How the accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter could get away with murder
Could the man accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on video get away with murder? While the immediate response would seem to be “no” considering the evidence, legal analysts say there is a chance, however small, Luigi Mangione could avoid a murder conviction.
Increasing public sympathy for Mangione could result in what’s called jury nullification despite the large amount of evidence stacked against him, according to some legal experts.
Jury nullification is when a jury returns a not guilty verdict even though all the jurors believe beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant did what he is accused of.
Mangione has been charged with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism, under federal law. He also faces state charges in New York and Pennsylvania.
He faces the death penalty in the federal charges, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole. Prosecutors say the two cases will be tried in mostly the same way, with the state charges expected to go to trial first.
Since his arrest, Mangione has gained many supporters. Many of them have posted sympathetic messages online or created fan accounts.
Supporters have even raised thousands of dollars on crowdfunding sites to pay for his legal defense fund. Many see Mangione’s alleged crimes as a form of protest against the American health care system.
Court proceedings in Mangione’s case were slated to start on Jan. 18. However, the deadline for indictment was pushed to Feb. 17 after both prosecutors and Mangione’s attorneys told a federal court they need more time to prepare.
‘Pizzagate’ gunman dies after being shot by police during traffic stop
The man who fired a gun inside a Washington, D.C. restaurant in 2016 allegedly motivated by a conspiracy theory called “pizzagate” is dead. Authorities said he police in North Carolina killed him on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Officials said the shooting happened in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Police said they pulled over a car in which Edgar Maddison Welch was the passenger.
One of the officers said they noticed the vehicle belonged to Welch. Officers said they’d arrested Welch in the past. He also had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest for a felony probation violation.
When officers went up to the car to arrest Welch, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at one of the officers, according to authorities.
Officers said they shouted orders for Welch to drop the handgun. However, he refused and was shot.
Welch died a couple of days later from his wounds. No other people were hurt in the shooting, according to police.
Law enforcement confirmed on Thursday, Jan. 9, that Welch is the same person sentenced to four years in prison for the “pizzagate” incident.
In 2016, Welch fired his gun inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington D.C. pizza shop, after a slew of false internet claims accused the pizzeria of holding children as sex slaves as part of a child-sex abuse ring led by Hillary Clinton.
Police said that Welch drove six hours from North Carolina to Washington, D.C. to investigate the unfounded allegations, bringing several guns with him.
As Welch entered the restaurant armed, people fled from the scene. Welch then reportedly shot at a locked closet. After he realized no children were being held captive, he surrendered to police.
The shooting death of Welch is under investigation and the officers involved in the incident are on administrative leave as part of protocol, according to North Carolina officials.
Georgia teen arrested for bringing gun to school where 4 killed in past shooting
Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, canceled school and all extracurricular activities on Thursday, Jan. 9, after a 14-year-old student brought a gun to school just months after a gunman killed four people in September 2024. Local police arrested the teen Wednesday, Jan. 8, for bringing the weapon to the same school.
Authorities charged the student, who is not being identified due to his age, with two counts of possessing a weapon on school grounds, theft and being a minor in possession of a gun.
Barrow County deputies said they arrested the boy “without incident” Wednesday afternoon at the school and said there had been “no reports of the student threatening anyone with the gun.”
Police did not disclose the type of gun or what led up to the boy’s arrest.
In September, then-14-year-old Colt Gray allegedly shot and killed two students and two teachers at the school. Police said several others were wounded during the shooting.
Prosecutors charged Colt Gray as an adult, indicting him on 55 counts, including malice murder and aggravated assault.
Colt Gray pleaded not guilty.
His father, Colin Gray, also faces more than two dozen charges, including two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors claimed he gave his son access to guns despite “sufficient warning” that the then-14-year-old would hurt others.
FBI searches Houston location after New Orleans truck attack
Investigators are learning more about the man who drove a pickup truck into a New Orleans crowd, killing 15 people in what authorities are calling “an act of terrorism.” And authorities are investigating whether an explosion in front of the Las Vegas Trump Hotel was an act of terrorism. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.
