NATIONAL HEADLINES

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Click here to read about how a federal judge on Friday held Rudy Giuliani in civil contempt for skirting an agreement not to make new false claims about two Georgia election workers he was ordered to pay $146 million for defaming.   It was the second time in less than a week a judge found Giuliani in contempt in matters involving the case.

It’s not just McDonald’s that is giving its menu a budget-friendly makeover. Other chains have also recently rolled out discounts, signaling that the fast food value meal wars are from over.  Dunkin’, KFC, Subway, Taco Bell and Wendy’s have all debuted new promotions this month, continuing last year’s theme that affordability rules in enticing inflation-weary consumers turned off by rising prices back to their restaurants.  Click here for more on this story.  

Click here to read about how as residents in the Los Angeles area grapple with this week’s devastating wildfires, several iconic landmarks and beloved local institutions have fallen victim to the flames. Click here for the photos and story.  

In a number of sweeping changes that will significantly alter the way that posts, videos and other content are moderated online, Meta will adjust its content review policies on Facebook and Instagram, getting rid of fact checkers and replacing them with user-generated “community notes,” similar to Elon Musk’s X, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday.  The changes come just before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office. Trump and other Republicans have lambasted Zuckerberg and Meta for what they view as censorship of right-wing voices.  Click to read more about these changes.  

Click here to read about how Americans won’t have to worry about unpaid medical bills damaging their credit reports and scores much longer.  The Biden administration is finalizing a rule Tuesday that will end the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports and ban lenders from using certain medical information in loan decisions.

Click here to read about how the official state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter will be held Thursday in Washington, DC, but the public will have a chance to say goodbye in the days leading up to it.  Services began Saturday in Georgia, where Carter’s motorcade traveled through his hometown of Plains, stopping at his boyhood home for a brief pause. After that, the motorcade heads to the Georgia State Capitol and then to the Carter Center in Atlanta, where the former president will lie in repose through Tuesday morning.

Perhaps it's time to talk to our kids about what is a safe prank and what is a stupid prank?  Click here to read about how a Georgia 12-year-old suffered severe burns and was hospitalized after his friends allegedly tossed scalding water on his face as he slept during a sleepover prank gone wrong.  

Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people’s bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check.  Click here to see i are one of the ones receiving this extra Christmas gift from the IRS.

New Year 2025 was ushered in around the world and it shows in the happy photos from major places and cities around the world.  Click here to see them.  

Stanley, the drinkware brand that exploded in popularity on social media, issued a recall of roughly 2.6 million travel mugs over potential “burn hazards,” the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced in a release Thursday.  The recall applies specifically to all Stanely Switchback and Trigger Action stainless steel travel mugs sold in the United States.  Click here to see if your mug is being recalled.