A Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center was canceled after the building was renamed to include President Donald Trump's name. The decision to add Trump's name to the Kennedy Center has led to controversy, as some say it violates the law. The center's board, chosen by the president, approved the name change.
Key Facts
A jazz concert at the Kennedy Center, scheduled for Christmas Eve, was canceled.
The Kennedy Center was renamed to include President Trump's name.
Musician Chuck Redd, the concert's host, canceled the event after the name change.
The center's facade now reads "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts."
Some scholars and legal experts argue that the name change violates existing laws.
Congress originally named the center as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
The building's board, selected by President Trump, approved the name addition.
Previous performances at the Kennedy Center have been canceled due to controversy over Trump's involvement.
A Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center was canceled because President Donald Trump's name was added to the building. Musician Chuck Redd, who hosted the annual event, decided to call off the performance. The naming decision and the controversy over it have caused tension between the administration and the arts community.
Key Facts
A Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center has been a tradition for more than 20 years.
The concert was canceled after Trump's name was added to the center’s name.
Chuck Redd, the concert host, chose to cancel the event after the name change.
The Kennedy Center was established in 1964 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
The law governing the center prohibits turning it into a memorial for anyone else.
Critics argue any name change would need congressional approval.
President Trump has taken a more active role with the Kennedy Center during his second term.
The addition of Trump's name has led to backlash and several artists withdrawing from events.
A dog named Prince, a 2-year-old Doberman, was surrendered to a New Jersey animal shelter just before Christmas. The family said they could not give him the time he needed, and the shelter's post about him received a large number of responses. Prince has found a foster home, and applications to adopt him are being reviewed.
Key Facts
Prince is a 2-year-old Doberman dog surrendered to the Associated Humane Societies of Forked River in New Jersey.
The family gave him up because they felt they did not have enough time for his care.
Dobermans need about two hours of exercise daily to stay healthy and behave well.
The shelter's Facebook post about Prince reached over 1 million views, gaining many reactions and shares.
There has been a significant interest in adopting Prince, with many applications now closed and under review.
Prince is currently living in foster care, and the shelter plans to have him neutered before adoption.
The shelter will be closing temporarily for renovations, and they are trying to find homes for 27 other animals before then.
Kimberlee Singler, a woman from Colorado, was brought back to the U.S. from the UK after being accused of killing two of her children. Singler was arrested in London in December 2023, after fleeing there following the alleged crime. She faces multiple serious charges and is currently held in custody in Colorado without the option to post bail.
Key Facts
Kimberlee Singler is a 37-year-old woman from Colorado.
She is accused of murdering her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.
The alleged crime took place in December 2023 in Colorado Springs.
Singler was captured in London and fought against being sent back to the U.S., but was unsuccessful.
She faces charges including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and child abuse.
A third child was injured but survived the attack.
Singler's ex-husband was not involved in the crime and had an alibi.
Singler is currently in custody in Colorado and awaits a court appearance.
Police have arrested Ashlee Buzzard on suspicion of murdering her nine-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard, after the child's body was found in Utah. Detectives had been searching for Melodee since she was reported missing by her school, and her mother was not cooperating with the investigation.
Key Facts
Melodee Buzzard was last seen on a security camera with her mother on 9 October.
Her school reported her missing on 14 October when she had not been seen since August.
Melodee's body was found with gunshot wounds by two people in a rural Utah area on 6 December.
Ashlee Buzzard was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder on Tuesday.
Investigators have gathered significant evidence allegedly pointing to Ashlee Buzzard as the suspect.
DNA analysis confirmed the identity of Melodee's remains on 22 December.
Ashlee Buzzard was previously arrested in early November on an unrelated charge, but that charge was later dismissed.
Curtis J. Wright, a Canadian national and U.S. green card holder, was detained by immigration agents at a Houston airport after a business trip. His detention is due to old misdemeanor offenses, including a possession charge when he was 17. He has been in custody for about six weeks, awaiting a hearing on his immigration status.
Key Facts
Curtis J. Wright is a Canadian national and long-time U.S. green card holder.
He was detained at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after a business trip.
Immigration agents flagged him due to minor offenses from when he was younger.
His old offenses include a misdemeanor involving Xanax from over 20 years ago.
Wright has been moved between three Texas detention centers in six weeks.
He has not yet had a hearing before an immigration judge.
A hearing is planned for January 16 after two delays.
Wright has lived in the U.S. for nearly 30 years and criticized his detention conditions.
President Donald Trump is expected to join the NORAD Santa Tracker calls, a program where volunteers answer calls from children asking about Santa Claus's location. For 70 years, NORAD, a U.S. and Canada defense organization, has organized this event on Christmas Eve to track Santa's journey.
