California

Death Toll in Oakland Warehouse Fire at 36

The death toll has risen to 36 people from a f ire that broke out Friday night during a party and electronic-music performance at a warehouse in Oakland, Calif., authorities said on Monday.

Investigators have identified the area where the fire started in the back of the building, but still don't know what sparked the blaze, said Melinda Drayton, a battalion chief with the Oakland Fire Department.

Crews searching through the charred wreckage for bodies temporarily halted work Monday morning because the building was unstable, she said.

The warehouse, known as the Oakland Ghost Ship, also served as an informal home for a small group of artists and at least one family, according to a neighbor.

Alameda District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said Monday her office is investigating whether there is any criminal liability. Charges could include murder or involuntary manslaughter, she said, adding that it is too early to draw any conclusions.

--Zusha Elinson

North Carolina

McCrory Concedes Gubernatorial Loss

North Carolina Republican Gov. Pat McCrory conceded defeat to Democrat Roy Cooper, ending a monthlong skirmish over the incumbent's unsubstantiated claims of voting irregularity.

Mr. McCrory's team had filed protests in dozens of counties, claiming voter fraud. But local boards of election, dominated by Republicans and appointed by Mr. McCrory, had found no widespread evidence of wrongdoing.

--Valerie Bauerlein

South Carolina

Judge Grants Roof's Requests on Defense

A federal judge on Monday allowed Dylann Roof to reverse his week-old decision to represent himself in the initial phase of a Charleston, S.C., hate-crimes trial.

Mr. Roof, a white 22-year-old, is accused of killing nine black worshipers in June 2015 at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston.

U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel had granted Mr. Roof's request to act as his own lawyer after finding him competent to stand trial.

During the weekend, Mr. Roof submitted a handwritten note to the judge, asking to cede control back to his lawyers during the first phase of the trial, when jurors determine guilt. Mr. Roof asked to retake control of managing his defense during the sentencing phase, when jurors determine whether to apply the death penalty.

Judge Gergel said in a Monday filing that he would grant both requests.

--Valerie Bauerlein

Congress

Drug-Approval Bill Advanced by Senate

The Senate Monday cleared the final hurdle to passage of broad legislation aimed at boosting federal funds for biomedical research and speeding up government approval of drug and medical-devices, a goal pursued by the pharmaceutical industry over the objections of some consumer advocates.

The 85-13 vote cuts through the last remaining procedural obstacle before passage in the Senate, expected by Wednesday. Last week, the House overwhelmingly passed the legislation, which is expected to be signed into law by President Barack Obama before his term ends. Monday's vote easily cleared the needed 60-vote threshold to advance the bill.

Along with provisions aimed at speeding up Food and Drug Administration approval processes, the bill also folds in a measure to provide $1 billion to prevent and treat opioid addiction, and separate provisions aimed at overhauling the agency that provides grants to combat mental illness.

--Siobhan Hughes

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 06, 2016 02:47 ET (07:47 GMT)