FBI searches Houston location after New Orleans truck attack
Authorities searched a location in Houston, Texas, in connection with the deadly truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. The FBI said it is believed to be connected to the suspect, who they said killed 15 people and injured dozens more early Wednesday, Jan 1. The agency called the attack “a deliberate act of terror.”
“It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace and it was very intentional behavior,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”
Police identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, a Texas resident and U.S. Army veteran. Jabbar served in the Army on active and reserve duty, including a 2009 deployment in Afghanistan.
Authorities said Jabbar drove a white Ford pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday. He then opened fire on responding police officers.
Officers shot and killed Jabbar at the scene, police said. Two officers were injured in the shootout.
Investigators discovered an ISIS flag on the rear bumper of the suspect’s truck as well as additional weapons and two improvised explosive devices. Authorities reportedly found and detonated at least one other improvised explosive device in the area.
Jabbar drove around security barriers set to deter vehicles from entering the area, police said. Kirkpatrick said the suspect drove onto the sidewalk, striking several victims.
According to the city, the barriers were under construction as New Orleans prepares to host the Super Bowl in February.
President Joe Biden held a press conference following the attack from Camp David. He said the FBI informed him it was looking at social media videos posted by the suspect just hours before the attack, indicating it was inspired by ISIS.
“To all the families of those who were killed, to all those who were injured, to all the people of New Orleans who are grieving today, I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you,” Biden said. “The law enforcement and intelligence community are continuing to look for any connections, associations or coconspirators. We have nothing additional to report at this time. The investigation is continuing to be active, and no one should jump to conclusions.”
Biden said the FBI does not believe Jabbar acted alone, and he has directed the U.S. intelligence community to work “intensively” to complete their investigation.
Jabbar’s brother told the New York Times that Jabbar converted to Islam at a young age but that this act was not religion-based but radicalization.
The president also said authorities were looking into any possible connection with an explosion outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Vehicles in both incidents were rented from the platform Turo, which allows car owners to rent out their vehicles.
The deadly attack in New Orleans led to the postponement of the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome less than a mile from Bourbon Street. That game will now be played Thursday, Jan. 2.
The FBI will hold a briefing Thursday with the House and Senate oversight committees on the New Orleans attack.
Victims of New Orleans truck attack begin to be identified
Kareem Badawi was a recent graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge. The school said Badawi was attending the University of Alabama.
Reggie Hunter, 37, was a father of two and worked as a warehouse manager.
Former Princeton University football player Tiger Bech was also killed. The 27-year-old moved to New York to work for a capital markets firm.
Ni’kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, was set to attend college, where she planned to major in nursing.
Nicole Perez, 27, was a mother who worked as a store manager.
These are only a few of the names of the more than a dozen victims killed in the attack. More information about the victims is expected in the coming days.
Fireworks, gas canisters used to fuel Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion
Authorities in Nevada are working to figure out if the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day was an act of terrorism. They say the driver, who died in the explosion, used fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel connected to a detonation system to set it off.
Seven people who were nearby when the blast went off were injured.
Investigators said the Cybertruck was rented in Colorado and arrived in Vegas about one hour before the explosion. Law enforcement officials have not identified the suspect because the person was badly burned in the explosion, but they have identified the person who rented it.
They said the suspect drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling up to the Trump Hotel. The truck exploded seconds later.
Investigators are also working to figure out if this incident was related to the terror attack in New Orleans.
Power restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after massive blackout
Power is mostly restored to homes and buildings across Puerto Rico after a massive blackout left the U.S. territory in the dark on New Year’s Eve. However, that might not be the end of it for some.
Luma Energy, the company that provides electricity to Puerto Rico, warned that more temporary outages could happen as it works to restore full power. The company said this could take up to two days.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the outage, but Luma Energy said a preliminary review indicated a failure in an underground electric line.
