Israel’s military is expanding its ground offensive near refugee camps in Gaza. BBC News correspondent Shaimaa Khalil reports on what is happening to the Palestinians in those camps and others trying to move toward the Rafah crossing. Source

The Democratic mayors of New York, Chicago and Denver said Wednesday they are overwhelmed with the number of migrants arriving in their cities and called on the White House to intervene. CBS News correspondent Skyler Henry reports on the Biden administration’s response. Source

The U.S. population grew by more than 1.75 million people over the past year and on New Year’s Day it will stand at more than 335.8 million, the Census Bureau said. Source

U.S. Border Patrol agents processed more than 225,000 migrants in the first 27 days of December, a tally that eclipses the previous monthly record. Source

San Antonio police announced they are searching for two persons of interest in the killings of Savanah Nicole Soto, a pregnant 18-year-old, and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Matthew Guerra. They were missing for several days before being found dead in a car. Police said the investigation has been categorized as a capital murder case. Source

Savanah Nicole Soto, 18, and her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, 22, were both reported missing last week before they were found shot to death in Guerra’s car. Source

Several Muslim and Arab American advocates who voiced frustration with the Biden administration’s response to the situation in Gaza​. Source

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is calling for accelerated war preparations in response to confrontational moves he says are led by the United States. CBS News’ Shanelle Kaul has more. Source

Republican presidential candidates are reacting to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley avoiding talking about slavery when a voter asked Wednesday what she thought was the cause of the Civil War. CBS News campaign reporter Nidia Cavazos reports from New Hampshire. Source

SB4 would allow Texas officials to arrest, jail and prosecute migrants on state criminal charges if they are suspected of entering the U.S. illegally. Source