Steve Futterman

For NPR News, I'm Steve Fetterman in Los Angeles.

It is now the Oscar favorite.

Julia Roberts made the announcement as one battle after another, a sometimes offbeat film depicting the struggles of a group of immigrants as they try to stay in the U.S., won Best Comedy or Musical Film.

The film's creator, Paul Thomas Anderson, won Best Director and Best Screenplay, and Tiana Taylor won Best Female Supporting Actor.

Another big winner was Hamnet.

Hamnet, which tells the story of William Shakespeare dealing with the death of his son, won Best Dramatic Film.

Timothee Chalamet won Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his performance in Marty's Supreme.

For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

In the first semifinal tonight, Mississippi takes on Miami.

Ole Miss, which has lost just once this season, has had to overcome a major distraction.

Its head coach during the regular season, Lane Kiffin, left the team in November to take over the coaching duties at LSU.

Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

Tomorrow, the second semifinal matches the nation's number one team undefeated Indiana against Oregon.

The winners tonight and tomorrow will face off for the national championship on January 19th.

For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Phoenix.

When court convened, Alan Jackson, who's been representing Nick Reiner, Jackson being a very high-profile attorney, told the court he is withdrawing from the case.

He did not give any explanation, but did tell the court he had no choice.

I have to say this was a surprise.

No one expected this.

A public defender was then appointed to represent Nick Reiner.