This is just the latest incident to highlight an ongoing problem with Puerto Rico’s power grid. In August, half of all the territory’s utility customers lost power during Hurricane Ernesto. It took more than a week to get it back.
Arctic air to bring a freezing start to 2025 in much of the US
Get ready to bundle up. Arctic weather will take over the warmer-than-usual temperatures that kicked off 2025 for a large part of the U.S.
Over the next couple of days, the coldest air of the season will move into the eastern part of the U.S., dropping temperatures to nearly 30 degrees below average in some areas.
While the bitterly cold air already started to move in, the worst of it is expected to hit next week.
🎆 As we round out 2024 and head into 2025, above normal warmth across the eastern half of the U.S. will be quickly replaced by a series of Arctic outbreaks… with the coldest air of the season set to take hold through next week. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/N046deYUpa
Forecasters said after the first wave of cold, two more rounds of arctic air will move in from Canada, setting up parts of the U.S. for a long-lasting run of freezing temperatures.
Notre Dame and Georgia to face off in postponed Sugar Bowl
The college football season provided lots of New Year’s excitement. Texas won in a double-overtime thriller, Ohio State routed Oregon and the top four contenders for the championship will be set after Notre Dame and Georgia face off in the Sugar Bowl Thursday afternoon.
The winner of the Sugar Bowl will move on to the Orange Bowl to face Penn State. The Nittany Lions defeated Boise State at the Fiesta Bowl 31-14 on New Year’s Eve.
Texas and Ohio State will face off in the Cotton Bowl after Texas edged Arizona State in double overtime at the Peach Bowl Wednesday and Ohio State shocked the nation with its thumping top-seeded, undefeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
The semifinal games are now the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. They will be played next week and determine who will go head-to-head for the College Football National Championship.
Parents of alleged school shooter in Serbia sentenced to prison
In Serbia, the parents of a teenage boy who allegedly carried out a school shooting in 2023 were convicted and sentenced in connection with the crime on Monday, Dec. 2024. Police said the boy, Kosta Kecmanovic, committed the first mass school shooting in the country’s history.
The suspected killer was 13 years old when he allegedly shot and killed nine children and a school security guard and injured six other people. He was too young to be charged for the murders under Serbian law.
Authorities said that the teen used his father’s guns to carry out the shooting on May 3, 2023.
The Belgrade court sentenced the teen suspect’s father, Vladimir Kecmanovic, to more than 14 years in prison for “grave acts against public safety” and child neglect.
The teen’s mother, Mijana Kecmanovic, was sentenced to three years in prison for child neglect. However, she was acquitted of other charges.
Additionally, a shooting instructor at a range where Kosta Kecmanovic reportedly practiced was sentenced to 15 months in prison for false testimony during the trial.
The parents’ lawyer, Irina Borovic, argued immense public pressure led to the conviction and sentences of the couple, and she vowed to appeal the verdicts.
Ninela Radicevic, whose daughter was killed in the mass shooting, told the Associated Press that the victims’ families “are not satisfied because no one was held responsible for the murder of nine children” and a school guard.
The teenage boy, now 14, is reportedly in a “specialized institution.”
Poland mandates gun training in schools amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine war
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, neighbors in the West are enforcing new rules to keep the younger generation ready for anything. Children in Poland as young as 14 years old are now taking part in gun training sessions to learn how to cope with threats caused by war and the basics of tactical rescue.
To protect students, the schools are using laser guns instead of live ammunition during one-hour weekly lessons.
In the country’s primary schools, eighth graders learn theoretical preparation on the safe handling of weapons, while children between 14 and 16 years old in secondary schools begin basic shooting lessons.
The laser-based training technology will be implemented in Poland’s 18,000 schools.
Some already offered the training but up until now, the lessons were optional.
The changes, prepared by Poland’s National Defense Ministry, are in response to what the country says is an increasing threat to state security from the war in Ukraine.
