News Wrap: At least 54 dead in migrant truck crash in Mexico

Judy Woodruff:

In the day's other news: Inflation in the U.S. has surged to its highest point in nearly four decades. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices jumped 6.8 percent last month over what they were a year earlier.

At an afternoon event, President Biden acknowledged the toll that's taken on many Americans.

President Joe Biden:

It's a real bump in the road. It does affect families.

When you walk in the grocery store and you're paying more for whatever you're purchasing, it matters. It matters to people, when you're paying more for gas, although in some states, we have got the price down below three bucks a gallon.

But the point is, it's not gone down quickly enough. But I think it will.

Judy Woodruff:

We will have more on this after the news summary.

Stocks rose on Wall Street today, despite today's inflation report, which analysts said was on track with expectations. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 216 points to close at 35971. The Nasdaq rose 113 points. And the S&P 500 added 44 to close at another record high.

COVID-19 cases in the U.S. climbed 37 percent this week, with at least 25 states confirming Omicron variant infections. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky reported that the number of daily deaths was also up 28 percent.

Even so, she expressed optimism that the numbers will improve.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director:

We do have increasing cases. We're at 118,000 a day. But we also have many more readily available tools than we had earlier this year. And it is the collection of all those things together, vaccinations, boosters, and preventive measures, that really gives me a lot more faith in our — where we are currently.

Judy Woodruff:

New York is tightening its COVID restrictions even more, amid a surge in infections. Starting on Monday, the state will require masks in all indoor public spaces, unless businesses or venues require proof of vaccination.

At least 54 people have died in Mexico after a tractor-trailer packed with roughly 200 migrants crashed into a steel bridge. The incident, which happened yesterday evening in the southern part of the country, injured at least 53 others.

Survivors recalled how the crash played out.

Celso Pacheco, Crash Survivor (through translator):

It caught the curve. And because of the weight of the people inside, we all fell into the curve. Clearly, the trailer could not contain the people because of the weight, and it toppled over.

Judy Woodruff:

Most of the migrants aboard the tractor-trailer were coming from Guatemala and Honduras.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is one step closer today to being extradited to the U.S. for publishing secret military documents a decade ago. A London high court overturned a lower court's ruling that Assange's mental health was too fragile for the American criminal justice system.

Assange, who is currently being held in London on spying charges, plans to appeal.

And three passings to note tonight. Auto racing legend Al Unser Sr. died last night in New Mexico after a long battle with cancer. Unser won his first Indianapolis 500 in 1970, and went on to win three more times. He holds the record for most laps led in the Indy 500, 644. He is also the only driver ever to have a sibling and a child also win the race. Al Unser was 82 years old.

Former National Football League wide receiver Demaryius Thomas died at his home in Georgia last night from what his family said was most likely a seizure. Thomas played most of his 10-season career with the Denver broncos. He earned five straight Pro Bowl honors, and was a Super Bowl champion. Demaryius Thomas was 33 years old.

And Michael Nesmith, the singer-songwriter and lead guitarist for The Monkees, died of heart failure today in California. He starred in the 1960s television sitcom about a rock band modeled after The Beatles, which led to a string of hit songs. He later went on to have a successful career in songwriting, television, and film production. Michael Nesmith was 78 years old.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa discusses the need for a free press worldwide; former Senator Bob Dole is remembered during a ceremony at the National Cathedral; plus much more.