Man convicted of murder in slaying of Laken Riley; Restoring Pacific Northwest forests decimated by wildfires

Chris Stapleton took home four Country Music Association Awards and hardly left the stage on Wednesday night, while an absent Morgan Wallen won the night's biggest prize, entertainer of the year.

True crime. Real justice. To miss it would be a crime.

The proposed breakup calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent its Android smartphone software from favoring its search engine.

The American died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, Laos, the State Department confirmed.

The FDA says America's food supply is still "one of the safest in the world," despite some recent high-profile recalls and outbreaks.

President-elect Donald Trump confirmed that he plans to address illegal immigration in the U.S. through a mass deportation program. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady discusses how such a plan could affect the food industry.

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday took aim at incoming Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride, the first ever transgender member elected to Congress, with his decision to bar transgender people from using bathrooms in the Capitol Complex that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. Scott MacFarlane has more.

President-elect Donald Trump announced he plans to nominate former wrestling executive Linda McMahon as education secretary. Washington Post political investigative reporter Beth Reinhard joins "The Daily Report" to discuss her qualifications and plans.

Conservationists are teaming up with the U.S. Forest Service and logging companies to clear scorched land and make room for new reforestation projects.

President-elect Donald Trump is urging Republicans to slow down President Biden's judicial nominations before January. There are currently 44 vacancies, and 14 of Mr. Biden's nominations await Senate approval. Wall Street Journal Supreme Court correspondent Jess Bravin joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.

Large wildfires fueled by climate change have destroyed tens of millions of acres of forests in the Pacific Northwest in recent years. Jonathan Vigliotti explores a major effort underway to restore those forests.

Alec Baldwin's movie "Rust" premiered at a film festival in Poland on Wednesday, over three years after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on set. CBS News foreign correspondent Chris Livesay reports.

President-elect Donald Trump vowed to use the U.S. military to carry out his mass deportation plans. CBS News immigration and politics reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez reports on the plan's legality and other border news.

A monster storm known as a bomb cyclone knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers in Washington state and Oregon and caused major damage across the region. The storm's powerful winds downed trees onto homes and roads and was responsible for at least two deaths. Carter Evans reports from outside Seattle.

Air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv on Wednesday as Ukraine's capital prepared for a possible Russian airstrike that did not come. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv had already announced it was closing temporarily Wednesday because of a "potential significant air attack," and a Ukrainian military official told CBS News it had information that Russia could try to strike the center of Kyiv with ballistic missiles. Holly Williams reports from Kyiv.

The House Ethics Committee will keep its report of an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz sealed for the time being after it was unable to reach a decision Wednesday on whether to release it. Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's controversial pick for attorney general, was on Capitol Hill today attempting to win support among Senate Republicans. Nikole Killion has the latest.

A judge Wednesday found a Venezuelan migrant guilty on all counts in the murder earlier this year of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Manuel Bojorquez has the latest.

Here's a look at the top stories making headlines on the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell."

A bomb cyclone, or a low-pressure system that strengthens over 24 hours, moved through the Pacific Northwest, killing two people. Washington, California and Nevada residents experienced widespread power outages and heavy rain. CBS News correspondent Carter Evans has more.

The waters off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts are teeming with life, especially dolphins. More than ever, these animals are getting stranded on the shore, with the number spiking this year.

Gautam Adani, one of the world's richest people, is accused of concealing that a solar energy project was being facilitated by an alleged $265 million bribery scheme.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, temporarily shut down on Wednesday over fears of a possible Russian air attack. Meanwhile, the Biden administration approved antipersonnel mines for Ukraine to slow Russian ground forces. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams reports, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor has analysis.

The House Ethics Committee did not reach an agreement on whether to release its report about former Rep. Matt Gaetz on Wednesday. Politico congressional reporter Olivia Beavers has more on the report's future and Gaetz's meeting with Senate lawmakers.

Undocumented Venezuelan immigrant Jose Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. CBS News national correspondent Manuel Bojorquez has more on the charges, verdict and sentencing.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed new protections for giraffes, saying their populations are threatened by poaching, habitat loss and climate change.

The Democratic Party is looking for a new leader. CBS News political reporter Aaron Navarro breaks down who's running for Democratic National Committee chair and their plans for returning Democrats to power.

The House Ethics Committee will reconvene the first week of December to discuss its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz. Democratic Rep. Mark DeSaulnier of California, a member of the committee, joins "America Decides" to discuss what happened in their Wednesday meeting.

Vice President Kamala Harris won the historically blue state of New Mexico in the 2024 election but by a much smaller margin than President Biden. New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joins "America Decides" to share her reaction.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana weighed in Wednesday on the potential vetting and confirmation process of former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for attorney general. Molly Ball, senior political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and Laura Davison, politics editor for Bloomberg, join "America Decides" to discuss this and more on the latest picks by Trump to join his administration.