Poland shares a border with Russia, also known as the Kaliningrad region, and Belarus, which is Russia’s ally.
Earlier this year, Poland’s army chief issued a warning to prepare for a possible war and said a conflict with Russia is becoming increasingly likely.
Poland plans to up its defense spending in 2025 with a $48.7 billion budget, which is a more than $7 billion increase from the previous year.
Gaetz responds after House Ethics Committee releases report
Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who at one point was President-elect Trump’s pick for attorney general, is reacting to the House Ethics Committee’s report. And former President Bill Clinton remains hospitalized after developing a fever. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024.
Gaetz responds after House Ethics Committee releases report
The House Ethics Committee released its report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz on Monday, Dec. 23. Now, the controversial former lawmaker has responded to the committee’s findings.
The investigation found “substantial evidence” President-elect Donald Trump’s first pick for attorney general broke state and federal laws while in office, including statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl.
Gaetz resigned from Congress in November after Trump elected him to lead the Department of Justice. He withdrew his name for consideration once stories about his alleged misconduct were revealed. The allegations caused him to lose support with Republican senators needed for confirmation.
Investigators with the House Ethics Committee conducted numerous interviews, reviewed thousands of documents and submitted dozens of subpoenas.
The committee typically doesn’t release its findings but a vote from the majority of the members said the report should be made public.
The House Ethics Committee said Gaetz attempted to derail its three-year investigation by refusing to be interviewed and failing to provide exonerating evidence.
Gaetz denies all allegations, calling them nothing more than “smears” from his political enemies.
He posted on X that he was “fully exonerated” by the DOJ following a federal investigation into sex trafficking claims in 2021. He said his actions were embarrassing but not criminal and he leads a different life now.
“In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court,” Gaetz wrote.
“My 30’s were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life.”
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were…
Gaetz is suing the committee in federal court for releasing the report after he resigned from Congress. His lawyers argue the report will lead to irreversible damage to his reputation.
Gaetz has never been charged with a crime related to the report or any other allegations.
Straight Arrow News’ Political Correspondent Ray Bogan has a full report on the committee’s findings here.
Clinton remains hospitalized in D.C., recovering from fever
Former President Bill Clinton remains hospitalized in Washington, D.C. as he recovers from a fever. According to Angel Ureña, his deputy chief of staff, Clinton was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Monday afternoon for testing and observation.
The 42nd president is said to be in good spirits. Ureña told CNN Clinton hopes to be home for Christmas.
A New York Post source suspected that the hospital trip came after the former president suffered from dehydration.
Bill Clinton is 78 years old. He has faced a number of health scares in the past, including being hospitalized in California in 2021 for a urinary tract infection. He also underwent two heart procedures at New York-Presbyterian Hospital — in 2004 and 2010.
California pier partially collapses, sending 3 into the Pacific Ocean
About 150 feet of the pier had already been closed to the public because of damage from previous storms. That’s the portion that collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. It included a restroom building and construction equipment used for repairing the wharf.
Authorities said one of those who fell into the water was a manager on the construction project and the other two were contractors.
Investigators immediately evacuated the wharf. It will remain closed indefinitely.
The National Weather Service said the dangerous storm that led to the collapse will continue to impact beaches along the Pacific coast throughout Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Prosecutor drops appeal to reinstate charges in deadly ‘Rust’ shooting
Baldwin had been facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin was holding a prop gun that had been loaded with a live round when it discharged on the set near Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has maintained he never pulled the trigger on the gun and did not know it was loaded with a live round. Prosecutors withdrew the appeal after the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office said it “did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution.”
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupting again
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is erupting again. The Hawaii Volcano Observatory said the eruption, which started about 2:30 a.m. Monday local time, is confined to a remote, closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.
Experts said the biggest concern right now is the threat of volcanic smog, or “vog,” which could reach homes downwind.
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Where are you likely to see a ‘white Christmas’ this year?
