TRACKING: Dangerous cold and significant snowfall

Brutally cold temps and significant snow for Saturday. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from now through 6 PM for our southern counties. A Dense Fog Advisory is ...

source https://www.kwwl.com/weather/forecast/tracking-dangerous-cold-and-significant-snowfall/article_ffbbb962-6a20-11ec-8c09-1fb0fcea615e.html

Salt Lake Republicans urge Gov. Cox to defy COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Utah National Guard members

A spokesperson for the Cox administration indicated that the governor was not inclined to push back against the federal requirement.

source https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2021/12/30/salt-lake-republicans/

Eurogamer readers' top 50 games of 2021

2021 has been another extremely unusual year, so hopefully it's a bit of a treat to end it in our usual way - with the top fifty games of the last twelve months, as chosen by you.

What we said: "I wasn't expecting Days Gone to add anything new to the genre, but both in terms of its systems and its story it's uninspired, which is driven home by the fact that it's endlessly, needlessly long. I'm begging you, haven't we done this enough?"

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People should celebrate the New Year, experts say. But the size and kind of party determine Covid-19 safety

(CNN) A new year is coming, and it brings along concerns over imminent holiday celebrations in light of the Omicron variant. The coronavirus strain, the latest "variant of concern," according to the World Health Organization, is spreading across the ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/30/health/covid-new-year-gatherings-wellness/index.html

TRACKING: Freezing Fog Tonight and Winter Storm Watch Saturday

Tonight: Cloudy with a few snow showers or flurries. Areas of freezing fog. This could make surfaces slick so please use caution walking and driving. Low temperatures are in the upper teens. The wind is light from the south.

source https://www.kwwl.com/weather/blog/tracking-freezing-fog-tonight-and-winter-storm-watch-saturday/article_2c614d7c-69ba-11ec-a722-07b571f0c9a6.html

Unalaska and Kodiak set winter warm weather records

Unalaska has set a new record for the warmest Christmas in Alaska. Temperatures in the island community soared to 56 degrees on Saturday. That broke the prior Christmas Day record of 55 degrees set in the Southeast Alaska community of Metlakatla in ...

source https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/12/30/unalaska-and-kodiak-set-winter-warm-weather-records/

Deer disease detected in Warren County

JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been detected in Warren County. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) made the announcement on Thursday, Dec. 30. The buck was reported in mid-December.

source https://www.wtva.com/news/deer-disease-detected-in-warren-county/article_453550aa-6997-11ec-b98c-97ba60244e5b.html

Biden pushes Putin for Ukraine de-escalation in second call this month

Washington (CNN) President Joe Biden urged his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday to take steps to ease an unremitting crisis on Russia's border with Ukraine, warning again of dire economic consequences should Putin proceed with an ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/30/politics/biden-putin-phone-call/index.html

An endangered tiger was shot dead by police in a Florida zoo after attacking a man

A critically endangered tiger that attacked a man at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, located in Naples, Fla., is dead after police shot the animal on Wednesday evening. Eko, a Malayan tiger, was 8 years old. The man, who was left seriously injured ...

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/30/1069142182/an-endangered-tiger-was-shot-dead-by-police-in-a-florida-zoo-after-attacking-a-m

Here's what the new ban on surprise medical billing means for you

The new year brings new protections for patients with private health insurance who will no longer be blindsided by "surprise" medical bills when they unknowingly receive out-of-network care. The No Surprises Act, passed by Congress in 2020 as part of ...

source https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/10/14/1045828215/ban-on-surprise-medical-bills

The end of the week stays quiet ahead of another chance for New Year's

Heading into the last few days of 2021, conditions remain dry, but we may ring in the new year with more snow. This morning kicks off with cooler temperatures and dry conditions as we'll ...

source https://www.wrex.com/news/top-stories/the-end-of-the-week-stays-quiet-ahead-of-another-chance-for-new-years/article_97ccbda6-695d-11ec-8d45-db87adea3a39.html

Iowa DNR finds traces of long-lasting chemicals in treated West Des Moines water samples

According to a Wednesday news release, the amount of the chemicals, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl, or PFAS, found were a "fraction" of the threshold for health concerns.

source https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/west-des-moines/2021/12/30/pfas-chemicals-found-west-des-moines-iowa-water-samples-dnr/9048713002/

Skylines and Streetscapes: How New York City Physically Changed in de Blasio Era

Nine neighborhoods have been rezoned for growth. Cars have given way to bus-only traffic on several major thoroughfares. Much public housing is under private management. Supertall towers have redefined the Manhattan skyline.

source https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/12/29/22855542/skylines-and-streetscapes-how-new-york-city-physically-changed-in-de-blasio-era

Snow flies tonight, with more for New Year's

ROCKFORD (WREX) — Tonight provides 2021 with one more chance to pick up some snowfall. 2022 may start with a bang, as a larger winter storm looks possible. Light snow tonight: Snow showers have struggled to reach the ground this evening but should get ...

source https://www.wrex.com/news/top-stories/snow-flies-tonight-with-more-for-new-years/article_667b9b84-68fc-11ec-91ed-ebf055a69057.html

Save over £30 on the Logitech G915 Lightspeed TKL Wireless Keyboard

With Christmas all wrapped up for this year, we now look to the beginning of a new year. 2022 is right around the corner, and so is another year of keyboard clicks and gaming. To ring in the next 365 days and all the gaming goodness they're likely to bring, if you're a PC gamer, you may be looking for new ways to upgrade and enhance your powerhouse setup.

If it happens to be a new keyboard that's in your sights, look no further than this deal available on the Logitech G915 Lightspeed TKL wireless gaming keyboard available for £166 at Amazon, a £33 saving on its usual price.

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Eurogamer's game of the year is…

It has been 12 months, or as some might say a year, and there have been video games. In fact, looking at Eurogamer's top 10 of the year as well as your own top 50, it's clear there have been some mighty fine video games too, undermining the impression that 2021's been something of a lull for the industry.

