Magpie News Collector

nation

Bidens spread holiday cheer with visit to D.C. children's hospital

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 8:10 PM

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Friday spread the season's cheer with a visit to a children's hospital in Washington D.C., meeting with youngsters too sick to spend the holidays at home. ... Read full Story

nation

Party City CEO announces chain is halting operations, all employees laid off

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 5:39 PM

The CEO of retailer Party City, which operates more than 700 company-owned and franchise stores across North America, says the company is going out of business, CNN reported Friday, ... Read full Story

nation

Snow, ice grounds traffic at Chicago's O'Hare Airport; cold zeros in on U.S. East

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 5:22 PM

Chicago's O'Hare International Airport issued a "ground stop" early Friday as a winter storm spread over the region a day after the Upper Midwest was socked by as much as 11 inches of snow. ... Read full Story

nation

Defense officials make holiday calls to nation's military service members

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 2:20 PM

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on Friday made holiday calls to service members of the Air Force, Army and Navy, Pentagon officials said. ... Read full Story

nation

At I-25 checkpoint, border agents discover 37 migrants hiding in tractor trailer

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 1:27 PM

This past weekend, during a routine inspection at the Interstate-25 checkpoint, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended 37 undocumented migrants concealed inside a tractor-trailer, officials said. ... Read full Story

nation

Richard Allen sentenced to 130 years for 2017 killing of 2 teen girls in Delphi, Ind.

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 12:29 PM

Richard Allen was sentenced to serve 130 years in prison Friday for the 2017 killing of two teenage girls in Indiana. ... Read full Story

nation

CFPB sues Zelle operator, major banks over failure to counter fraud

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 11:14 AM

Three of the largest U.S. banks rushed the Zelle digital payment system to market "without implementing effective consumer safeguards," according to a lawsuit filed Friday by a federal government agency. ... Read full Story

nation

House Speaker Mike Johnson: ‘We have a plan’ after government funding bill fails

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 10:46 AM

The clock is ticking on a government shutdown after House Republicans failed to pass a stopgap funding bill late Thursday. Speaking to reporters early Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said "we've got a plan." ... Read full Story

nation

November PCE: Key fed inflation gauge rose 2.4% annually

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 10:21 AM

The Personal Consumption Expenditures index climbed by 0.1% in November on a month-over-month basis, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said in a statement Friday. ... Read full Story

nation

Biden forgives $4.28B of student debt for almost 55,000 Americans

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 9:22 AM

Almost 55,000 Americans working in the public service will have their collective $4.28 billion worth of student debt forgiven, U.S. President Joe Biden announced Friday. ... Read full Story

nation

Watch: Google Doodle video spotlights most searched-for topics of 2024

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 7:47 AM

Friday's Google Doodle included a 4-minute video revealing some of the website's most searched-for topics of 2024. ... Read full Story

nation

Starbucks baristas in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle to strike through Christmas Eve

By upi.com | | 12/20/2024 7:23 AM

Unionized Starbucks baristas in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle were set to go on strike Friday, covering 525 locations through Christmas Eve to highlight stalled negotiations. ... Read full Story

nation

Missouri man pleads guilty to arson in Mormon church fire

By upi.com | | 12/19/2024 11:02 PM

A Missouri man has pleaded guilty to federal civil rights and arson charges for setting fire to a Mormon church, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday. ... Read full Story

nation

Retailer Big Lots makes 'difficult decision' to go out of business completely

By upi.com | | 12/19/2024 8:24 PM

Big Lots, known for blow out sales, rock bottom prices and warehouse store shelves stocked with every conceivable knick-knack, is now planning for the biggest sale ever; it's own. ... Read full Story

nation

As fluoridation becomes topic in D.C., town in Florida votes to remove it

By upi.com | | 12/19/2024 7:28 PM

City leaders in Tavares, Fla., on Wednesday approved removing fluoride from the city's water supply. ... Read full Story

nation

Veteran suicide rate remains 'persistently steady,' more than double civilian rate

By upi.com | | 12/19/2024 6:47 PM

Military veteran suicides are down slightly but remain persistently steady, according to a report released by the Veterans Administration Thursday. ... Read full Story

nation

House GOP proposes new government-funding measure

By upi.com | | 12/19/2024 5:38 PM

House Republicans have reached agreement on a continuing resolution to avert a federal government shutdown on Friday. ... Read full Story

nation

Former chief adviser to NYC mayor indicted on bribery, money laundering charges

By upi.com | | 12/19/2024 3:30 PM

Former New York Mayor Eric Adams chief advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin and her son Glenn Martin II were indicted Thursday on bribery and money laundering charges. ... Read full Story

nation

Frito-Lay Classic potato chips in Oregon and Washington recalled for 'life-threatening' risk

By upi.com | | 12/19/2024 1:45 PM

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced Wednesday that Frito-Lay is recalling a limited number of 13 oz. bags of Lay's Classic Potato Chips that could be life-threatening. The chips could contain undeclared milk. ... Read full Story

nation

Bill Greenblatt, UPI photographer, hall of famer, dies at 70

By upi.com | | 12/19/2024 12:43 PM

Bill Greenblatt, a fixture in St. Louis sports pages and mainstay in United Press International's photo archives, has died at 70 years old. ... Read full Story

USA Government

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animal

These are the 5 most popular Science News stories of 2024

by Science News | Dec 20 2024

beauty

Sydney Sweeney's 5 Most Stunning Hair Transformations

by The List | Jun 01 2024

connecticut

Social Security Fairness Act passes Senate, set to become law

by CT Mirror | Dec 21 2024

FFNEWS

Cathay Cargo reports a busy peak season and looks ahead to 2025

by Air Cargo News | Dec 19 2024

finance

My Social Security benefit will be $4,500 a month. My wife’s is now $615. Can she get more?