Those dreaming of a white Christmas are more likely to see one this year than last, which saw the least snow coverage on Christmas morning since record-keeping began in 2003. According to The Weather Channel, higher elevations of the West and areas near the Canadian border have the best chance of snow this year.
Meteorologists said there’s a good chance of a white Christmas from North Dakota and northern Minnesota into the Upper peninsula of Michigan and parts of northern New England, as well sections of the Northeast — mainly west of I-95 — and in the upper-Mississippi Valley.
So, what exactly is a white Christmas? It’s defined as one inch of snow accumulation on the ground on the morning of Dec. 25.
Biden commutes sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates
President Biden commutes the sentences of most federal death row inmates. Calling it a “common sense revolution,” President-elect Donald Trump delivers a rally-style speech about the transition and policy, less than a month from taking office. And two big-name auto companies officially announce plans to join forces. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.
Biden commutes sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates
“I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level,” Biden said in a statement. “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.”
The three men not granted clemency are: Dylann Roof, who killed nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015; Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers.
In 2021, the Justice Department imposed a moratorium on executions so it could review policies and procedures. No federal inmate has been executed during the Biden administration, though this year the DOJ said it would seek the death penalty for a white gunman who killed 10 Black people during a racially motivated shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York in 2022.
BREAKING: Biden commutes the sentences of 37 out of 40 inmates on federal death row pic.twitter.com/dLr9HkThcz
Biden’s move of presidential commutation, which is irreversible, comes just weeks before President-elect Trump takes office. Trump has said he would resume executions and may attempt to expand the crimes that qualify for capital punishment.
President-elect Donald Trump previews his ‘common sense revolution’
A government shutdown was averted over the weekend, thanks to the passing of a stopgap spending bill. Now, attention turns to the incoming administration.
In just a few weeks, Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States. On Sunday, Dec. 22, he took to the podium to touch on several topics as he nears inauguration day.
“That’s what I call it: a ‘common sense revolution’ that’s coming soon to America, to a theater near you, right?” he said. “But it’s coming to you through your President Donald J. Trump. The people have given us their trust and in return, we’re going to give them the best Day 1, the biggest first week, and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any president in American history.”
Trump spoke for over an hour to a crowd at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona. It was his first rally-type speech since winning the election last month.
In his address, Trump repeated his plans to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China to target illegal immigration and drugs entering the U.S. He also mentioned his administration will create an ad campaign to warn Americans of the dangers of drugs like fentanyl.
Regarding Russia and Ukraine, Trump described the war as “horrible” and called for its end, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet with him “as soon as possible.”
Trump also brought up the Panama Canal, claiming the country of Panama is charging excessive fees to for the U.S. Navy and American businesses to use the passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. If the fees don’t change, Trump threatened for America to take back control of the canal. The U.S. owned the canal until it was handed over to Panama in 1999.
The president of Panama reacted to Trump’s comments, saying on social media, “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and the surrounding area belongs to Panama, and will continue to.”
Trump responded to that with a post saying, “We’ll see about that.”
Also in his speech, the president-elect addressed the criticism he is facing concerning the influence of his ally Telsa owner and CEO Elon Musk. Some Democrats have mockingly labeled him “President Musk.” Trump called those allegations just another hoax.
“No, he’s not taking the presidency,” Trump said. “I like having smart people. They’re on a new kick – ‘Russia, Russia, Russia,’ ‘Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine,’ all the different hoaxes and the new one is ‘President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk.’ No, that’s not happening but Elon’s done an amazing job. Isn’t it nice to have smart people that we can rely on?”
Trump joked that Musk, who will head the new Department of Government Efficiency, couldn’t become president even if he wanted to because the tech billionaire wasn’t even born in this country; Musk was born in South Africa.
German authorities search for motive in deadly Christmas market attack
Investigators in Germany are working to figure out why a man drove a rented SUV into a Christmas market Friday, Dec. 20, killing five people and injuring more than 200 others.