Yes, there might not have been so many big ticket titles, and yes we're having to wait until next year for the likes of Breath of the Wild's sequel, Starfield, Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West, but we've not been short of crowd pleasing headliners.

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US National Parks to waive entrance fees for 5 days in 2022

National parks in the United States proved to be wildly popular in 2021. · And now the US National Park Service has an offer in 2022 for an inflation-shocked public as well: Five days when the entrance fees are waived at every park in the country.

source https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-national-parks-free-entry-days-2022/index.html

Biden will speak by phone with Putin as Russia ramps up presence on Ukraine border

President Biden is expected to speak by phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday — at the Kremlin's request — weeks after the White House said Biden made it clear to Putin that if Russia decided to invade Ukraine, the United States and its ...

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/29/1068842676/biden-will-speak-by-phone-with-putin-as-russia-ramps-up-presence-on-ukraine-bord

Return from Winter Break

Dear Fairfax County Public Schools Families,. We hope that you are having a safe and enjoyable winter break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on January 3. We recognize that a lot has changed over the past two weeks, ...

source https://www.fcps.edu/blog/return-winter-break

Erie County recommends health measures for year-end gatherings

Erie, PA — County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper and Erie County Department of Health recommend health measures for upcoming year-end gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Get vaccinated. At gatherings ...

source https://eriecountypa.gov/erie-county-recommends-health-measures-for-year-end-gatherings/

Some US citizens can return to country with expired passports

For one, not every expired US passport will be acceptable as a return document. This exemption applies to American citizens who are currently abroad and returning to the United States (not leaving the country and going elsewhere) whose passports expired ...

source https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/us-state-department-expired-passports-2022/index.html

Snow wraps up this evening.

Heavy snow fell at times today and amounts ranged from 3” to around 5”. Slippery roads could still be around, so be extra cautious and allow extra time to reach your destination. Clouds and snow kept our Tuesday afternoon temperatures in the 20s.

source https://www.wxow.com/weather/snow-wraps-up-this-evening/article_30bda03c-682a-11ec-88da-576a93d683d0.html

2021 in review: The most moving game of the year was about moving

Hello! Over the next few days we're going to be going back over some of our favourite games and moments and themes and whatnot from this very strange year. We hope you enjoy looking back with us!

This Christmas I'm going back to the house where I grew up. It's been more than 15 years since I moved out, and so it is now very definitely my parents' house and not my own - but part of me will always think of it as home.

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Travel to the United States on Expired US Passports

If you are overseas and your U.S. passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, you may be able to use your expired passport to return directly to the United States until March 31, 2022.

source https://bb.usembassy.gov/travel-to-the-united-states-on-expired-u-s-passports/

Assistive Technology Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program

The James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Assistive Technology (AT) OT Fellowship Program is dedicated to advancing the knowledge and skills of an OT practitioner pursuing specialty certification in the area of assistive technology.

source https://www.va.gov/tampa-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/assistive-technology-occupational-therapy-fellowship-program/

50 New Illinois Laws Going Into Effect in 2022

Child Welfare: SB 00512: The “Preventing Youth Vaping Act” aims to prevent vaping by children, placing additional restrictions on e-cigarettes, including imposing additional civil and criminal penalties. Law enforcement ...

source https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/50-new-illinois-laws-going-into-effect-in-2022/2716370/

Gunman kills 4, injures officer and two others in shooting spree

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — Five people, including the gunman, are dead after a series of shootings Monday night in Denver and Lakewood. An officer was sent to the hospital and two others were injured in the series of shootings. Two women were killed and ...

source https://kdvr.com/news/local/officer-involved-in-lakewood-shooting/

Snow tapers off for now as bone chilling air blankets Western Washington

SEATTLE — The frozen precipitation that fell over the weekend in parts of Western Washington has subsided but the bitterly cold air remains and is expected to stick around for most of the week. KOMO News meteorologist Kristin Clark said the high ...

source https://komonews.com/weather/snow-arrives-in-seattle-as-bitterly-cold-air-blankets-the-region

2021 in review: Samus returns, or how a double-A games provided some of the year's big showstoppers

Hello! Over the next few days we're going to be going back over some of our favourite games and moments and themes and whatnot from this very strange year. We hope you enjoy looking back with us!

It has been, the story goes, a quiet sort of year for video games. After the fun and festivities of 2020, which against the backdrop of a pandemic somehow saw two new consoles being released, there's been a lethargy to 2021 - a Boxing Day fug as we're caught in the liminal buffer between the big launch year and 2022, where every big release has seemingly been delayed to.

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This versatile QHD Dell monitor is down to £299

It's sometimes difficult finding the right monitor, where you want to balance a high-resolution that's above the standard 1080p HD fare, but also capable of taking your gaming experience above and beyond with extra features. The 27" Dell S2721DGFA monitor means you no longer have to make a choice anymore, and it's down to just £299 at Amazon right now, a fifth off its usual RRP.

First off, let's state the obvious: it's a QHD 1440p IPS screen. That means you're getting the sweet-spot between standard full HD and 4K resolutions, with excellent viewing angles and clarity. Many mid-range and high-powered GPUs can take advantage of this resolution when it comes to gaming, as well as consoles, with many games optimised for QHD. Next up: it has a 165Hz refresh rate. This means the screen can keep up with games that are optimised for fast gameplay, such as online shooters and e-sports games. Not only is this perfect for many hardcore PC gamers, but even games like Call of Duty on the new Xbox Series or PS5 consoles support up to 120 frames a second. This translates to you not missing out on any details that are happening at high-speed, giving you an advantage over others.

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A shooter killed 4 and injured more, including an officer, around Denver. The suspect is dead, police say

"There are four significant locations where gunfire took place in the city and county of Denver," Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said late Monday at a news conference.

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/28/us/denver-shooting-officer-injured/index.html

A judge will reconsider a trucker's 110-year sentence following a public outcry

GOLDEN, Colo. — A truck driver sentenced to 110 years for an explosive crash that killed four people in suburban Denver moved a step closer Monday to potentially having his prison term reduced. Judge Bruce Jones scheduled a hearing for Jan.