by MarketWatch.com | Dec 21 2024

food

The Store-Brand Eggnog That's Truly The Best Of The Best

by The Daily Meal | Dec 21 2024

how_to

Homeowners Face Higher Refi Rates: Mortgage Refinance Rates for Dec. 20, 2024

by CNET | Dec 20 2024

knowledge

60 New Year’s Trivia Questions to Count Down to 2025

by Reader's Digest | Dec 19 2024

nation

Bidens spread holiday cheer with visit to D.C. children's hospital

by upi.com | Dec 20 2024

new_jersey

NJ Spotlight News: December 20, 2024

by NJ Spotlight | Dec 20 2024

odd_fun

Virginia home gets unexpected owl tree-topper

by United Press International, Inc. | Dec 20 2024

politics

Biden ‘AWOL’ amid shutdown fight: ‘He’s completely disappeared’

by The Hill | Dec 21 2024

real_estate

Permits Filed for 753 Washington Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn

by New York YIMBY | Dec 21 2024

religion

What do we know about the brothers and sisters of Jesus?

by Christian Post | Oct 20 2024

sports

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

by ESPN Inc. | Aug 14 2024

Word of the Day

testimonial

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 21, 2024 is:

testimonial • \tess-tuh-MOH-nee-ul\ • noun

A testimonial is a written or spoken statement in which a person says they used a product or service and liked it, or that they appreciate someone's work, skill, character, etc. Testimonial is also used as a synonym of evidence and testimony.

// The website is full of testimonials from satisfied customers.

// The book's popularity is a testimonial to its timeliness.

See the entry >

Examples:

"To commemorate their successful journey in the sport, the team released a heartfelt tribute video featuring testimonials from team members sharing their fondest memories." — Lydia Mee, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Did you know?

In 1639, Scottish poet William Drummond responded to the politics of his day with a cheeky set of new laws, including one stipulating that "no man wear a ... periwig, unless he have a testimonial from a town-clerk, that he is either bald, sickly, or asham'd of white hairs." Testimonials take different forms, but always, like in Drummond's facetious law, they provide affirmation or evidence. (Testimonial traces to Latin testimonium, meaning "evidence" or "witness.") In the 19th century, testimonial developed a new use, referring to a tribute—that is, a gift presented as a public expression of appreciation. Today, testimonial is most often used to refer to a statement—such as one posted on any number of websites devoted to consumer reviews—that endorses a product or service.

Bidens spread holiday cheer with visit to D.C. children's hospital

Party City CEO announces chain is halting operations, all employees laid off

Snow, ice grounds traffic at Chicago's O'Hare Airport; cold zeros in on U.S. East

Defense officials make holiday calls to nation's military service members

At I-25 checkpoint, border agents discover 37 migrants hiding in tractor trailer

Richard Allen sentenced to 130 years for 2017 killing of 2 teen girls in Delphi, Ind.

CFPB sues Zelle operator, major banks over failure to counter fraud

House Speaker Mike Johnson: ‘We have a plan’ after government funding bill fails

November PCE: Key fed inflation gauge rose 2.4% annually

Biden forgives $4.28B of student debt for almost 55,000 Americans

Watch: Google Doodle video spotlights most searched-for topics of 2024

Starbucks baristas in Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle to strike through Christmas Eve

Missouri man pleads guilty to arson in Mormon church fire

Retailer Big Lots makes 'difficult decision' to go out of business completely

As fluoridation becomes topic in D.C., town in Florida votes to remove it

Veteran suicide rate remains 'persistently steady,' more than double civilian rate

House GOP proposes new government-funding measure

Former chief adviser to NYC mayor indicted on bribery, money laundering charges

Frito-Lay Classic potato chips in Oregon and Washington recalled for 'life-threatening' risk

Bill Greenblatt, UPI photographer, hall of famer, dies at 70

USA Government

These are the 5 most popular Science News stories of 2024

Sydney Sweeney's 5 Most Stunning Hair Transformations

Social Security Fairness Act passes Senate, set to become law

Cathay Cargo reports a busy peak season and looks ahead to 2025

My Social Security benefit will be $4,500 a month. My wife’s is now $615. Can she get more?

The Store-Brand Eggnog That's Truly The Best Of The Best

Homeowners Face Higher Refi Rates: Mortgage Refinance Rates for Dec. 20, 2024

60 New Year’s Trivia Questions to Count Down to 2025

Bidens spread holiday cheer with visit to D.C. children's hospital

NJ Spotlight News: December 20, 2024

Virginia home gets unexpected owl tree-topper

Biden ‘AWOL’ amid shutdown fight: ‘He’s completely disappeared’

Permits Filed for 753 Washington Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn

What do we know about the brothers and sisters of Jesus?

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.'Dumb Mistake': Baby Jesus Goes Missing, Reappears With Note At Colorado Nativity Scene

2.Virginia home gets unexpected owl tree-topper

3.Fort Worth fire department rescue horse from cattle guard

4.Overdue book returned to U.K. library after 30 years

5.'Almost perfectly spherical' egg auctioned for $250

6.Forgetful lottery player wins $50,000 prize in Washington

7.Look: 'Snake' that prompted police response in Massachusetts was a fake

8.Watch: Spider monkey caught running loose through Texas neighborhood

9.Watch: Santa Claus presides over day of weddings ahead of Christmas

10.Look: 20-year-old blind cat rescued from frozen lake