Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor (through interpreter):

I believe this is a historic moment. In light of an unquestionably huge challenge with very large numbers of migrants and irregular migration, all levels of the state have managed to closely cooperate. People expect this of us.

Geoff Bennett:

Bangladesh will raise its minimum wage for garment workers by 56 percent to $113 a month. The country is the second largest garment producer in the world. Today's decision followed weeks of protests and clashes with police that killed two workers and wounded dozens. But some workers groups said the hike is not enough.

The office-sharing company WeWork has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The firm was once valued at $47 billion, but struggled throughout the pandemic. Many corporate clients canceled leases as millions of employees worked from home.

And on Wall Street, stocks ticked a little higher today. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 56 points to close at 34152. The Nasdaq rose 121 points. The S&P 500 added 12.