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/27/1068383012/trucker-110-years-sentence-reconsidered-colorado

COVID-19 mobile testing sites expanded in Fort Worth

The City of Fort Worth is making sure that access to COVID-19 testing remains available. In addition to the current testing site at the TEXRail North Side Station, 3001 Decatur Ave., new testing sites will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the FWISD ...

source https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/news/2021/12/covid-testing-sites-expanded

2021 in review: Lady Dimitrescu: Icon of the year

Hello! Over the next few days we're going to be going back over some of our favourite games and moments and themes and whatnot from this very strange year. We hope you enjoy looking back with us!

It started with a reveal that had the internet thirsting; it ended with voice actress Maggie Robertson winning best performance at The Game Awards. 2021 was the year of Lady Dimitrescu.

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Best PS5 deals December 2021

The console has now been out for just over a year (and still frankly difficult to get hold of) but that hasn't stopped us from trying to gather all the best PS5 deals across games, accessories and more.

If you've been fortunate to get your hands on Sony's cutting-edge console then of course you'll want some games to play on it besides the excellent preinstalled Astro's Playroom. While we're still in the early years of cross-gen releases, there's nonetheless been a wide range of games available - whether via download or disc - including renowned exclusives, indie darlings and major blockbusters. We'll be updating this page regularly to keep you instantly in the know on where to find the best PS5 deals during the festive period. If you're looking for gift inspiration, you should also check out our gamer gift guide.

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Best Xbox deals for December 2021

The new consoles are now firmly here and present (despite stock not being quite as easy to find), and whether you've managed to grab a new Xbox already, are getting ready to grab one soon or you're simply building on your lovable library of Xbox One games, there's a lot to pick from. And though the new consoles aren't likely to be discounted soon, the fact that most of the games will carry over means you can grab a deal on bestsellers now, or stack up on the best subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold for the near future.

So whether you're looking for a new Xbox Series X or S, Xbox games, controllers, Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions or accessories, there are plenty of great deals to tuck into this month. If you're looking for gift inspiration, you should also check out our Christmas gift guide.

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Los Angeles teen killed in dressing room during police shooting ID'd, body cam video to be released Monday

(CNN) The 14-year-old girl killed at a California store Thursday when police fired at an assault suspect has been identified as Valentina Orellana-Peralta, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office told CNN Sunday. Orellana-Peralta's manner of ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/27/us/lapd-teen-killed-dressing-room-valentina-orellana-peralta/index.html

Man who said 'Let's Go Brandon' to Biden on Christmas Eve says he was only joking

An Oregon man who repeated an offensive catchphrase while on a Christmas Eve call with President Joe Biden says he was just joking around. "I have nothing against Mr. Biden, but I am frustrated because I think he can be doing a better job," former ...

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/26/1068173175/man-who-said-lets-go-brandon-to-biden-on-christmas-eve-says-he-was-only-joking

2021 in review: Ruminating on 15 years of RuneScape

Hello! We're still catching up with our memories and moments of 2021. Here's Lottie considering a long career in Runescape.

I like to joke about how, for me, RuneScape is less of a game and more of a lifestyle choice; though, after 15 years, I should probably admit to myself that this joke is bordering on the realm of fact.

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Sitting down with departing Editor Oli Welsh in The Eurogamer Podcast

Episode six of The New Eurogamer Podcast is now available to all. Remember, supporters of the website get these episodes first.

Today's episode of The New Eurogamer Podcast is bitter-sweet. Sweet in the sense it's about someone at the very heart of Eurogamer - someone who has worked here for a colossal 14 years, shaping the website and leading it - but bitter because they are now leaving. Sniff. They are, of course, Oli Welsh.

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Winter storm brings travel impacts to start the week, additional snow arrives Tuesday

Highs on Sunday barely reached the mid 30s with a clear sky. That was the calm before the storm as a Winter Storm approaches Western Wisconsin and the Coulee Region. State - Winter Storm Severity Index.png. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from ...

source https://www.wxow.com/weather/winter-storm-brings-travel-impacts-to-start-the-week-additional-snow-arrives-tuesday/article_b05fb432-66a5-11ec-80dc-9b18e8779a10.html

2021 in review: Together alone, with a pigeon

Hello! Over the next few days we're going to be going back over some of our favourite games and moments and themes and whatnot from this very strange year. We hope you enjoy looking back with us!

For most of 2020 I was obsessed with a book, The Bells of Old Tokyo, by Anna Sherman. It's a book about an awful lot of things, and I won't do it the violence of trying to untangle any of that here. But one of the things it's about is a coffee shop in Tokyo run by a man named Daibo.

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Heavy snow blankets the Puget Sound, with temps expected to drop into teens

Western Washington woke up to a blanket of snow Sunday and the flakes just kept falling, not letting up until holiday travel had been disrupted, sledders had hit their neighborhood slopes and severe weather shelters had been opened to help people ...

source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/heavy-snow-blankets-the-puget-sound-with-a-winter-storm-warning-this-morning/

Winter storm brings travel impacts to start the week, additional snow arrives Tuesday

All of Western Wisconsin is under a Winter Weather Advisory from 6pm Sunday to 6am Monday. You can expect poor travel conditions, mixed precipitation, blowing snow and low visibility. Snowfall will impact holiday travel and the Monday morning commute.

source https://www.wqow.com/weather/winter-storm-brings-travel-impacts-to-start-the-week-additional-snow-arrives-tuesday/article_705cee10-6699-11ec-b303-db79543be8b9.html

Latest Wisconsin news, sports, business and entertainment at 1:20 am CST

BC-WI-FATAL CRASH. Authorities identify pregnant Appleton woman killed in crash. MILWAUKEE (AP) — Authorities have identified a pregnant woman who was killed in in a three-vehicle crash near Weyauwega in northeastern Wisconsin.

