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What is the Winter Solstice and When Does it Occur in 2024?

Ever heard of the winter solstice? It’s a pretty cool astronomical event that marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Think of it as the official start of winter! But what exactly is it, and when does it happen in 2024? Let’s break it down in a friendly way. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the arrival of December often comes with colder weather and the anticipation of the holiday season. ...

Lindsey

December 20, 2024

Worried About Air Travel During a Government Shutdown? Here’s What to Expect

As the peak holiday travel season ramps up, U.S. lawmakers are deadlocked over federal funding, raising the possibility of a government shutdown starting as early as Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET if no budget deal is reached. For air travelers, that’s an unwelcome curveball. Here’s what to expect if a shutdown occurs and how it could impact your upcoming flight plans. Government shutdowns happen when Congress and the president fail to pass funding legislation for federal agencies and departments. In ...

Michael Streich

December 20, 2024

Biden’s Latest Student Loan Forgiveness: Who Qualifies?

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it is erasing $4.28 billion in student loan debt owed by 54,900 borrowers working in public service. This marks another significant action by the Biden administration, which has already forgiven nearly $180 billion in student debt for about 4.9 million people—more than any other president. Who Qualifies Under Biden’s Plan? This new round of forgiveness applies to borrowers enrolled in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF program offers ...

Lindsey

December 20, 2024

California Grapples With Bird Flu Crisis: Governor Declares Emergency

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency following an Avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreak, commonly known as bird flu, which has infected 34 people. The announcement came Wednesday after several cases were detected among dairy cows on farms in Southern California. This development has prompted state authorities to intensify their containment and monitoring efforts. A press release from the governor’s office emphasized that the state’s response includes ramped-up testing and surveillance to limit the virus’s further spread. ...

Shaun Bernard

December 19, 2024

House Ethics Committee Report on Matt Gaetz Poised for Release

The US House of Representatives ethics committee has reportedly voted to release a long-awaited report on sexual misconduct allegations against former congressman Matt Gaetz. According to CNN, the vote took place earlier this month, and the report is expected to become public after the chamber’s final votes of the year, potentially within days. Matt Gaetz, a former Republican representative known for his staunch support of Donald Trump and hardline conservative positions, faced damaging allegations of sexual misconduct involving a minor. ...

Lindsey

December 19, 2024

Luigi Mangione Indicted on Terrorism Charges in Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

A New York grand jury has indicted 30-year-old Luigi Mangione on terrorism-related murder charges following the December 4 slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. The indictment, announced on December 17 by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, marks a significant development in a case that has gripped both the business community and the general public. Mangione faces second-degree murder charges as a “crime of terrorism,” as well as first-degree murder, which in New York is generally reserved for ...

Lindsey

December 18, 2024

Hannah Kobayashi Speaks Out After Returning to the United States

After weeks of uncertainty, widespread media coverage, and a family’s desperate search, 30-year-old Hawaii native Hannah Kobayashi is finally back in the U.S. and breaking her silence. Kobayashi, who vanished in November after missing a connecting flight in Los Angeles, had been the subject of a nationwide search and intense speculation. Now, five days after her family announced she was found safe, she’s issuing a statement and focusing on healing. On Monday, December 16, Lt. Doug Oldfield of the Los ...

Lindsey

December 17, 2024

Wisconsin School Shooting: 15-Year-Old Female Student Identified as Shooter

A day after a fatal shooting inside a classroom at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, authorities have identified the teenage suspect as 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow. The tragic event unfolded on Monday, when a study hall of mixed-grade students turned into a scene of violence, leaving two people dead and six others injured. Just before 11 a.m. on December 16, local law enforcement received an active shooter call from inside Abundant Life Christian School. According to Madison Police ...

Lindsey

December 16, 2024

Rare Tornado Hits Scotts Valley, California, Leaving Five Injured

A small city in Northern California experienced a rare weather phenomenon Saturday when a tornado touched down in Scotts Valley, just six miles north of Santa Cruz. The unexpected storm caused multiple vehicles to flip, injured five people, and led to significant property damage. Shortly before 2 p.m. local time on Saturday, a tornado swept through the city’s busy retail area on Mount Hermon Road. How strong was the tornado in Scotts Valley today? Although California is not typically associated ...

Lindsey

December 15, 2024

Who Is Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s Acting President After Yoon’s Impeachment?

With the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea finds itself in a period of political uncertainty, and all eyes have turned to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has stepped in as acting president. Han’s appointment is not unexpected—South Korea’s Constitution dictates that if a president is suspended, the prime minister assumes presidential duties until the situation is resolved. But who is Han Duck-soo, and what does he bring to this pivotal role? Who is Han Duck-soo? Han Duck-soo ...

Michael Streich

December 14, 2024

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Impeached, Marking a Historic Political Showdown

South Korea’s political landscape experienced a dramatic turn on Saturday as lawmakers voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. The decision came after Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law earlier this month, which stunned the nation and sent shockwaves through its democratic institutions. His move to impose martial law was widely viewed as an attempt to muzzle an opposition-controlled National Assembly, raising serious concerns both domestically and abroad. The Impeachment Vote and Immediate Consequences A total of 204 legislators voted ...

Michael Streich

December 14, 2024

The Cold Moon: Your Guide to December’s Full Moon

As we approach the end of the year, the night sky is getting ready to offer a beautiful cosmic gift: December’s full moon, known as the Cold Moon. This final full moon of 2024 will brighten the winter skies just in time for the holiday season, peaking in the early morning hours on Sunday, December 15. When to Look for the Cold Moon? While the moon reaches peak illumination at 4:02 a.m. EST on Sunday, December 15, you won’t have ...

Lindsey

December 14, 2024

Former OpenAI Researcher and Whistleblower Dies, Leaving Questions About AI Ethics and Copyright

A former OpenAI researcher, who recently spoke out against the company’s use of copyrighted materials to train its blockbuster AI program ChatGPT, has passed away. Authorities in San Francisco confirmed that Suchir Balaji, age 26, died by suicide in late November. Balaji’s death has saddened those who were following his story and the larger debate around artificial intelligence ethics. Known for his willingness to publicly address the complicated issue of using copyrighted text for AI training, Balaji was expected to ...

Lindsey

December 14, 2024

TikTok Issues Strong Response to Potential U.S. Ban, Promises to Fight On

After a federal appeals court upheld a law that could force Chinese tech giant ByteDance to sell TikTok—or see the popular short-video app effectively banned in the United States—TikTok released a statement vowing to continue the fight. In a surprise turn, the court’s decision means that if ByteDance fails to sell TikTok by January 19, 2025, app store providers like Apple and Google and internet hosting services would be required to stop supporting the app. Without that support, TikTok would ...

Lindsey

December 9, 2024

Veterans Push Back Against Hegseth’s Proposal to Slash VA Benefits

In March 2018, then-President Donald Trump was meeting with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Dr. David Shulkin to discuss how to improve health care for America’s veterans. But it wasn’t Shulkin’s opinion Trump truly cared about—it was that of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality at the time. Hegseth’s views on veterans’ health care stood out: he strongly believed that veterans should have more freedom to use private health care instead of the VA, even if that meant limiting ...

Lindsey

December 8, 2024

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