Friday's Mini-Report, 12.2.16

Today's edition of quick hits:* South Carolina: "A lone juror said they cannot convict a white former police officer who fatally shot a black man in South Carolina, and the judge asked for clarification from the foreperson as to whether the jury is hopelessly deadlocked. The juror in a letter to the court said 'I cannot in good conscience consider a guilty verdict' against Michael Slager, a former patrolman who pulled over Walter Scott in North Charleston, and ended up shooting him as a bystander recorded the incident on video."* Tennessee: "The death toll in eastern Tennessee's devastating wildfire climbed to 13 on Friday as county officials disputed claims that no evacuation order was sent to mobile devices as the flames approached homes."* Did this really happen? "U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke on the telephone on Friday with Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte and invited him to the White House next year during a 'very engaging, animated' talk, an aide to Duterte said."* A New Jersey judge today "dismissed a bid to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Gov. Chris Christie's involvement in the lane closings at the George Washington Bridge, leaving the case in the hands of an office led by one of Mr. Christie's appointees."* I wonder if Trump's deal with Carrier would've been better if the company's workers union hadn't been shut out of the negotiations.* Overtime: "The Labor Department is appealing an injunction that halted the Dec. 1 implementation of a sweeping overtime-pay regulation, advancing a federal court battle over a rule that could face an eventual challenge from President-elect Donald Trump."* Lame-duck session: "The House on Friday easily passed this year's annual defense policy bill with bipartisan support in a 375-34 vote. The bill would authorize a total of $618.7 billion in spending, including $59.5 billion for a war fund known as the overseas contingency operations (OCO) account."* Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) "says he is overjoyed that President-elect Donald Trump is not abandoning his promise to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border." The anti-immigration congressman said Trump's vows are "exhilarating."Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.