source https://www.wxow.com/news/state-news/latest-wisconsin-news-sports-business-and-entertainment-at-1-20-a-m-cst/article_f888b17c-4108-5969-b083-5eb84c0f3250.html

Winter weather on the way

Sunday Night: Widespread accumulating snow. Low: 25. Monday: Snow ending in the morning. Cloudy skies giving way to a few breaks of sun in the afternoon. Breezy. High: 34 ...

source https://www.waow.com/weather/forecast/winter-weather-on-the-way/article_d1e01a2e-65ca-11ec-9a89-f3a33ce16caa.html

A 26-year-old pregnant Appleton woman killed in a Waupaca County crash Thursday morning identified

Wisconsin state police have identified the pregnant Appleton woman killed Thursday morning in a three-vehicle pileup near Weyauwega in Waupaca County. Genesis E. Stanton, 26, was killed about 9:30 a.m. Thursday when the Chevrolet Malibu she was driving ...

source https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2021/12/25/genesis-stanton-identified-appleton-woman-killed-weyauwega-crash/9016790002/

Winter Storm to bring several inches of snow to the Chippewa Valley

High temperatures on Christmas Day climbed to 30s with mostly cloudy skies. Some areas, mainly north of I-94, received snow but it wasn't enough to create a white Christmas. State - TO - High wqow.png. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 6 p.m. ...

source https://www.wqow.com/weather/winter-storm-to-bring-several-inches-of-snow-to-the-chippewa-valley/article_bb966d32-65c9-11ec-9978-736b589ed5fd.html

Metro Detroit weather: Drying out with better Sunday on tap; tracking next system

Increasing clouds Sunday night, and here's where the forecast gets tricky: It appears that some snow and freezing rain will develop late at night, with lows in the low 30s (-1 to 0 degrees Celsius).

source https://www.clickondetroit.com/weather/2021/12/25/metro-detroit-weather-drying-out-with-better-sunday-on-tap-tracking-next-system/

Christmas highs reach July levels in Texas and Oklahoma, while much of the West could see at least a foot of snow

Many locations, including Dallas, Houston and Austin are expected to break daily record highs, but high-temperature records for the entire month of December could also be broken. Specifically, Dallas has a ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/25/weather/weather-forecast-christmas-weekend/index.html

Biden thanks service members in Christmas remarks

Washington (CNN) President Joe Biden thanked service members stationed across the globe for their service in a Christmas Day virtual meeting from the White House. "The holidays really bring into sharp focus, being apart is -- it's just part of the job, ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/25/politics/joe-biden-service-members-christmas-remarks/index.html

Some New Yorkers who test positive may be able to go back to work faster.

Essential workers in New York State may, at the discretion of their employers, be allowed to return to work five days after testing positive for the coronavirus under a new policy announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday. The move halves the amount of ...

source https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/24/nyregion/new-york-quarantine-policy-covid.html

Salvation Army's last day of the 2021 Red Kettle Campaign

ONALASKA, Wis. (WXOW) -- Salvation Army volunteers made the most out of the last day of bell ringing by ringing with their horse on Christmas Eve. Gretchen Heilman and her daughter have been volunteering for the Salvation Army for a few years but for ...

source https://www.wxow.com/news/top-stories/salvation-armys-last-day-of-the-2021-red-kettle-campaign/article_9aac3dda-64f8-11ec-824d-433933aabced.html

New York eases quarantine rules for essential workers as omicron hits key industries

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says most of the state's essential workers can return to work just five days after a positive coronavirus test if they're fully vaccinated and meet other safety standards. Previously, workers were required to stay away from ...

source https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/12/24/1067922891/quarantine-essential-workers-new-york

Officials in Waukesha to remove temporary parade memorial

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) - Officials in Waukesha plan to take down a temporary memorial honoring the people killed and injured when an SUV plowed through the city's Christmas parade last month. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the city plans to remove ...

source https://www.wkow.com/news/officials-in-waukesha-to-remove-temporary-parade-memorial/article_4e63520a-6508-11ec-b7c6-3ff85a1ff228.html

Some Christmas travelers face canceled flights as the omicron surge hits airlines

"The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation," said United Airlines in a statement to NPR. The airline said ...

source https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/12/24/1067795977/some-christmas-travelers-face-cancelled-flights-as-the-omicron-surge-hits-airlin

Why you should upgrade your mask as the Omicron variant spreads

(CNN) As the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread, some experts say it's past time to reconsider your face mask options -- especially if you're still wearing the cloth variety. "Cloth masks are little more than facial ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/24/health/cloth-mask-omicron-variant-wellness/index.html

Prosecutor Won't Charge Cuomo Over Trooper's Sexual Harassment Claim

The acting Nassau County district attorney said the allegations were “credible” and “deeply troubling” but not criminal under New York law.

source https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/nyregion/prosecutor-cuomo-trooper-sexual-harassment-claim.html

2021 in review: Getting lost in Death's Door's final secrets

Hello! Over the next few days we're going to be going back over some of our favourite games and moments and themes and whatnot from this very strange year. We hope you enjoy looking back with us!

Spoiler warning - this piece goes into how Death's Door's end-game works. It's intentionally light on specifics, but it's highly recommended you experience the moments after the credits yourself first, of course - it's one of the best games of the year, after all, as our Death's Door review explains.

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A big Eurogamer Christmas reading list to carry you through to the New Year

Hello, Bertie here, sitting in my armchair next to the fire. Here we are at the end of the year. I hope it holds some good memories for you. I also hope you manage to find some time to yourself, as the year closes, to rest and restore yourself to your dazzling best.

We've had a busy year on Eurogamer. Never is this more apparent than when I'm staring an enormous pile of pieces in the face, hoping to make some kind of list out of them. I like these lists because people miss things in the rush of the year. I miss things. And this season provides a chance to look back and highlight some of the great work gone by.

