A Vermont Town Is Trying to Make the World’s Largest S’more
MIDDLESEX, Vt. — One Vermont community is celebrating the holidays and the winter solstice with a massive bonfire and what they hope will be the world's largest s'more. The Winter S'morestice takes place Saturday at Camp Meade in Middlesex and includes fire artists and dancers, music, food, beer and wine and, of course, a sampling of the giant s'more. The local Red H...
1m Dec 29, 2018
1m
Some 911 Services Knocked Offline Amid Nationwide CenturyLink Outage
(BOISE, Idaho) — Many CenturyLink customers across the U.S. were without internet Thursday amid a lengthy outage that even affected some Verizon customers. The outage began early in the day but by late Thursday night, the company tweeted that its engineers had identified a "network element" that was affecting services and expected to fully restore services within hours....
2m Dec 29, 2018
2m
5 Can’t-Miss Tips for That New Google Pixel 3 You Just Got
Google’s Pixel 3 and 3 XL were some of the best Android devices released this year, so if you were lucky enough to unwrap a Pixel for yourself this holiday season, you’re in luck. It runs Google’s latest Android operating system, has an amazing camera that uses machine learning to improve photos, and looks pretty good as long as you ignore the notch. The Pixel 3 gets e...
4m Dec 29, 2018
4m
The Plight of One Rescue Ship Underscores Just How Dangerous Europe’s Migrant Crisis Remains
A humanitarian boat carrying 313 rescued migrants finally docked in Spain on Friday, highlighting the ongoing dangerous situation facing migrants and refugees attempting to enter Europe. The boat endured an uncertain week at sea during which Malta refused it permission to land and three passengers were evacuated for health reasons.
5m Dec 29, 2018
5m
Undocumented Immigrant Suspected of Killing California Cop Has Been Arrested: Authorities
The man suspected of shooting and killing a California police officer during a traffic stop early Wednesday morning has been arrested after a statewide manhunt, authorities confirmed on Friday. Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson confirmed Gustavo Perez Arriaga, 33, was taken into custody after he was found in a home in Bakersfield, Calif. earlier Friday. [vi...
3m Dec 29, 2018
3m
President Trump Showed His Contradictory Foreign Policy Doctrine in Iraq. Call It 'Hawkish Isolationism'
From inside a dun-colored, domed tent on Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, President Donald Trump answered reporter's questions on Wednesday in front of senior U.S. military officials, outlining his strategy in the region. The remarks seemed, at times, to have been spoken by two different presidents. Trump began by laying out that he had “no plans at all” to reduce the ...
4m Dec 29, 2018
4m
Authorities Say Man Accused of Killing Officer During Traffic Stop Is Undocumented Immigrant
California authorities are asking the public to help find the man who shot and killed an officer during a traffic stop, and claim the suspect is an undocumented immigrant. Cpl. Ronil Singh, 33, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning, shortly after he radioed in that he was pulling over a gray pickup truck with no license plates in the small town of Newman, Calif., ...
3m Dec 28, 2018
3m
Children in Border Patrol Custody Are Still at Risk Despite New Guidelines, Pediatricians Say
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has vowed to make "hands on" changes after a second migrant child died in its custody in less than three weeks. But pediatricians who have toured its facilities say the new guidelines may not be enough to prevent future deaths. The new guidelines, announced Wednesday, require more thorough medical screening of children after they...
8m Dec 28, 2018
8m
The Secrets to Dealing With Rejection, According to Experts
Rejection hurts. And it hurts regardless of who is rejecting you or how you’re getting rejected. Research confirms it, finding that when people get rejected, they often feel jealous, lonely and anxious. What’s more, we tend to incorrectly interpret the hurt we feel, viewing rejection as an indication of our self-worth, leading us to feel even worse, says Guy Winch, a...
