The House rejected a bill to temporarily fund the government, after Republican leaders altered an earlier bipartisan deal in an effort to please the last-minute demands of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Votes fell short due to lack of support from both parties, risking a shutdown just before the holidays with no clear plan in sight. (NBC News)
Luigi Mangione, indicted for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, waived his extradition hearing in Pennsylvania. He was flown to New York, where he faces federal charges, including stalking and murder. He will be held until a mid-January hearing at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. (NBC News)
Workers at seven Amazon facilities staged a strike on Thursday, organized by the Teamsters union to push for labor negotiations during a crucial shopping season. The union called it the largest strike against Amazon in the U.S., impacting delivery stations in locations including California, New York, and Georgia. (AP)
There was a rise in death sentences and executions in 2024 compared to 2023, but it marked the 10th consecutive year with fewer than 50 people receiving death sentences. Public sentiment also moved, with a majority of Americans aged 18 to 43 now opposing the death penalty. Executions disproportionately affected people of color. (UPI)
The Veterans Administration revealed that military veteran suicides in 2022 remained steady at about 18 per day, but slightly decreased from 2018. The suicide rate among veterans was more than double that of the non-veteran population. There were positive developments for women, younger veterans, and homeless veterans. (UPI)