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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, December 23,

Okay, just a couple of items for you at the top. Today we are announcing we've shipped 350 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the world. That is more than one dose to ...

source https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/12/23/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-december-23-2021/

Part two of the big Eurogamer Christmas reading list

Welcome to part-two of my end of year reading list - part one was published yesterday. It's a list that highlights the writers we're really lucky to publish on Eurogamer, and without whom, the website would not be the same. I hope you saved some space after yesterday's feast, and remember, if there's a writer who really clicks with you, then return the favour and click on their name next to their author portrait, to go to their author page. There, you'll find many more pieces by them. I hope you enjoy the platter before you.

Sir Clive Sinclair sadly passed away this year, and he leaves a legacy in gaming that will never be forgotten. From calculators to some of the first mass market home computers (that could play games), Dan Whitehead tells Sir Clive Sinclair's remarkable life story.

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Portland, Multnomah County declare state of emergency ahead of freezing temperatures

Dec. 23, 2021 4:04 p.m.. The city and county will open five severe weather shelters starting at 3 p.m. on Christmas day. Portland city and Multnomah ...

source https://www.opb.org/article/2021/12/23/portland-weather-shelters-multnomah-county-state-of-emergency-freezing-temperatures-snow/

Will Fox News Stop Its Dangerous COVID-19 Messaging Now? Yeah Right.

Many open questions remain about the omicron variant of COVID-19 and what it means for the future of the pandemic, but one thing is certain: Fox News will continue to hamstring efforts to combat the virus and to demonize those officials seeking to ...

source https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/12/will-fox-news-stop-its-dangerous-covid-19-messaging-now-yeah-right

2021 in review: Before I Forget? I'll remember this masterpiece for a long time.

Hello! We're continuing our look at some of the most memorable games and moments of 2021. Here's Henry.

I had to remind myself about this year's releases before choosing a moment that impacted me. Sinking countless hours into older JRPGs (looking at you Trails) didn't help matters, and even the most generous editor would struggle accepting that. As a reviewer, I've gone through numerous big releases and had some fantastic experiences. Seeing the Great Ace Attorney finally localised is up there, Metroid's 2D return was magnificent, and Mario Party continues infuriating my very core. Choosing a major gaming moment was tough, yet when I considered Before I Forget, there was no contest.

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California gets a cold, wet start to winter. Here's what to expect

Winter will get a cold, wet start in Southern California as a series of storms brings days of rain this week. The heaviest part of the rain likely will reach Ventura and Los Angeles counties on Thursday and Friday. Another storm is expected to pass ...

source https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/12/22/california-weather-forecast-winter-cold-wet-storms-rain-ventura-county/8967898002/

Supreme Court to hold special session on vaccine requirements

The Supreme Court says it will hold a special session in just over two weeks to hear arguments on the Biden administration's vaccine or testing requirement for large employers and a separate vaccine requirement for healthcare workers, an announcement ...

source https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/22/supreme-court-special-session-vaccine-requirements-526030

Virginia Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers Recognized by Governor Ralph Northam for COVID-19 Response Efforts

“The efforts of the Virginia MRC members have been critical to the COVID-19 response. Many worked alongside staff of our local health departments in vaccination, testing and contact tracing,” said State Health Commissioner ...

source https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/vdh-virginia-medical-reserve-corps-volunteers-recognized-by-governor-ralph-northam-for-covid-19-response-efforts/

Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials

But due to Omicron's highly transmissible nature, we will see fully vaccinated people get COVID. They'll likely be asymptomatic or will feel under the weather for a few days. Let's be clear: Unvaccinated people are at a higher risk of getting severely ill ...

source https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/12/22/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-75/

Step into the New Year at West Virginia State Parks and Forests

Bring a jacket or coat, gloves and hat. (Even on warmer winter days it's best to pack some cold weather gear just in case.) Wear boots or suitable winter hiking shoes. Most guided hikes are suitable for all ages and cover distances of 1 to 3 miles.

source https://wvstateparks.com/step-into-the-new-year-at-west-virginia-state-parks-and-forests/

Forecast is on the naughty list for both a chance for holiday travel impacts and forecast uncertainty

It was a cold start to the day with areas near and north of I-94 dropping below zero. Areas southwest of the interstate remained just above, especially in the valleys. DMA - TO - Lows Today.png. Temps warmed to around 20 this afternoon, and temps won't ...

source https://www.wqow.com/weather/forecast-is-on-the-naughty-list-for-both-a-chance-for-holiday-travel-impacts-and/article_8e98ce6e-6377-11ec-bbda-235300978228.html

The worst wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Las Vegas: Remembering Christmas 2020

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A look back at last Christmas provides some perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic. We've come a long way, and Las Vegas has it pretty good compared to the depths of December 2020. “Although the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) ...

source https://www.8newsnow.com/news/health/coronavirus-health/the-worst-wave-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-las-vegas-remembering-christmas-2020/

Unreleased hand drawn cinematic for Bioware's Sonic RPG surfaces online

A previously unreleased 2D intro cinematic for Sonic RPG Sonic Chronicles has surfaced online.

Released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS, Sonic Chronicles: Dark Brotherhood was an RPG developed by Bioware with turn-based combat.

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Illinois Coronavirus Updates: New Case Record, Chicago's New Vaccine Requirement

Proof of vaccination will soon be required in several public indoor spaces in Chicago, the city announced Tuesday. The announcement comes as cases rise in the city and state, with Illinois hitting a new daily case record for 2021 this week.

source https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/illinois-coronavirus-updates-new-case-record-chicago-mayor-to-make-big-announcement/2712614/

Twitch co-founder's new NFT platform hit with NFT scam through Discord hack

Twitch co-founder Justin Kan last week launched a new platform to sell NFTs, but its Discord server was hacked and hit by an NFT-selling scam.

Fractal is Kan's new venture, essentially a marketplace for selling in-game items and cosmetics as NFTs on the blockchain.

