News Wrap: Judge blocks construction of Trump's triumphal arch for now

In our news wrap Friday, Trump’s plans to build a massive triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery have been put on hold, two more top officials resigned from the Justice Department, residents along the Georgia-Tennessee border are returning home after record floodwaters receded, Pope Leo started his 12-day tour of Latin America, and Tesla will wind down production of its Cybertruck.

Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

Geoff Bennett:

And we start today's other headlines in Washington, D.C.

President Trump's plans to build a massive Triumphal Arch near Arlington National Cemetery are on hold, at least for now. Late yesterday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from breaking ground on the monument for two weeks, citing concerns about disruptions to traffic and emergency services.

The ruling came just hours after a federal panel, including several Trump appointees, gave final approval to the project. Despite the setback, the administration launched a new Web site today promoting the proposed monument. Some veterans have objected to its placement near Arlington National Cemetery, arguing that it detracts from the solemnity of the site.

Two more top officials have resigned from the Justice Department just days after Democrats won back control of Congress. John Eisenberg led the DOJ's National Security Division, where he oversaw cases involving terrorism, leak investigations, and espionage.

And Jason Reding Quinones helped lead the so-called grand conspiracy investigation into President Trump's political opponents. Attorney General Todd Blanche thanked both men for their service, but did not provide additional details on their departures. Just a day earlier, Harmeet Dhillon left her post as head of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division.

Along the Georgia-Tennessee border, waters have receded and residents are returning home after record flooding submerged local towns. As much as 10 inches of rain fell in just six hours Thursday, turning the Toccoa River into raging rapids. Floodwaters surged through roads, rising as high as street signs and reaching the rooftops of some homes.

First responders deployed helicopters, drones, and swift water boats to conduct dozens of rescues. In McCaysville, Georgia, businesses were swamped by mud and debris. One owner said he likely suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost inventory, but said others were even worse off.

Hugh Rogers, Business Owner:

It's a little bit heartbreaking, but there's a lot of people that's lost their homes and everything they have, so it's -- we're not in such bad shape here. And I would a lot rather be doing this than lose a home. So...

Geoff Bennett:

Both McCaysville and neighboring Copperhill, Tennessee, had just recently finished cleaning up from a separate flood back in August.

Senator Chris Murphy says he will miss several weeks of votes on Capitol Hill while he recovers from a recent stroke. The Democrat from Connecticut says he was released from the hospital today and will spend the coming weeks at a rehabilitation center. His doctor says Murphy suffered a small stroke last weekend and that he's shown tremendous improvement. Murphy is expected to make a full recovery.

The longtime manager of the late country music legend Dolly Parton has dropped a lawsuit against her nephew. The suit accused Bryan Seaver, who once served as Parton's bodyguard and announced her death on social media, of threatening to damage her business empire in an effort to extract money from her estate. Seaver denied the allegations, saying he was simply seeking payments owed to his security company.

Parton died back in August after a brief battle with cancer. The reason for the lawsuit's dismissal was not disclosed.

Pope Leo touched down in Uruguay today to kick off a three-country tour of Latin America. The 71-year-old pontiff was welcomed by the nation's president in Montevideo this afternoon. His 12-day tour comes just three weeks after he underwent lung cancer surgery, which put the entire trip in doubt.

After Uruguay, Leo will head to Argentina and then Peru, where he will enjoy a homecoming of sorts. He served as a missionary and bishop there for more than two decades and even became a naturalized citizen before being elected pope last year.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the company will wind down production of its Cybertruck by the middle of next year. Musk says the Texas factory that produces the electric pickup will shift its focus to Tesla's new Cybercab Robotaxi. The Cybertruck has struggled to gain traction since its 2023 debut.

Sales fell short of expectations. The vehicle faced multiple recalls. And Musk's political activities also alienated some potential buyers. Tesla shares closed more than 4 percent higher today following yesterday's sell-off.

Elsewhere on Wall Street today, stocks steadied a bit to close out the week. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped nearly 240 points, but the Nasdaq managed a gain of more than 1 percent. The S&P 500 also ended in positive territory.