Thursday, December 19, 2024

Last-minute shutdown scramble

Will the government shut down? Lawmakers are working to avoid. It's Thursday's news. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Thu Dec 19 2024

 

Laura L. Davis Audience Editor

@lauradavis

Lawmakers are working to avoid a holiday government shutdown. Dozens of men were convicted in a mass rape trial that rocked France. And a CEO slaying suspect made his first federal court appearance in New York.

👋 Hey, there! Laura Davis here. It's time for Thursday's news!

But first: A dramatic rescue. 🐈‍⬛ Tiki, a blind, 20-year-old cat, snuck out of the house and went on a wild winter ride one Good Samaritan will never forget. See photos here.

Republicans scramble to avoid shutdown

With a looming Friday deadline, House Republicans announced Thursday that they've got a new proposal on the table as lawmakers are under the gun to avoid a government shutdown.

The latest move: A Republican agreement on a continuing resolution – a temporary piece of legislation that would keep the government funded – is said to be in play. The move quickly picked up a pivotal supporter: President-elect Donald Trump.

How we got here: A bipartisan agreement to keep the government funded through March was in place earlier this week, but Trump and allies, including Elon Musk, urged Republican lawmakers to vote against it, effectively killing the deal. 👉 Keep up with our live updates.

What federal workers would lose pay during a shutdown?
Is Elon Musk running the government? Spending fight shows his sway.
How a shutdown could impact flights and cruises.

DA tossed from Trump's Georgia racketeering case

A divided Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified the prosecutor in Trump's state election racketeering case on Thursday, ruling Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis carried the appearance of impropriety in her decisions about who to prosecute and what charges to bring. The appeals panel voted 2-1 to disqualify Willis, throwing the future of the case into doubt.

How we got here: Willis admitted to a romantic relationship with a special counsel she hired on to the case, Nathan Wade. After fiery hearings earlier this year, Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled she could remain on the case. But Trump and eight other defendants in the sprawling prosecution appealed that decision. 👉 Here's what to know.

Usa Trump Georgia

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis attends a hearing on March 1 in Atlanta.

Alex Slitz, via REUTERS

Real quick

OnlyFans model's viral sex stunt sparked a cultural conversation.
Company president stabbed by employee during staff meeting.
Conan O'Brien pays tribute to his parents who died 3 days apart.
Homeownership has been 'OK' for Boomers – and their kids will luck out too.
Paris Hilton-backed bill targeting institutional child abuse passes Congress.

51 men convicted in mass rape trial

A French court on Thursday sentenced Dominique Pelicot, the ex-husband of Gisele Pelicot, to 20 years imprisonment for repeatedly drugging her and recruiting dozens of other men to rape her while she was unconscious in a case that stunned France and the world. Dominique Pelicot was convicted of aggravated rape and other charges along with 50 other men. 

A landmark case: The case was the largest rape trial in French history and shocked the nation's conscience. Gisele Pelicot, 72, waived her right to anonymity as she faced her abusers in court, becoming a champion of justice and sexual abuse awareness. 👉 Read more about the case.

She went public in a harrowing case and it made all the difference.

France Justice

Gisele Pelicot arrives to attend the verdict in the rape trial of her ex-husband and 50 other men in Avignon, France, on Thursday.

Manon Cruz, REUTERS

CEO slaying suspect appears in court

Hours after he dropped an extradition fight, Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was read new federal charges against him Thursday in a Manhattan courtroom. The 26-year-old arrived back in the city after agreeing to return from Pennsylvania to face murder and other charges in state and federal court. 

What are the charges? Charges in the federal indictment, unsealed Thursday, include murder using a firearm, two counts of stalking and an additional firearms offense. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Jan. 18. 👉 Follow today's coverage.

A dark glimpse into the anonymous world of 3D-printed guns
Is CEO shooting suspect a terrorist? Charges may 'send a message.'

Unitedhealth Ceo

People carry signs and wear hats of the Nintendo character Luigi, on the day Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson, attends two hearings at Blair County Court, including one deciding whether he will be extradited to New York, in Hollidaysburg, Pa., Dec. 19, 2024.

Matthew Hatcher, Reuters

A break from the news

🎁 The 100 best gifts to buy this year, according to Google Shopping.
💰 Money resolutions: Don't let 'Ho Ho Ho' turn into 'owe owe owe!'
🐾 Watch these shelter dogs pick their perfect Christmas gifts.

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi sometime! laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Several hundred people attend a vigil for school shooting victims on Capitol Square in Madison, WI on Dec. 17, 2024. Natalie Rupnow, 15, shot and killed a student and teacher and wounded six people Monday at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, WI. Two of them are in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Rupnow killed herself.

Researchers at the Anti-Defamation League identified a TikTok account belonging to the Madison school shooter that posted racist and violent content.

The warehouse of Amazon's new same day delivery center on Tuesday in Ankeny, Iowa.
 

Amazon workers to strike across US at end of holiday shopping season

The Teamsters said the strike at seven facilities is the largest ever against Amazon. But the retailer doesn't anticipated a slowdown to deliveries.

FILE PHOTO: A Wall Street sign hangs in front of a U.S. flag outside the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, U.S., September 18, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
 

Dow snaps longest losing streak since 1974, but just barely

Wall Street's top three indexes ended nearly flat after a steep decline Wednesday based on the Fed's 2025 outlook.

Adrien Brody, left, and Felicity Jones in "The Brutalist."
 

Review: 'The Brutalist' builds a toxic take on the American dream

Adrien Brody stirs emotions as a Jewish architect trying to make a new life in postwar America in the powerful historical epic "The Brutalist."

Fox News' Neil Cavuto    Xxx Foxbusiness Rd2135 Jpg Ny
 

Neil Cavuto leaving Fox News after 28 years

Neil Cavuto, the Fox News mainstay since 1996, is leaving the cable network after an "evolving" news business has led to industrywide salary cuts.

Sammy Sosa ended his career following the 2007 season.
 

Sosa apologizes over steroid rumors, gets welcomed back by Cubs

Sammy Sosa issued a statement apologizing for his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.

An American Airlines flight takes off two days before Thanksgiving at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Nov. 26, 2024, in Phoenix.
 

There's still some time left for open seating at Southwest Airlines

Love it or hate it, Southwest Airlines is ditching open seating for assigned seats. Here's the latest on when Southwest seat assignments will start.

A standard semi-automatic handgun, photographed on Feb. 5, 2024, at a gun shop. A small handgun was found under the body of a father police in West Valley City, Utah say they believe shot his four children, then turned the gun on himself between Dec. 14-15, 2024.
 

Police believe Utah father shot himself, wife, and couple's 4 kids

Police found the mother, 38, and two daughters, 9 and 2, in a bedroom. The bodies of the father, 42 and the son, 11, were found in the living room

Christina Aguilera performs during the Harris-Walz election eve campaign rally at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Nov. 4, 2024, in Las Vegas.
 

Christina Aguilera strips down to 'birthday suit' as she turns 44

Christina Aguilera celebrated her 44th birthday in style with a post to Instagram signaling she never left her "Burlesque" era.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) avoids the pressure of Texas defensive end Ethan Burke (91) during their College Football Playoff semifinal game at the 2024 Sugar Bowl.
 

What is the future of the college football bowl system? It's complicated.

College football bowl games becoming a difficult sell with playoff expansion and the transfer portal. Could its future include elimination? Maybe.

Time for a break!

Brighten your day with one of our games.

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