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Remarks by President Biden on the Fight Against COVID-

First, how concerned should you be about Omicron, which is now the dominant variant in this country and it happened so quickly? The answer is straightforward: If you are not fully vaccinated, you have ...

source https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/21/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-fight-against-covid-19/

Minister's statement on Canada's decision to challenge US softwood lumber duties

Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, has issued the following statement in support of the Government of Canada's decision today to challenge the final results of the second administrative review ...

source https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021FLNRO0098-002435

State legislators gear up to pass a 'tidal wave' of voting restrictions ahead of crucial 2022 midterms

In Georgia, for instance, state Sen. Butch Miller, a Republican and president pro tempore of the state Senate, this month introduced legislation that would ban the use of ballot drop boxes in a state that already passed a law this year dramatically ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/21/politics/gop-state-officials-prepare-new-wave-of-voting-restrictions/index.html

Democrats not yet ready to trim climate ambitions despite Manchin blow

For now, Democrats are committed to reconfiguring a sweeping climate package centered on clean energy tax incentives. Brian Schatz speaks during a Senate hearing.

source https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/21/democrats-climate-ambitions-manchin-525835

Arkansas lags on Politico's scorecard

What's happening: The news site's State Pandemic Scorecard evaluated how policy choices impacted the residents of all 50 states, categorized by health, economy, social well-being and education. Why it matters: There ...

source https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2021/12/21/arkansas-lags-on-politicos-scorecard

Snowy Tuesday and unsettled late in the week

*WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. For Vilas, Oneida, Forest, and Florence counties and from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday for Price, Ashland, and Iron counties. The Winter Solstice occurs Tuesday December 21^st at 9:58 a.m. CST, ...

source https://www.waow.com/weather/forecast/snowy-tuesday-and-unsettled-late-in-the-week/article_f79625d8-61d3-11ec-ab0d-1719305cf86b.html

Biden's relationship with Manchin hits a low point, even as they clear the air

"The Two Joes" -- President Joe Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin -- spoke by phone on Sunday evening after their tenuous alliance blew apart earlier that morning, imperiling the President's domestic agenda and leaving the fate of his legislative ambitions ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/21/politics/joe-manchin-joe-biden-relationship/index.html

All-SoCon Faculty and Staff Team Announced

A. Coale, who currently serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Physical Education, has served the Institute for more than four decades. In addition to his teaching duties, he established the Strength and Conditioning Department for NCAA athletes ...

source https://vmikeydets.com/news/2021/12/20/athletics-all-socon-faculty-and-staff-team-announced.aspx

'A recipe for absolute destruction': Democrats scramble to avoid electoral blowback after Manchin halts Biden agenda

"I'm obviously upset -- pissed off about what happened," said Rep. Tom Malinowski, a Democrat who represents a New Jersey swing district. "We certainly are not going to win an election spending the next year bemoaning the fact that Joe Manchin didn't do ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/20/politics/moderate-democrats-manchin-2022/index.html

Trump Sues New York AG in Bid to Stop Inquiry Into His Business

Donald J. Trump filed a lawsuit on Monday against the New York State attorney general, Letitia James, seeking to halt her long-running civil inquiry into his business practices and to bar her from participating in a separate criminal investigation.

source https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/nyregion/trump-lawsuit-letitia-james.html

Booster Shots and Omicron: Is Moderna or Pfizer Performing Better? Here's the Data So Far

Both Moderna and Pfizer have released early data showing the effectiveness of their vaccines and booster doses as the new omicron variant begins to take hold and as COVID cases rise across the U.S.. But is one performing better than the other?

source https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/booster-shots-and-omicron-is-moderna-or-pfizer-performing-better-heres-the-data-so-far/2711734/

PC owners of the GTA Trilogy remaster can claim an extra game for free

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition has received mixed reviews from the community and reviewers alike, thanks to a myriad of technical issues and contentious artistic choices.

In response, Rockstar promised to make amends by giving PC owners the classic PC versions at no additional cost when purchased through the Rockstar Games Launcher.

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Corsair's premium HS75 XB wireless headset is just £103 on Amazon

Gaming headsets have become near necessities for any gaming set up these days. Besides the need to communicate with your teammates about where enemies may be lurking during an online round of Call of Duty, so many games fine tune their audio for headset use, sometimes outright recommending it.

Corsair is a known and trusted brand in the gaming accessories space, and their headsets are always worth a look at. The HS75 XB is no different, as it's wirelessly tuned to work perfectly with Xbox consoles and PC, and it's down to just £103 over at Amazon right now. That's well over a third off the standard retail price of £170.

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Kinzinger on McCarthy: 'I don't think history books are going to be kind to him'

Speaking on ABC's “This Week,” Kinzinger (R-Ill.) praised a recent statement from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell while condemning House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for the strong influence former President Donald Trump still has over the ...

source https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/19/kinzinger-mccarthy-mcconnell-trump-525531

Xbox Series X is in stock at Amazon UK at RRP

The Xbox Series X is a powerful next-gen console with access to a massive amount of current and last-gen games via Game Pass, but finding one has proven difficult - even Microsoft couldn't find enough units to run a Halo tournament. Now though, the Xbox Series X is in stock - and seems to be staying in stock - at Amazon UK, where you pick up the console for its £449 RRP, no bundle required.

If you're interested, there are also some bundles available - and these may be a good backup choice if the console alone sells out. Right now we can see two game bundles in stock: one with the Series X and Back 4 Blood for £475, and the other with the Series X and Far Cry 6 for £488. Both are good recent games at a fair price, so they're not a bad option if the non-bundled Series X sells out by the time you read this. Next day delivery is available on the bundles and on the standard Xbox Series X, so if you're looking to get the console before Christmas you're in luck.

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Battlefield 2042's first season reportedly won't be released until March 2022

The first season of Battlefield 2042 won't be released until March next year at the earliest.

That's according to Battlefield dataminer temporyal, who reportedly found 12 weeks of pre-season weekly challenges in the game client.

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PS Plus owners of Final Fantasy 7 Remake get free PS5 upgrade this week

PlayStation Plus subscribers who previously redeemed a digital copy of Final Fantasy 7 Remake will be able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version from Wednesday at no extra cost.

The enhanced version released in June and was a free upgrade for paid owners of the game, but not for players who scored their copy through PlayStation Plus.

