The state of Georgia was shaken by the tragic death of Effingham County Judge Stephen Yekel, who reportedly took his own life in his courtroom just before his scheduled retirement. At 74, Judge Yekel was discovered by a deputy around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, though he is believed to have died late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has instructed cabinet nominees to cease all social media activity ahead of Senate confirmation hearings, according to a report from the New York Post. The directive, issued by incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on December 29, stresses that nominees should not speak publicly without prior approval.
Costco has urged its shareholders to vote against efforts to reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. The move comes as Costco received a proposal about eliminating the policies.
BioNTech has entered into two separate settlement agreements with the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the University of Pennsylvania regarding royalty payments for its COVID-19 vaccine.
French authorities have dismantled a massive international child pornography network, arresting 95 individuals as part of an investigation led by the National Gendarmerie.
Ingrid Lewis-Martin, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s chief adviser, was indicted on corruption charges on Thursday, marking the latest legal issue surrounding the mayor's administration. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the charges, accusing Lewis-Martin of providing special treatment to real estate developers in exchange for over $100,000. The indictment also claims that the developers helped Lewis-Martin’s son set up a Chick-fil-A franchise.
President-elect Donald Trump said the need to pass a spending bill is "a Biden problem," emphasizing that it is better for a government shutdown to occur now than when Trump takes office.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has become the first Republican to publicly announce he will not support Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in the upcoming January speakership vote, following backlash over a massive spending bill released Tuesday evening. The bill, a 1,537-page continuing resolution (CR), has sparked outrage among conservative lawmakers, who argue it contradicts the mandate given by voters in the November elections.