7m Dec 28, 2018
7m
2018 Was A Tense Year. The Biggest Search Trends on Dictionary.com Show Just How Tense It Was
Online dictionaries are a looking glass, with lookups reflecting whatever people are trying to wrap their brains around at any given moment. When news breaks, people don't just go to their Google search bars for more information, they also seek context at places like Dictionary.com. And on Tuesday, the company released a roundup of "biggest search trends" for 2018. If ...
7m Dec 28, 2018
7m
Government Shutdown Will Likely Continue Into the New Year
(WASHINGTON) — Chances look slim for ending the partial government shutdown any time soon. House lawmakers are being told not to expect further votes this week, all but ensuring the shutdown will enter a second week and stretch toward the new year. Lawmakers are away from Washington for the holidays and have been told they will get 24 hours' notice before having to r...
5m Dec 28, 2018
5m
Activist: Why Bitcoin Matters for Freedom
In the border city of Cúcuta, Venezuelan refugees stream into Colombia, searching for food to feed their families. Years of high inflation, projected to top 1 million percent, has turned bolivares into scrap paper. More than 3 million Venezuelans have fled since 2014, and 5,500 exit for good each day. According to the United Nations, the exodus is “on the scale of Syria” a...
8m Dec 28, 2018
8m
Instagram Accidentally Changed Everyone’s App and People Absolutely Hated It
In the midst of the post-holiday glow, Instagram on Thursday introduced what at first appeared to be an update that required users to swipe side-to-side through their feed as opposed to scrolling up and down. And, as might be expected with any major change to a social media platform, the Internet did not take kindly to the update and sounded off accordingly and with much o...
1m Dec 28, 2018
1m
New Poll Names Michelle Obama Most-Admired Woman, President Trump Second Most-Admired Man
Former First Lady Michelle Obama was voted the most-admired woman of 2018, beating former First Lady Hillary Clinton, who has held the title for the last 17 years. According to Gallup's Most Admired List, the former First Lady won by a hefty margin with 15% of the votes, followed by media mogul Oprah Winfrey (5%) and former First Lady Hillary Clinton (4%).
2m Dec 28, 2018
2m
Trump Makes Surprise Visit to Combat Zone for the First Time Following Syria Withdrawal
When President Donald Trump met Lt. Gen. Paul LaCamera, the commander of U.S.-led military forces fighting ISIS during a surprise visit to Iraq on Wednesday, it was the first time the Commander in Chief had spoken directly to a military commander on the ground in a combat zone since taking office nearly two years ago. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made the trip to ...
8m Dec 27, 2018
8m
5 Can't-Miss Tips For That New iPhone You Just Got
Unwrapping a new smartphone is always great, but if you were lucky enough to get an iPhone for the holidays, you’re probably more than excited to try out its new features. From its TrueDepth camera to its powerful library of apps and games, the latest iPhone is full of potential. These tips and tricks will help you get even more mileage out of your newest iOS device. ...
4m Dec 27, 2018
4m
How Federal Workers Are Feeling Pain of the Government Shutdown
Julie Burr will receive her last paycheck from the federal government on Dec. 31. After that, she's doesn't know when the next one is coming. So, while she waits for President Donald Trump's standoff with Congress over funding for a border wall to come to an end, the single mother has taken on extra shifts at Barnes and Noble. "It's not going to pay all my bills, but it...
6m Dec 27, 2018
6m
Thousands Join Tax Protest in Taiwan, With a Nod to French ‘Yellow Vests’
(TAIPEI, Taiwan) — Thousands of Taiwanese, taking a page from France's yellow vest movement, protested Thursday for the third time in a week to demand lower taxes and the fair handling of tax disputes. Wearing yellow vests, they shouted slogans and blared air horns outside the Ministry of Finance in Taipei, the capital city, and waved banners calling Taiwan's tax collec...
4m Dec 27, 2018
4m
Trump Said Federal Workers Support Shutdown. Not True, Say Unions
As hundreds of thousands of federal employees marked the Christmas holiday with their families Tuesday unsure about the state of their jobs and paychecks, President Donald Trump asserted that "many" of those impacted by the partial government shutdown support it if it leads to the controversial U.S.-Mexico border wall he's promised to his base for years. But union leade...
