Hamas says no hostage will leave alive unless group's demands met (www.telegraph.co.uk)
Senate Passes Defense Bill, Steering Clear of Far-Right Policy Dictates (www.nytimes.com)
The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed an $886 billion defense bill that would set Pentagon policy and provide a 5.2 percent pay raise for military personnel, defying the demands of hard-right Republicans who had tried and failed to attach a raft of deeply partisan restrictions on abortion, transgender care and diversity...
Supreme Court will hear a case that could undo Capitol riot charge against hundreds, including Trump (apnews.com)
The justices will review an appellate ruling that revived a charge against three defendants accused of obstruction of an official proceeding. The charge refers to the disruption of Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory over Trump....
Imported US sweets with illegal ingredients seized (www.bbc.com)
Jolly Ranchers and Mountain Dew are advertised on TikTok and Instagram but contain products banned in the UK.
Donald Trump's lawyers again ask for early verdict in civil fraud trial, judge says 'no way' (www.pbs.org)
Donald Trump’s lawyers rested his defense Tuesday and sought anew to immediately end the New York civil fraud trial that threatens the former president’s real estate empire. The judge said “there’s no way I’m going to grant that.”...
Judge puts hold on Trump's federal election interference case while appeals process plays out (abcnews.go.com)
The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s federal election interference case in Washington, D.C., has stayed proceedings in the case while the appeals process plays out....
'We're reclaiming what we believed was ours to begin with': Tonkawa tribe buys Sugarloaf Mountain (www.kxxv.com)
Big-box retail chains were never a solution for America's downtowns, and now they're fleeing back to suburbia (phys.org)
Norfolk, Virginia, approves military-themed brewery despite some community pushback (www.nbcnews.com)
Biden goes into 2024 with the economy getting stronger, but voters feel horrible about it (abcnews.go.com)
President Joe Biden goes into next year’s election with a vexing challenge: Just as the U.S. economy is getting stronger, people are still feeling horrible about it....
Indiana suspect arrested after leaving debit card at scene of killing (www.theguardian.com)
Police in Gary were able to track down the man after he allegedly shot a fellow customer during a fight at a grocery store...
Wisconsin schools superintendent wants UW regents to delay vote on deal to limit diversity positions (apnews.com)
In a surprising about-face, the Universities of Wisconsin regents approved a deal Wednesday evening with Republican legislators to limit diversity positions at the system’s two dozen campuses in exchange for money to cover staff raises and construction projects....
Panera Bread’s Charged Lemonade blamed for a second death, lawsuit alleges (www.nbcnews.com)
Panera Bread’s highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade is now blamed for a second death, according to a lawsuit filed Monday....
6,000 Los Angeles buildings are not retrofitted for earthquakes. Look up if yours is. (www.latimes.com)
Diplomas for sale, no classes required. Inside one of Louisiana’s unapproved schools (abcnews.go.com)
Nearly 9,000 schools in Louisiana don’t need state approval to grant degrees....
Boston Mayor Wu, city councilors answer questions after email invite to ‘Electeds of Color Holiday Party’ mistakenly sent to entire city council - Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News (whdh.com)
US agency takes first step toward requiring new vehicles to prevent drunk or impaired driving (apnews.com)
U.S. auto safety regulators say they have taken the first step toward requiring devices in vehicles that prevent drunk or impaired driving....
After Water System Privatization, Consumers Get Hosed (substack.perfectunion.us)
In Pennsylvania, residents are resisting a corporate takeover of their water system as state lawmakers attempt to change a law that incentivizes privatization.
China has another massive headache now: It can’t stem deflation (www.cnn.com)
While many central banks around the world are still trying to cool inflation, China is grappling with falling prices....
Turkish MP has heart attack while saying Allah punishes pro-Israel people (www.newsweek.com)
Kentucky woman seeking court approval for abortion learned her embryo no longer has cardiac activity (apnews.com)
A pregnant woman in Kentucky who filed a lawsuit demanding the right to an abortion has learned her embryo no longer has cardiac activity, her attorneys said Tuesday....
CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens hand out medical records to cops without warrants (arstechnica.com)
Lawmakers want HHS to revise health privacy law to require warrants....
‘Don’t get sick. It’s too expensive’: medical debt is putting more Americans in financial crisis (www.theguardian.com)
Tesla recalls over 2 million vehicles to fix defective system that monitors drivers using Autopilot (apnews.com)
Tesla is recalling nearly all of the vehicles it sold in the U.S., more than 2 million across its model lineup, to fix a defective system that’s supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention when they use Autopilot....
Kentucky woman sues state over abortion ban so she can terminate her pregnancy (www.kentucky.com)
A Kentucky woman Friday filed an emergency class-action lawsuit, asking a Jefferson County judge to allow her to terminate her pregnancy. It’s the first lawsuit of its kind in Kentucky since the state banned nearly all abortions in 2022 and one of the only times nationwide since before Roe v. Wade in 1973 that an adult woman...