What We're Following This Morning

Last GOP debate of the year: Nine Republican presidential candidates will face off this evening in Las Vegas. Donald Trump is still leading in the polls nationwide, but Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has taken the lead in Iowa.

Talks in Moscow: John Kerry, the U.S. secretary of state, is in the Russian capital for a meeting with Sergei Lavrov, his counterpart, and, later, Vladimir Putin, the president. The goal is to bridge differences between the two countries on ways to end the Syrian civil war. Update: More here

A Maryland man accused: Prosecutors say Mohamed Elshinawy of Edgewood received nearly $9,000 in wire transfers from the Islamic State. They say he planned to use the money to stage an attack in the U.S.

Fed begins its meeting: At the end of the two-day session, the Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates.