News Wrap: Michigan Supreme Court rules Trump will stay on state’s primary ballot

Amna Nawaz:

In the day's other headlines: Former President Trump will stay on the primary ballot in Michigan. The state Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from voters seeking to disqualify him because of his role on January 6.

The justices wrote in a statement — quote — "We are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court."

That comes days after Colorado's Supreme Court deemed Mr. Trump ineligible to run for president in their state.

Wintry weather has blanketed parts of Colorado and South Dakota in more than a foot of snow. Nebraska and Wyoming weren't too far behind with about 11 inches. Meanwhile, strong winds continue to gust across the Southern and Central Plains. The massive storm is expected to bring snow and rain to the Northeast later this week.

Officials in Kyiv say Russia fired nearly 50 drones at Ukraine overnight and shelled a train station as people were trying to evacuate. The Ukrainian air force claims it shot down most of the drones, which were Iranian-made. Still, the attacks killed at least six people, destroyed buildings, and knocked out power to most of the southern city of Kherson.

Protests erupted in Congo today, demanding a redo of last week's presidential election. Demonstrators took to the streets of Kinshasa, denouncing what they say was a flawed vote. Police fired tear gas and threw rocks to break up the crowds. One of the main opposition candidates also accused police of firing live bullets. Protesters refused to give up.

Ruddy Mandio, Opposition Protester (through interpreter):

The people are resisting. Marching is our constitutional right, and it is not over, because they need to take responsibility for this chaotic election. We won't back down.

Amna Nawaz:

International observers and rights groups have also questioned the election's integrity. They cited polls that never opened or opened late and many illegible voter cards. Final election results are expected in the coming days.

Back in this country, The New York Times filed a federal lawsuit today against Microsoft and OpenAI for using millions of its stories to train chatbots. The Times says its never granted anyone permission to use its content for artificial intelligence purposes. It isn't seeking a specific amount in damages, but said the copyright infringements could be worth — quote — "billions of dollars."

And on Wall Street today, stocks managed modest gains. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 111 points to close at 37656. The Nasdaq rose 24 points. And the S&P 500 added seven.

And two passings to note tonight. Comedian Tom Smothers has died at his home in California after battling cancer. He and his brother Dick hosted the trailblazing "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" in the late 1960s. It mixed humor, music and controversial topics, often at odds with network censors. Smothers won an honorary Emmy for his work on the show nearly 40 years after it was canceled. Tom Smothers was 86 years old.

And South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the film "Parasite," was found dead today in Seoul in an apparent suicide. He had been under investigation for alleged drug use. Lee played the father of a wealthy family in "Parasite," which won the Oscar for best picture in 2020. He also appeared in several popular South Korean TV dramas. Lee Sun-kyun was 48 years old.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": the U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs discusses efforts to free Americans detained abroad; thousands of congregations leave the United Methodist Church amid disagreements over theology; interest in immersive exhibitions skyrockets as the way people consume art evolves; plus much more.