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WRC 10 review - a feast of off-road delights

Editor's note: Hello! Over the next few days we're running a "Games That Got Away" series, where we finally get round to reviewing games that released at some point in 2021 but, for various reasons, we couldn't quite manage to cover at the time.

We've gone back to a few real gems, so for more catch-up reviews like this one head to the Games That Got Away hub, where all our pieces from the series will be rounded up in one convenient place. Enjoy!

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How months of talks between Biden and Manchin over Build Back Better broke down

(CNN) President Joe Biden was at home in Delaware Sunday when Sen. Joe Manchin appeared on Fox News to abruptly declare he could not support his sweeping social and climate plan. "I've tried everything humanly possible," the West Virginia Democrat said ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/19/politics/joe-manchin-joe-biden-build-back-better-talks-break-down/index.html

As Omicron looms, here are 5 ways to ease anxiety

Jelena Kecmanovic is a clinical psychologist, the founding director of Arlington/DC Behavior Therapy Institute and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. You can find her @DrKpsychologist. (CNN) Just when we thought we could exhale and enjoy ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/19/health/how-to-reduce-anxiety-omicron-wellness/index.html

Hades is the first video game to ever win the Hugo Award literary prize

Hades is the very first video game to ever win a Hugo award, an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works of the year.

Though there's currently no best video game category, as per the World Science Fiction Convention, a one-off category was created for this year, and a permanent award is under consideration.

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Kid A Mnesia: Exhibition review - a striking audiovisual tour

Editor's note: Hello! Over the next few days we're running a "Games That Got Away" series, where we finally get round to reviewing games that released at some point in 2021 but, for various reasons, we couldn't quite manage to cover at the time.

We've gone back to a few real gems, so for more catch-up reviews like this one head to the Games That Got Away hub, where all our pieces from the series will be rounded up in one convenient place. Enjoy!

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Biden's vaccine-or-test rule for 84 million workers is back after court lifts stay

A Biden administration rule that requires workers at companies with 100 or more employees to be vaccinated against Covid or undergo weekly testing is back on. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a stay on the rule Friday evening.

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/17/1065401498/bidens-osha-vaccine-mandate-test-million-workers

A quiet and chilly winter weekend

Bitter cold returns on Monday night with lows back in the single digits. A mostly cloudy sky with highs in the mid 20s is what you can expect for your Tuesday. A slight chance of light snow showers returns on Tuesday, but the snow could miss us if it ...

source https://www.wqow.com/weather/a-quiet-and-chilly-winter-weekend/article_16404798-6053-11ec-b4ec-276ef3b10d78.html

Strong cold front ushers in storms Saturday morning, chilly temps for weekend

The main threats from today's stronger storms are small and strong gusty winds. As we head towards the afternoon, the rain and storm activity will diminish, with most of the heavier activity making its way to the southeast by the afternoon.

source https://www.kxxv.com/weather/strong-cold-front-ushers-in-storms-saturday-morning-chilly-temps-for-weekend

On Mexico's southern border, the latest migration surge is Haitian

TAPACHULA, Mexico — The neatly assembled line of stuffed backpacks stretches more than a mile down the side of a busy two-lane highway outside the southern Mexico city of Tapachula. These are the belongings of hundreds of migrants, mostly from Haiti, ...

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/18/1065135970/on-mexicos-southern-border-the-latest-migration-surge-is-haitian

US Capitol rioter gets 5 years in jail after throwing fire extinguisher at police

Robert Scott Palmer is the first person to be sentenced for the felony of assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon. His 63-month sentence could set a benchmark for the more than 140 others who face the same charge.

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/17/politics/robert-scott-palmer-capitol/index.html

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One gets first "major bonus story" DLC Beyond a Joke

If you've been enjoying your time sleuthing around the sunny, Mediterranean-inspired climes of Sherlock Holmes Chapter One, you might be interested to know that developer Frogwares has just released a brand-new case to crack in the form of its Beyond a Joke DLC.

Beyond a Joke, which is out now on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5, serves up a new quest - the first of "three major bonus story content additions", as Frogwares puts it - in which young Sherlock Holmes and his chiselled jawline go on the hunt for an "unstoppable" thief targeting the island of Cordona's ultra-rich "with brazen gusto and open mockery".

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Chicago's highly vaccinated neighborhoods

These are mostly in North Side, West Side and downtown neighborhoods. Why it matters: Vaccinated Chicagoans have more COVID protection than the unvaccinated, according to Chicago Department of Public Health statistics.

source https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2021/12/17/chicagos-highly-vaccinated-neighborhoods

WVU's Academic Transformation to focus on student success initiatives in 2022

Associate Provost Evan Widders, who followed Reed with specifics on the plans, also discussed the need to address a lack of consistency in academic advising which will become a primary focus of transformation in 2022. “ ...

source https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2021/12/17/wvu-s-academic-transformation-to-focus-on-student-success-initiatives-in-2022

Ernie Hudson says new Ghostbusters game is "definitely happening"

Actor Ernie Hudson, perhaps better known as Ghostbusters' Ray Winston, has claimed a new video game based on the legendary movie series is "definitely happening".

This isn't the first time we've heard word of a new Ghostbusters game, of course; back in October, Raphael Saadiq, the co-founder of Friday the 13th and Predator: Hunter Grounds developer Illfonic, let slip that the studio was currently working on the title. Unsurprisingly though, given that the game is still yet to be officially announced, Saadiq hasn't offered any update since, leaving movie fans uncertain of the project's status.