Key Facts
President Trump will participate in the NORAD Santa Tracker calls at 4:30 p.m. EST.
The tracker has been part of NORAD's Christmas Eve tradition for 70 years.
NORAD stands for North American Aerospace Defense Command, a joint U.S.-Canada operation monitoring the skies.
Over 1,000 volunteers will staff the hotline from 4 a.m. to midnight Mountain Standard Time.
Children can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to inquire about Santa’s location.
This year, calls can also be placed through the program's website, making it easier for people outside North America.
The Justice Department announced it might take a few more weeks to finish releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The release was initially set for December 19, but many more documents were found, delaying the process.
Key Facts
The Justice Department is working on releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The release deadline set by Congress was December 19.
Over a million new documents were discovered, causing delays.
The files involve the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI.
The Justice Department says its lawyers are working hard to review and prepare the documents.
Legal requirements for redacting sensitive information are being followed.
The department aims to release the documents as soon as possible.
A federal judge stopped the Trump administration from revoking the security clearance of lawyer Mark Zaid. This ruling follows an order that aimed to remove clearances from Zaid and 14 others deemed unsuitable by the White House.
Key Facts
A federal judge blocked a move by the Trump administration.
The administration wanted to revoke attorney Mark Zaid's security clearance.
The decision is a legal setback for President Trump's administration.
The ruling came after Zaid claimed the action was political revenge.
The presidential memorandum targeted Zaid along with 14 other individuals.
Those targeted were said to be unsuitable to keep their security clearances.
Affected individuals included political and legal figures, such as former Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and former President Joe Biden.
A group of U.S. senators is asking the Justice Department's watchdog to review why all records related to Jeffrey Epstein were not released by the deadline set by law. These records are linked to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and their disclosure is required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The Justice Department says the delay is to protect victims' identities.
Key Facts
A dozen U.S. senators are urging an audit of the Justice Department's handling of Epstein records.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires public release of Epstein and Maxwell-related documents.
The records release was supposed to happen by a congressionally mandated deadline.
The Justice Department blamed delays on the need to protect victims' identities.
Some records have already been released, though many are heavily redacted.
New documents include information about Epstein's private plane and emails involving Ghislaine Maxwell.
The Justice Department plans to release more records but hasn’t given a specific timeline.
The U.S. Supreme Court stopped President Trump from sending National Guard troops to Illinois, where cities like Chicago are located. This decision means the President might consider using regular military forces instead. Illinois leaders see the ruling as a temporary win against the deployment.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled against President Trump's plan to deploy the National Guard in Illinois.
Legal expert John Yoo suggested this decision could lead Trump to use regular military forces.
The court's decision was not unanimous; three conservative justices disagreed with the majority.
The ruling temporarily prevents troop deployment but is not a final decision.
There are talks of using the Insurrection Act, which allows military use inside U.S. borders in specific cases.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker praised the decision as a victory for the state.
President Trump and his administration focus on enforcing immigration laws and protecting federal property.
President Trump's administration is planning to expand ICE detention centers in the U.S. using warehouses to hold around 80,000 immigrants. This plan is part of a strategy to speed up deportations, with several states identified for these facilities. The draft plan, seen by The Washington Post, is not yet finalized and is subject to changes.
Key Facts
President Trump's administration aims to expand ICE detention by using warehouses.
The planned expansion could hold about 80,000 immigrants.
States like Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia may host large sites.
Smaller sites could be in states like New York, New Jersey, Utah, and Michigan.
A draft plan suggests the facilities will be modified with necessary amenities.
The expansion is backed by an increased ICE budget from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
DHS aims to reach a deportation goal of 600,000 by the end of the year.
There are concerns about facility conditions and oversight, especially from Democrats.
An ICE agent in Glen Burnie, Maryland, shot and wounded two people during a confrontation on Christmas Eve. A local official stated that the agent fired when someone allegedly tried to run them over. Both people were taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.
Key Facts
An ICE agent was involved in a shooting in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
The incident happened on Christmas Eve, around 11 a.m.
Two people were injured and taken to the hospital.
The agent fired after someone allegedly tried to run them over.
The ages and genders of the injured persons are not known.
The incident is under investigation, with potential updates expected.
A warm weather system is expected to affect parts of the U.S. during Christmas week, possibly breaking long-standing high-temperature records. States from the Rockies through the Midwest and Appalachians might see temperatures much higher than usual. This surge in warmth could impact travel and visibility due to fog and low clouds.