6m Dec 27, 2018
6m
Here’s Why the Stock Market Just Had a Massive Rally After a Historic Loss
U.S. stocks staged one of the biggest rallies of the 9 1/2 year bull market after coming within points of seeing it end, with major indexes surging at least 4.9 percent. Crude jumped almost 10 percent. All but one member of the S&P 500 finished in the green, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped more than 1,050 points for its biggest-ever point gain and the Nasdaq 1...
5m Dec 27, 2018
5m
Snow and Rain Across the U.S. Could Impact Post-Christmas Travel for Millions
Heavy snow and rainstorms moving through much of the United States are predicted to create dangerous road conditions for millions of travelers heading out after Christmas. A winter storm affecting the West and parts of the Midwest is predicted cover the Central and Northern Plains and the upper midwest with heavy snow as it moves through the area into Thursday, the Nati...
2m Dec 27, 2018
2m
Column: Arab Regimes Are Using White Nationalist Lies to Attack Muslim-American Politicians
Regime-backed Saudi media is attacking three progressive, Muslim-American politicians as religious radicals — echoing the same talking points made by white nationalist extremists. Go ahead and read that sentence again. One recent article from Al-Arabiya, a state-sponsored Saudi news agency, reported that Tlaib and Ilhan Omar were part of a “Political Islamist Movement.”...
6m Dec 26, 2018
6m
All Migrant Children in U.S. Custody Will Have Medical Checks After a Second Child Died
(HOUSTON) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection ordered medical checks on every child in its custody Tuesday after an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala died, marking the second death of an immigrant child in the agency's care this month. The death came during an ongoing dispute over border security and with a partial government shutdown underway over President Donald Trump's...
6m Dec 26, 2018
6m
10 New Year’s Resolutions Doctors Actually Want You to Make
Each year, Americans' most popular New Year's resolutions are more or less the same: get healthy, get organized, save money. But doctors at the American Medical Association (AMA) have some more specific thoughts in mind for 2019. The AMA this week released a list of 10 wellness-focused resolutions that could "help Americans make the most impactful, long-lasting improvem...
5m Dec 26, 2018
5m
8-Year-Old Boy Dies on Christmas Morning in Border Control Custody
Authorities say an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died in government custody on Christmas morning, making it the second immigrant child to die in a U.S. detention center this month. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the unidentified boy died early Tuesday after showing “signs of potential illness” on Monday. CBP said the boy, accompanied by his father, w...
1m Dec 26, 2018
1m
How Diet and Exercise Could Reverse Aging in Your Brain
It's no secret that a healthy diet and plenty of exercise are key to good health, as study after study continues to show. But the latest analysis puts some hard numbers on just how big a benefit they can have on the brain, by possibly reversing some of the effects of aging.
4m Dec 26, 2018
4m
How Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Celebrated Christmas Together
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were all smiles as they greeted hundreds of onlookers during a Christmas stroll to a church service on Queen Elizabeth's Sandringham Estate. The couples followed Prince Charles to the church, with Meghan and Kate walking alongside each other and talking on the...
2m Dec 26, 2018
2m
How the 14,000 Migrant Children in Federal Custody Will Spend Christmas
More than 14,000 migrant toddlers, children and teens will spend the Christmas in U.S. government detention and processing centers across the country. About 5,400 detained migrant children in the U.S. are sleeping in shelters that house more than 1,000 other children, while 9,800 detained migrant children are in facilities with more than 100 other children, according to...
10m Dec 25, 2018
10m
A Midwife at the Manger? Here’s What the History of Childbirth Says About the First Christmas
As the Christmas season approaches, the image of Jesus’ birth in the manger — complete with Mary and Joseph kneeling over the infant, the three wise men, an angel and the animals looking on — will be seen everywhere. But research reveals that there was most likely someone else in the background. A midwife. None of the Gospels in the Bible provide much detail about the a...