The suspect has been identified as 50-year-old psychiatrist Talib Al Abdulmohsen, a Saudi Arabian citizen who moved to Germany nearly 20 years ago.
The head of Germany’s Federal Criminal Office said authorities had been aware of Abdulmohsen and received a warning about him from Saudi Arabia in November 2023. However, he said the tip was “so unspecific,” German authorities did not see it as a real threat. Officials said Abdulmohsen did not fit their profile of an Islamic extremist, so they had not categorized him as a potential threat.
German authorities said they’re examining the suspect’s “dissatisfaction” with Germany’s treatment of refugees, but more time is needed to establish a motive. Abdulmohsen is being held in detention while the investigation continues.
Man in custody after setting woman on fire on NYC subway, killing her
Police in New York City said a man is in custody after he set a woman’s clothes on fire with a lighter on a subway train, killing her. The New York Post has reported the suspect is a 33-year-old Guatemalan migrant, who crossed into the United States through Arizona in 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU4HW_t5VDo
Police said surveillance footage shows the man walk up to the woman without saying a word Sunday morning, Dec. 22, on the F train in New York and set her on fire. He then sat down on a station bench to watch as the police responded.
Police said they initially believed the woman was sleeping when the attack happened but now say while she was motionless when it happened, it’s unclear if she was asleep. They have not released the identity of the victim.
Honda, Nissan begin talks to merge by August 2026
There’s developing news this morning from the auto industry. Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have agreed to begin talks of a merger, which would create the world’s third-largest automaker in terms of sales. At a press conference Monday, Dec. 23, the two companies, along with smaller automaker Mitsubishi Motors, announced they signed a memorandum of understanding to formally begin merger talks.
Over the next six months, Honda and Nissan will discuss the best ways to combine their operations, with the goal of a completed deal for August 2026. (Editor’s note: The graphic in the video above incorrectly states “August 2025.”)
Currently, Honda sells nearly 4 million vehicles a year and Nissan more than 3 million. Meanwhile, Toyota, the No. 1 car brand in the world, sells around 11 million and Volkswagen, the No. 2 automaker, sells approximately 9 million vehicles a year.
More Starbucks workers join nationwide strike ahead of Christmas
Starbucks employees in three more major cities have joined a growing strike just days before Christmas. Workers in Boston, Dallas, and Portland, Oregon followed the leads of Starbucks employees in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles in walking off the job.
Workers United, the union representing Starbucks employees, said in a statement nearly 50 stores nationwide have been forced to shut down because of the work stoppage. The union said the strike, which started Thursday, Dec. 19, is over unfair labor practices and comes after negotiations, ongoing since February, stalled.
Starbucks said the union “prematurely ended” its bargaining session last week. The labor action comes during what the union says are Starbucks’ busiest days of the year.
Finland to open 300 shooting ranges as national defense interest grows
Finland plans to build more than 300 new shooting ranges by 2030 as part of its efforts to strengthen national defense. The government announced the initiative in February 2024, citing increased interest in defense preparedness following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Finland’s NATO membership, formalized in April 2023.
Finland currently has 670 civilian shooting ranges, significantly fewer than the 2,000 operating in the 1990s. Demand for shooting facilities has grown sharply, with training days for reservists and defense groupsmore than doubling since 2022.
Memberships at gun ranges have also increased substantially.
However, outdated environmental laws delayed the permitting process for new and existing ranges, creating challenges in meeting the demand.
The Finnish government is working to streamline these processes to expand access. The Finland’s Defense Committee chair emphasized that shooting is a “basic skill” essential for national defense and should be as accessible as popular sports like football or hockey.
In addition to expanding shooting ranges, Finland maintained and updated its civil defense infrastructure, including 50,000 Cold War-era shelters capable of protecting 85% of its population. These shelters are being modernized to address current security threats.
