Louisiana

A tanker, Atlantic Asphalt, struck the American Heritage, a river cruise ship operated by American Cruise Lines, while it was docked on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on 13 Nov. The vessel was partly submerged and was reported to have capsized and come to rest listing on its side in shallow water. Reports put the number of people aboard between 129 and about 130. Rescue teams pulled people from the water, with counts ranging from at least 12 to 15 civilians and two firefighters. Local officials said none of those hospitalized had critical injuries. The US Coast Guard closed river traffic near the collision, and it is not yet clear why the tanker hit the ship.

House Republicans chose Jim Jordan, a 62-year-old Ohio representative who chairs the Judiciary Committee, as their leader for the incoming minority. He beat outgoing majority leader Steve Scalise 106 to 73 in a secret ballot held behind closed doors on 10 Nov. The vote followed Democrats' midterm gains that gave them House and Senate majorities. Speaker Mike Johnson declined to seek the post. In the Senate, John Thune was re-elected Republican leader by acclamation.

The Trump administration plans to deport more than 150 Afghan immigrants to Afghanistan, a US official and a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups say. Dozens have been detained in Louisiana, and the first deportation flight could leave as early as Monday, 2 Nov, according to The New York Times. Because Washington has no diplomatic ties with the Taliban, the flights would be routed through Pakistan, which would oversee the expulsions. Pakistan has already expelled more than two million Afghan nationals since 2023, according to Reuters. The Department of Homeland Security declined to confirm operational details.