Key Facts
A warm spell is expected across much of the U.S. during Christmas week.
Temperatures might rise 30 to 40 degrees above normal in some areas, with potential records.
Nearly two dozen states will experience temperatures 15-30 degrees above the historical average.
Cities like St. Louis, Kansas City, and Tulsa may see weather more typical of late April or May.
The warmth could lead to low clouds and fog, affecting road and air travel.
Oklahoma City could reach high temperatures in the upper 70s, challenging old records.
Some areas might see record warm overnight lows.
The likelihood of a white Christmas is reduced in the Midwest and Northeast due to the warm trend.
Last week, the number of people in the U.S. applying for unemployment benefits went down, staying at a healthy level. The Labor Department reported that jobless claims dropped by 10,000 to 214,000, which is lower than expected. Despite this, the U.S. job market shows some signs of slowing down.
Key Facts
Unemployment claims dropped to 214,000 for the week ending December 20.
Analysts had predicted 232,000 new jobless applications.
Job market health is tracked through unemployment claims, which act as a proxy for layoffs.
The U.S. gained 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 jobs in October.
The unemployment rate increased to 4.6%, the highest since 2021.
Federal job losses were significant due to workers leaving after budget cuts.
Job creation has slowed, now averaging 35,000 jobs per month since March.
The Federal Reserve recently cut interest rates due to concerns about job market weakness.
A sheriff in Fulton County, Ohio, stopped Santa Claus for driving too fast with Mrs. Claus. Santa received a friendly reminder, not a penalty, to slow down.
Key Facts
Santa Claus was driving through Fulton County, Ohio.
A sheriff stopped him for speeding.
Santa was in the vehicle with Mrs. Claus.
No ticket or penalty was given, only a warning.
The incident happened as Santa was in the process of delivering Christmas gifts.
The Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump's attempt to use the National Guard in Illinois to support his immigration plans. Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch dissented, discussing the potential use of the Insurrection Act. The decision marks another legal check on presidential authority during Trump's second term.
Key Facts
The case involved President Trump's plan to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois for immigration purposes.
The Supreme Court blocked Trump's plan, with a majority of justices ruling against it.
Justices Alito and Gorsuch mentioned the Insurrection Act in their dissents, questioning its application.
The Insurrection Act allows presidents to use the military to deal with domestic insurrections if a state cannot handle it.
Justices John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined liberal justices in the majority decision.
The ruling focused on legal limits to presidential authority to use military forces domestically.
President Trump previously mentioned using the Insurrection Act to address crime in Chicago if state efforts fall short.
In January 2026, Social Security payments for many seniors in the U.S. will arrive later than usual due to the calendar layout. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will distribute payments on different Wednesdays, while direct deposit can help avoid future delays.
Key Facts
Over 70 million Americans get monthly Social Security benefits.
In January 2026, because January 1 lands on a Thursday, payments will be delayed.
Payment dates will be on different Wednesdays based on birth dates: January 14, 21, and 28.
Those who started receiving payments before May 1997 will get payments on January 2.
SSI and some retirement payments will arrive on December 31, 2025, and January 2, 2026.
Benefits will increase by 2.8% starting in January 2026, in line with inflation adjustments.
Switching to direct deposit can prevent issues with mail delivery delays for payments.
Dallas police officers detained two street preachers outside the American Airlines Center during a basketball game. The incident became widely discussed online, with debates about free speech rights and proper policing. Police stated the men were detained for noise ordinance violations on private property, not for preaching on a public sidewalk.
Key Facts
The incident happened on December 18, outside an NBA game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The street preachers were affiliated with the "Testimonies of God" ministry.
Video of the incident showed officers detaining the men, causing it to go viral after being shared online.
The police stated the men were detained due to "interference with public duties" and noise ordinance violations, not for preaching.
Dallas police clarified the event took place on private property, not a public sidewalk.
A citation was issued for using a loudspeaker, violating noise rules, but no formal arrests were made.
The street preachers claimed they were detained for exercising their free speech rights.
The Dallas Police emphasized compliance with city noise codes and that they support First Amendment rights.
Police in Wilson, North Carolina responded to reports of gunfire at a Walmart on Christmas Eve. They confirmed there was no active shooter, and requested people to avoid the area while they investigated.
Key Facts
Police in Wilson, North Carolina responded to a report of gunshots at a Walmart.
The incident happened on Christmas Eve, a busy shopping day.
Wilson authorities assured the public there was no active shooter.
Police asked residents to stay away from the location as they investigated.
Local news displayed a large emergency response with police cars and ambulances present.
Two individuals were seen being placed into ambulances on stretchers.