Finland also intensified border security measures along its 830-mile border with Russia. In late 2023, the government closed border crossings, accusing Moscow of sending asylum-seekers as retaliation for Finland’s NATO membership.
The Kremlin denied these allegations.
Government shutdown looms as House votes against latest funding bill
A government shutdown looms nearer after the House rejected a bill that would have kept it funded into March. And drones are now banned in parts of New York and New Jersey after a spate of mysterious sightings. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.
House votes against latest stopgap bill aimed to avoid government shutdown
The House rejected a stopgap bill Thursday, Dec. 19, that would have kept the government running. The vote came ahead of a potential shutdown starting at midnight Saturday, Dec. 21, when lawmakers head home for the holidays.
The bill fell short of the needed two-thirds majority to speed up its passage. More than three dozen Republicans joined 197 Democrats in voting against it. Republicans split with each other on how the bill handles government spending.
“Three hundred and thirty billion dollars. Congratulations. You’ve added to the debt since you were given the majority again on Nov. 5,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said.
Roy voted against the bill.
He added, “It’s embarrassing. It’s shameful. Yes, I think this bill is better than it was yesterday in certain respects. But to take this bill, to take this bill yesterday and congratulate yourself because it’s shorter in pages but increases the debt by $5 trillion, is asinine.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said on the House floor, “The deal on the table will keep the government open for the American people and if you guys so choose to shut it down, it will be on you but not the Republican Party.”
She added, “We will not be going back to the table. This deal stands as it is. So let you go back home on Christmas and explain to your people why you shut down the government because we won’t be doing it.”
The latest spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, is a quickly amended bill tailored to the liking of President-elect Donald Trump and his top ally Elon Musk.
Musk postedrepeatedlyonX condemning the original bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., worked on it with bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats.
However, when both Musk and Trump opposed the bill, that guaranteed most House Republicans would vote against it and forced Johnson to craft a new bill.
Now, there are two conflicting interests. Musk wants major government spending cuts, and while Trump agrees, he also wants to permanently suspend the debt ceiling.
The new plan lifts the debt limit, leading Trump to support the bill in a Truth Social post.
“Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish,” Trump posted.
But Democrats attacked the bill over what spending Republicans chose to cut.
“The Musk-Johnson proposal is not serious, it’s laughable,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown.”
The bill removed funding for a bipartisan program for pediatric cancer research, studying genetic conditions like Down syndrome and treatment options for sickle cell disease as well as cancers.
It will be on Johnson to craft a bill to secure votes from the majority of the House.
However, Johnson may not have the political leeway to rely on support from Democrats. He’ll need nearly every returning member of the House Republican caucus to vote for him next month to remain speaker.
The new Congress takes office in the new year.
New details of accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter’s plan emerge
Newly unsealed court documents put into perspective what led up to the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A federal complaint shed light on 26-year-old Luigi Mangione’s “hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.”
In a notebook found on Mangione when he was arrested, he allegedly wrote of his plans to “wack” an insurance company CEO at its investor conference. Federal prosecutors said he traveled from Georgia to New York to stalk and kill Thompson.
Magione appeared in a New York courtroom Thursday, and four new federal charges were levied against him. The charges included murder with a firearm, which is an offense punishable by the death penalty.
The hearing followed Mangione’s extradition from Pennsylvania, where police arrested him on Dec. 9, to New York.
Armed guards surrounded Mangione as NYPD officers walked him off a helicopter upon his arrival in Manhattan. New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined the walk.
“Police Commissioner [Jessica] Tisch and I all want to send a very clear and loud message that this act of terrorism and the violence that stems from it is something that will not be tolerated in this city,” Adams told the press at the site of the helicopter arrival.
Mangione already faces state-level charges in New York. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought charges against him Tuesday, Dec. 17, including for murder as an act of terrorism.
However, Mangione also received a hero’s welcome from protesters outside the courthouse. Thompson’s killing sparked backlash against the health insurance industry and its coverage policies.
