Keeping Up With America

House Ethics Committee to release report on its Matt Gaetz investigation: The committee’s yearslong investigation included looking into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against Gaetz, a top Donald Trump ally. The House Ethics Committee has voted to publicly release a report detailing the findings of an investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News — a reversal from last month when the panel deadlocked on whether to publish the report.

Supreme Court agrees to hear challenge to TikTok ban: The law is set to go into effect on Jan. 19, and the court will not block it while the case is being considered. The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would take up TikTok’s appeal challenging a federal law that could ban the popular social media app by next month.

U.S. reports first severe human case of bird flu, in a patient hospitalized in Louisiana: The CDC said the person was likely exposed to the virus from dead or dying birds in a backyard flock. A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with bird flu — the country’s first severe human H5N1 infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2 pilots dead after small plane crashes into building near Honolulu airport: A Kamaka Air Cessna 208 was conducting a training flight when it crashed into a vacant building at around 3:15 p.m., officials said. It’s not clear what caused the crash. Two pilots were killed when a small plane crashed into an abandoned building near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on Tuesday afternoon, unleashing flames and black smoke.

Mass shooting in Towson, Maryland leaves 1 dead and 9 injured: The shooting is thought to be targeted and there is no threat to the public, police say. At least one person is dead and nine are injured after what police called a mass shooting near a funeral home in Towson, Maryland on Tuesday night, police said.

Around the World

Russia detains suspect in assassination of general sanctioned for chemical weapons use: Authorities said they had arrested an Uzbek national born in 1995 for working with Ukrainian special services to plant a bomb on a scooter outside general’s residence.

Syrian mass graves show the worst abuses ‘since the Nazis,’ top prosecutor says: “We are talking about a system of state terror,” Stephen Rapp, former U.S. war crimes ambassador at large, said of how people lived in Syria under the Assad regime.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

U.S. auto sales next year expected to be best since 2019

Mortgage demand drops for the first time in 5 weeks, after interest rates rise

Trump’s pick to lead NASA made a big bet on crypto while going to space on the side

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Are gold ETFs a good investment now that the price is dropping?: Gold has long served as a safe-haven asset for investors during times of economic uncertainty and market volatility, which is a large part of why it has been so popular over the past year. Thanks to that uptick in gold interest, the price of gold has been climbing throughout much of 2024 — hitting multiple record highs and surpassing $2,700 per ounce at one point late in the year. That price trend has been shifting lately, though, and over the last few weeks, there have been significant fluctuations in gold prices, with the price of gold dropping over the last few days in particular.

3 home equity loan risks to know going into 2025 | Matt Richardson, CBS News. Both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) offer homeowners access to their accumulated home equity at a much cheaper price point than many alternative credit options. While credit card interest rates sit just under 24% now – a record high – and personal loan interest rates hover around 12%, qualified homeowners can secure a home equity loan with a rate of 8.38% now and a HELOC at 8.53%. That equates to significant savings each month – and over the typical 10 or 15-year repayment period home equity loans typically come with.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Giannis Antetokounmpo carries red-hot Bucks to NBA Cup title | Sergio Pérez leaves Red Bull; Liam Lawson set to take over

Cynthia Erivo and James Mangold to Be Honored at Sundance Film Festival Gala | Zoë Kravitz and Matt Reeves on ‘The Batman 2’s’ Slow Writing Process, Casting Channing Tatum and Robert Pattinson on Instinct, and Why Editing Is More Painful Than Directing

In escalating legal feud, Tony Buzbee files lawsuit against Roc Nation, Jay-Z lawyers | Dua Lipa Says It ‘Would Have Been Nice’ to Be Recognized for ‘Radical Optimism’ After Grammys Snub

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