After a fierce contest that focused on the candidates' Asian American identities and use of strong anti-Chinese rhetoric, NBC News reports that Democrat Derek Tran has upset Republican incumbent Michelle Steel for a House seat representing Orange County and Los Angeles in California. Tran, a veteran of the Army, won by a slim margin in a contest that was decided by a few hundred votes. In a state that has gone heavily to the right, his victory over Steel turns the 45th Congressional District blue, making it one of only two districts to do so. The findings follow a costly election in which the district spent over $34 million, according to OpenSecrets, a group that monitors political spending. In Los Angeles County, where he has a sizable lead over Steel, Tran has done better with voters. Ho...

Four weeks after sustaining a brain injury during a game, Alabama A&M football player Medrick Burnett Jr. passed away on Tuesday, according to the HBCU's administrators. He was twenty years old. When the Bulldogs faced rival Alabama State in the yearly gridiron matchup known as the Magic City Classic, which pits the largest and most renowned HBCUs in that state against one another, the redshirt freshman linebacker sustained an injury on October 26. Burnett transferred from Grambling to Alabama A&M and participated in seven games this season. On September 21, Burnett had his best game when he recorded three tackles against Austin Peay. In a statement, Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Paul Bryant said, "The loss of Medrick Burnett Jr. is heartbreaking for our Bulldog family." Be...

Following the announcement that Donald Trump Jr. had joined its advisory board, shares of a little-known drone firm surged on Wednesday. The hiring was revealed in an early-morning news release by Unusual Machines, an Orlando, Florida-based company that was founded just two years ago after it purchased a drone maker and a different drone retailing company. In the release, Unusual Machines CEO Allan Evans stated, "Don Jr. joining our board of advisors gives us unique expertise we need as we bring drone component manufacturing back to America." He has a plethora of knowledge, and I am looking forward to his guidance and contribution to the company as we grow. In the statement, Trump Jr. also contextualized the action in relation to his father, President-elect Donald Trump, and his America F...

After sustaining a brain injury during a game four weeks prior, Alabama A&M football player Medrick Burnett Jr. passed away on Tuesday, according to HBCU officials. He was twenty years old. When his Bulldogs faced perennial opponent Alabama State in the yearly gridiron matchup known as the Magic City Classic, which pits the largest and most renowned HBCUs in that state against one another, the redshirt freshman linebacker sustained an injury on October 26. Burnett transferred from Grambling to Alabama A&M and participated in seven games this season. Paul Bryant, the director of athletics at Alabama A&M, said in a statement, "The loss of Medrick Burnett Jr. has devastated our Bulldog family today." Beyond his outstanding athletic abilities, Medrick was a fantastic young man whos...

The problematic Rikers Island jail complex is on the brink of a federal takeover after a judge held New York City in contempt on Wednesday for failing to stop violence and abuse at its cells. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain of Manhattan said in a written ruling that the city had violated the Constitution by disregarding 18 different court order provisions concerning security, staffing, supervision, use of force, and the safety of juvenile detainees. She said that in the nine years since the city resolved abuse and violence accusations, the long-standing filthy conditions had gotten much worse, made worse by the jail administration's indifference or incapacity to carry out mandated repairs. Swain therefore mandated that the city and attorneys representing the detainees meet with a mo...

According to a spokesperson for the Trump transition team, a number of President-elect Donald Trump's intended Cabinet candidates and administration personnel were the targets of "swatting" attacks and bomb threats on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. "Violent, un-American threats against their lives and those who live with them" were directed at the nominees and appointees. In a statement, transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated, "These attacks ranged from swatting to bomb threats." Swatting is when someone calls the police pretending that something life-threatening is happening. It can have fatal consequences and is intended to attract SWAT teams to a site. These were not credible threats, according to three senior law enforcement officials who briefed NBC News on the swatting...

On this Thanksgiving Day in orbit, the astronauts on board the International Space Station are prepared to break bread. According to NASA astronaut Suni Williams, she will rejoice with her fellow crew members on the day off. "We have a lot of Thanksgiving-type food that we've packed away," Williams stated in an interview with NBC News on Wednesday. There were mashed potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, apple cobbler, smoked turkey, and cranberries. She also mentioned that she will watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade before enjoying a meal with her Russian and American coworkers. Watch NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT for more of the interview. For almost six months, Williams has been residing and working aboard the International Space Station. As test pilot...

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that retired General Keith Kellogg would be his choice to be the Special Envoy for Russia and Ukraine and the President's Assistant. "During my first administration, Keith held extremely sensitive National Security positions as part of his illustrious military and business career. He had been with me from day one! In a statement announcing his decision, Trump declared, "We will work together to secure peace through strength and make America and the world safe once more." Kellogg was the National Security Council's executive secretary and chief of staff during Trump's first term in office. He spent more than 35 years in the military before. In an April policy paper that NBC News was able to get, Kellogg described his plans to try to put a...

Today, Karol G is a Bratz doll. The Colombian singer is the first performer to work with the toy company to design a Bratz doll that resembles her. The artist's rose gold dress from last year's 24th annual Latin Grammy Awards, where she won the coveted album of the year award and best urban music album for "Ma ana Ser Bonito" as well as best urban fusion/performance for her duet with Shakira "TQG," served as the inspiration for the new Karol G collector doll's appearance. In a statement, Karol G stated, "I now get to share a doll inspired by that very moment in my career." It's unbelievable. Other clothes from Karol G's spinoff album Ma ana Ser Bonito (Bichota Season), which also took home the best urban music album award at this month's Latin Grammys, are included with the doll. Accordin...