7m Dec 25, 2018
7m
‘Nothing New,’ Says Trump as Shutdown Impasse Continues Through the Holidays
(WASHINGTON) — Both sides in the fight over President Donald Trump's border wall with Mexico have given a little on the money. What they can't seem to agree on is what is should be spent on. And until Trump, who wants a wall, and Democrats, who oppose it, can come to an agreement, portions of the government will stay closed. Christmas marked the fourth day of the par...
4m Dec 25, 2018
4m
It's Lights Out at Germany's Last Coal Mine
All of the things you need to know now from the editors of TIME
5m Dec 25, 2018
5m
Here Are All the Stores Open and Closed on Christmas 2018
Wondering which stores are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? It's not always so easy to find. In the United States, pretty much everything shuts down for the holiday, to focus on the festivities. But not everyone's closing up shop this year. First, on Dec. 24, there are many department stores and grocery stores open on Christmas Eve on Dec. 24 for last-minute sho...
5m Dec 25, 2018
5m
Trump Questions Whether 7-Year-Old Should Still Believe in Santa During Christmas Eve Call
(WASHINGTON) — Before attending Christmas Eve services at Washington National Cathedral, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump took calls from children anxious to find out where Santa is on his gift-giving journey. In one conversation, Trump asked a 7-year-old named Coleman, "Are you still a believer in Santa?" He listened for a moment before adding, "Beca...
2m Dec 25, 2018
2m
Here Are All the Restaurants Open on Christmas 2018
The holiday season can be hectic, which is why some people turn to the restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to save themselves some kitchen trouble. Time can be tight and when you add all the dietary restrictions, cooking can be a planning nightmare. So if you're hosting all the family this season, restaurants could save you the hassle and stress of tryin...
4m Dec 24, 2018
4m
Here's What to Know About Indonesia's Latest Tsunami, Which Has Killed Hundreds
In the latest natural disaster to strike Indonesia this year, at least 281 people have died after an eruption at one of the archipelago's volcanoes is thought to have triggered a tsunami. More than 1,000 people have been injured and dozens are reported missing after the disaster struck without warning in the middle of the night during the busy pre-Christmas weekend. The...
6m Dec 24, 2018
6m
Here's How to Track Santa as He Delivers Presents on Christmas Eve
Santa Claus is coming to town — and thanks to technology, you can know exactly what time he'll arrive. Google, NORAD and other websites have set up free Santa trackers for kids to give you some insight into Saint Nick's schedule on Christmas Eve 2018. Grab a parent, go online and watch the jolly old elf and his reindeer circle the Earth delivering toys. And, most import...
3m Dec 24, 2018
3m
President Trump Pushes Mattis Out of the Pentagon Two Months Earlier Than Planned
Fed up with the negative media coverage over the past four days, President Donald Trump on Sunday expedited the departure of Defense Secretary James Mattis two months earlier than planned and named the Pentagon’s No. 2 as a temporary replacement.
5m Dec 24, 2018
5m
How Red and Green Became the Colors of Christmas
From Melania Trump to your next door neighbor, everybody who's decorating for Christmas knows to do so with red and green. But the story of how red and green came to represent Christmas isn't as linear as the string lights around your tree. Yes, certain traditions of the holiday, like the green of mistletoe and the red of Santa's garb, might seem like obvious sources f...
4m Dec 23, 2018
4m
Dance Like Your Doctor Is Watching: It’s Great for Your Mind and Body
Two new studies say that dancing may keep you healthy well into old age, potentially by reducing the risk of disability and dementia. One paper, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, looked at how various forms of physical activity affected about 1,000 elderly Japanese women and their risk of becoming physically disabled, as measured by ...
4m Dec 23, 2018
4m
Relief in Paris as ‘Yellow Vest’ Protests Shrink
(PARIS) — France's yellow vest protesters, who have brought chaos to Paris for weeks with their economic demands, turned out in sharply reduced numbers Saturday at the start of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Still, some violent incidents in the French capital marred the end of a largely peaceful day. The number of protesters on the French capital's elegant Cham...
