January 1, PRESIDENT TRUMP: ‘COMPLETE AND TOTAL EXONERATION’

(AP) – Special counsel Robert Mueller on Friday turned over his long-awaited final report on the contentious Russia investigation that has cast a dark shadow over Donald Trump’s presidency, entangled Trump’s family and resulted in criminal charges against some of the president’s closest associates.

Celebrating “no collusion and no obstruction” as reported by Attorney General William Barr’s summary of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, President Donald Trump claimed “complete and total exoneration.”

“Collusion, the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” President Trump told the media before boarding Air Force One, leaving Florida’s Mar-a-Lago during a weekend away from the White House. “No collusion and no obstruction.

Russian Air Force Planes Land in Venezuela Carrying Troops

(Reuters) – Two Russian air force planes landed at Venezuela’s main airport on Saturday carrying a Russian defense official and nearly 100 troops, according to media reports, amid strengthening ties between Caracas and Moscow.

A flight-tracking website showed that two planes left from a Russian military airport bound for Caracas on Friday, and another flight-tracking site showed that one plane left Caracas on Sunday.

Iowa Poll: Biden, Sanders, Buttigieg Top Dem Contenders

Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are neck-and-neck in the 2020 presidential race, with Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg in third place, a poll of Democrat Iowa caucus voters shows.

Emerson Polling says former vice president Biden has 25 percent support, Sanders 24 percent, South Bend’s Buttigieg 11 percent, and the only other double-digit candidate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., 10 percent.

Calif. Grower Recalls Avocados Over Possible Listeria

(AP) – A Southern California company is voluntarily recalling whole avocados over possible listeria contamination.

Henry Avocado, a grower and distributor based near San Diego, said Saturday that the recall covers conventional and organic avocados grown and packed in California. The company says they were sold in bulk across California, Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, North Carolina and New Hampshire.

There have been no reports of any illnesses associated with the avocados.

The company says it issued the voluntary recall after a routine inspection of its packing plant revealed samples that tested positive for listeria.

Patriots Tight End Gronkowski Retiring at 29

(Reuters) – The New England Patriots’ gentle giant has decided to hang up his cleats.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said Sunday that he is retiring from the NFL after nine seasons.

Gronkowski announced his decision via a post on Instagram , saying that a few months shy of his 30th birthday “it’s time to move forward and move forward with a big smile.””It all started at 20 years old on stage at the NFL draft when my dream came true, and now here I am about to turn 30 in a few months with a decision I feel is the biggest of my life so far,” Gronkowski wrote in his post. “I will be retiring from the game of football today.”