While judges have not set any dates yet, Mangione will face state-level charges first. A federal trial will follow.
New York abolished the death penalty, meaning it’s not an option for Mangione in the state-level case. However, the death penalty can still be exercised in the federal case.
FAA temporarily bans drones in parts of New York and New Jersey
Drones are now banned in parts of New York and New Jersey — at least for the time being. It comes amid an investigation into multiple mysterious sightings over the last month that set off fear and speculation.
In a statement, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the Federal Aviation Administration’s bans are “purely precautionary.” Meanwhile, the FAA’s restrictions in New Jersey are largely aimed at limiting drone flights over power stations and infrastructure.
The FAA implemented emergency flight restrictions across New Jersey, prohibiting drone operations until Jan. 17, 2025, for “special security reasons.” Unless operators obtain special government clearance, the directive bans uncrewed aircraft within a one-nautical-mile radius of designated areas and up to 400 feet in altitude.
The FAA designated areas such as Camden, Jersey City, Elizabeth and South Brunswick as “National Defense Airspace.”
Violators may face severe penalties, including interception, detention, certificate revocation and potential criminal charges. In extreme cases, authorities are authorized to use “deadly force” against drones posing an “imminent security threat.”
These restrictions follow a surge in unexplained drone sightings across New Jersey and nearby states that began in mid-November. Federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Defense (DOD), received over 5,000 reports of drone activity.
Dow Jones snaps worst losing streak in 50 years
The Dow Jones Industrial Average snapped its worst losing streak in 50 years Thursday. The losing streak lasted 10 days.
During the losing streak, the market wiped out all of its post-election gains. The Dow ended Wednesday down 2.5% from when Trump won the election.
Also on Wednesday, Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, had its second-biggest percentage spike in history. The VIX shot up 74% after the Federal Reserve shared its outlook for the coming year.
On Wednesday, the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate for a third time in 2024, which was widely predicted.
Feeling the holiday blues?
The holidays are often called “the most wonderful time of the year,” but the season can bring about sadness and stress for many. This -emotional shift, commonly known as the “holiday blues” or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can affect millions of people across the country.
Licensed adult psychiatrist Dr. Patrice Mann said the holiday blues are due to several factors. They include social pressures, disruptive routines and financial strain.
“Things like having a bunch of holiday events on the calendar, not to say we don’t look forward to them oftentimes, but they take a toll on us,” says Dr. Mann. “You’re up late, interacting with a lot of people, and that’s not everyone’s nature.”
Grief and seasonal depression can also complicate these feelings. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, seasonal depression affects millions of Americans every year, but many may not even realize they have it.
Symptoms of holiday blues and seasonal depression can include a persistent low mood, loss of interest in activities and changes in eating or sleeping habits. If these symptoms last more than two weeks, Dr. Mann said it could indicate a more serious depressive episode. In such cases, seeking professional help is important.
Dr. Mann recommended several self-care strategies to help manage both the holiday blues and seasonal depression. She suggested getting tested for vitamin D deficiency and taking supplements during winter. Vitamin D plays a vital role in mood and energy levels.
She also advised getting as much sunlight as possible during the shorter winter days. Light therapy boxes can mimic outdoor sunlight if natural sunlight isn’t available. Using them for 20 to 30 minutes in the morning can help trick the brain and improve mood.
For those experiencing grief during the holidays, Dr. Mann encouraged reflecting on personal needs and communicating with trusted friends or family members. She also recommended incorporating new social activities into your routine and checking in with yourself after attending events.
For those supporting others through grief, it’s important to recognize that everyone processes emotions differently. Dr. Mann suggested engaging in activities with those less open about mental health, such as cooking or playing games, to help create a comfortable environment for them to express themselves.
While the holiday season brings unique challenges, small steps can make a big difference. Prioritizing self-care, maintaining routines and reaching out for support are important practices to help manage holiday stress.
If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that professional help is available. The National Suicide Hotline is available 24 hours a day by calling 988.