4m Dec 23, 2018
4m
The Government Will Now Be Shut Down Through Christmas
Less than 24 hours after portions of the federal government shut down at midnight over a funding fight for the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, the Senate closed up shop until Dec. 27. No deal, it appeared, would happen until after Christmas. "I am glad that productive discussions are continuing," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor Saturda...
6m Dec 23, 2018
6m
The Surprisingly Sad True Story Behind ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’
Gene Autry sang about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as "the most famous reindeer of all" — and there are numbers to back him up. The "Rudolph" song topped the charts in 1949; the stop-motion animated version of his story, which premiered in 1964, is known as the longest-running Christmas TV special; and a recent Hollywood Reporter/Morning Consult poll declared it the "mos...
8m Dec 23, 2018
8m
Here Are Rotten Tomatoes’ Best Reviewed Movies of 2018
From superhero epic Black Panther to terrifying thriller A Quiet Place to top-grossing rom-com Crazy Rich Asians, 2018 has been an extraordinary year for movies. In fact, review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has classified 191 movies released this year as "certified fresh," a distinction given only to the best-reviewed movies on the website.
1m Dec 23, 2018
1m
2018 Was a Year of Tension, Threats and Powerful Unity. Here’s How It Unfolded
2018 was a year marked by political tension in a number of parts of the world and threats to freedom of the press—but was also a year in which people made powerful stands for equality and united in response to natural disasters. The political divides of 2017 continued as the second year of the Trump Administration was met with ongoing strains between the left and right. ...
2m Dec 23, 2018
2m
How Unlikely Allies Got Prison Reform Done—With an Assist From Kim Kardashian
The bipartisan bill to reform federal prisons hung in the balance on Dec. 10 as Van Jones settled into Jared Kushner's cramped West Wing office. The liberal CNN host and criminal justice-reform advocate had been huddling with the senior White House adviser for months, and now they were running out of time.
11m Dec 23, 2018
11m
Missing Colorado Woman Likely Killed at Home, Police Say
(DENVER) — Police in Colorado said Friday that a woman missing since Thanksgiving Day was likely killed at her home, and they have arrested her fiance and charged him with murder. Woodland Park police Chief Miles de Young would not say whether Berreth's body had been found or what led to the charges of murder and solicitation to commit murder against Patrick Frazee, all...
3m Dec 23, 2018
3m
Christmas Wreaths Are a Classic Holiday Decoration With a Surprisingly Deep History
Hanging a wreath on a door or a wall is almost as essential to decorating for yuletide as setting up a Christmas tree — and, as it turns out, the two traditions come from the same place. “The tree gave birth to the wreath,” says Ace Collins, author of Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas.
5m Dec 22, 2018
5m
Admiral: With Jim Mattis Gone From the Pentagon, the U.S. Is One Step Closer to Chaos
His call sign was never “Mad Dog.” That was but one of the many, many things President Donald Trump got wrong about retired four-star Marine general and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. His actual call sign is, believe it or not, "CHAOS" – an appropriate sobriquet for all that is unfolding in the White House and Washington these days.
4m Dec 22, 2018
4m
Aquaman May Be Silly But It’s Buoyed by Some Old-Fashioned Pulp Spirit
The Saturday-afternoon-serial spirit is almost totally gone from movies. We have plenty of movies based on comic books, but very few that are in touch with those comics’ pulp roots. Most of the pictures in both the Marvel and D.C. universes are extravagant without being imaginative: The climactic battles may seem big while you’re watching them, but their memory withers fiv...
4m Dec 22, 2018
4m
Why Jim Mattis' Resignation Has Military Leaders and Allies Rattled
Not long after Defense Secretary James Mattis returned to the Defense Department Thursday afternoon after a contentious meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, he convened a meeting of his closest staff and advisers. His team knew something was amiss. Morale had been sinking at the Pentagon, following recent revelations that Trump had ordered a complete wit...
9m Dec 22, 2018
9m