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Pipeline owner kept 'in the dark' on possible anchor strike

Two massive container ships were battered by gale-force winds and 17-foot waves off the Port of Los Angeles in the early morning hours of Jan. 25. Both vessels had their anchors dropped. But transponder data shows the two vessels still moved back and ...

source https://www.eenews.net/articles/pipeline-owner-kept-in-the-dark-on-possible-anchor-strike/

FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Trucking Action Plan to Strengthen America's Trucking Workforce

Trucking plays a critical role in the U.S. supply chain and economy. America's truck drivers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic, delivering goods to every corner of this country. Seventy-two percent of goods in America are shipped by truck, ...

source https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/16/fact-sheet-the-biden-%E2%81%A0harris-administration-trucking-action-plan-to-strengthen-americas-trucking-workforce/

Ubisoft's long-delayed new Settlers game will be sharing "some news" in January

If you've been eagerly awaiting news of the next instalment in the nearly three-decade-old Settlers series, your patience will soon be awarded: publisher Ubisoft has announced it'll be revealing more information on the long-delayed game in January next year.

Ubisoft first revealed it would be revisiting the Settlers' much-loved city-building and real-time strategy formula in a new series instalment back in 2018. At the time, it told fans to expect the title in autumn the following year but, as that window grew near, the publisher announced a delay, pushing the game's release into 2020.

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Harris says she has 'never discussed' reelection with Biden

(CNN) Vice President Kamala Harris told The Wall Street Journal that she and President Joe Biden haven't talked about whether the 79-year-old will run for reelection in 2024. "I'm not going to talk about our conversations, but I will tell you this ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/16/politics/kamala-harris-joe-biden-2024/index.html

Dead Cells' The Queen and the Sea expansion gets January release date and first trailer

The Queen and the Sea, the third paid expansion for developer Motion Twin's majestic rogue-like action-platformer Dead Cells, will be coming to PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC on 6th January next year, and there's a first trailer to celebrate the news.

The Queen and the Sea, which follows previous paid expansions The Bad Seed and Fatal Falls, brings a touch of the nautical to Dead Cells' acclaimed action, introducing new enemies, bosses, weapons, and two brand-new biomes - Infested Shipwreck and the Lighthouse - that'll run parallel to the existing High Peak Castle and Throne Room late-game stages.

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Beloit police shoot suspect during attack after traffic crash

At approximately 7:44 p.m. on December 15th, a Beloit Police Department sergeant was investigating a traffic accident near Prairie Avenue and Copeland Avenue, when a person allegedly attacked and attempted to take the sergeant's firearm. The sergeant ...

source https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/beloit-police-shoot-suspect-during-attack-after-traffic-crash/article_3d6d9a98-5e5d-11ec-ba84-db6b36c69e16.html

Detention and Devotion developer announces Sekiro-inspired action-platformer Nine Sols

Red Candle Games, the developer behind critically acclaimed horror outings Detention and Devotion, has - following a bit of an animated tease earlier this year - formally announced its latest title, an action-platformer loosely inspired by From Software's superb Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice that's currently going by the name of Nine Sols.

Details are extremely limited right now, but Red Candle describes Nine Sols (a working title at present) as a "lore rich hand-drawn 2D platformer with Sekiro-inspired deflection-focused combat". The developer has also shared a wonderfully evocative bit of promo art that - while a significant aesthetic departure from its previous games - does suggest, with its mangled limbs and pools of blood, that we're not exactly in family friendly territory here.

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Final Fantasy 14 is so popular it's been pulled from sale

Due to ongoing congestion issues, Final Fantasy 14 has been temporarily suspended from sale.

In addition, the free trial is now no longer available for new players. Existing trial players have also been deprioritised in the queue.

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Halo Infinite's latest hotfix tackles Quick Resume issues on Xbox Series X/S

343 Industries has released a new Halo Infinite hotfix, aiming to tackle Quick Resume issues reported by Xbox Series X/S players.

Last week saw 343 Industries warning against using the Xbox Series X/S Quick Resume feature during Halo Infinite's campaign after players began reporting that earned cosmetics were failing to show up in multiplayer inventories - an issue the developer explained was caused by Quick Resume failing to get sessions back online.

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Card horror Inscryption's free mini-expansion turns Act 1 into an endless rogue-like

Inscryption, the acclaimed deck-building horror game from Pony Island and The Hex developer Daniel Mullins, is getting a free new mini-expansion that will turn its devilishly enjoyable opening act into an endless, rogue-like experience.

As with Mullins' previous creations, Inscryption - a dizzyingly strange blend of deck-building rogue-like, escape-room puzzler, and psychological horror - loves to surprise, which inevitably means some deviation away from its opening portion, a engaging combination of sharply designed card battling and Slay-the-Spire-style map progression.

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New Zealand's unique cigarette ban may be a model for other countries

When New Zealand officials announced a unique, comprehensive plan last week to effectively end cigarette smoking in their country, tobacco researchers and health policy advocates elsewhere around the world perked up their ears.

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/15/1064212737/new-zealands-cigarette-ban-model

Biden's FDA pick on track for confirmation with GOP help

Republican senators appear poised to help confirm President Joe Biden's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration, even as some Democrats appear wary over what they see as repeated failures by the agency to rein in the opioid epidemic.

source https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/14/califf-fda-gop-524226

First lady and second gentleman to visit Wisconsin Wednesday

MADISON (WKOW) -- First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will visit Wisconsin Wednesday. The two plan to meet with health care workers in Milwaukee as well as visit with children who just received the COVID-19 vaccine.

source https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/first-lady-and-second-gentleman-to-visit-wisconsin-wednesday/article_06857d5c-5d86-11ec-8d32-a38643b650e8.html

Here's everything that appeared during Nintendo's latest Indie World showcase

If you're a fan of Switch and indie games (which I assume you are, unless you got lost browsing the site) but found yourself otherwise indisposed during Nintendo's latest Indie World showcase, you missed a typically packed event. This time around, we got a look at The Messenger developer's gorgeous retro-inspired RPG Sea of Stars, a first glimpse of WayForward's beat-'em-up sequel River City Girls 2, tearjerking fox adventure in Endling: Extinction is Forever, a release date for the striking, skateboarding OlliOlli World, and plenty more. Those wanting a convenient catch-up will find everything shown below.

Sea of Stars

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Cybersecurity incident prevents Maryland Health Department from publishing Covid-19 case data

The department is focused on "gaining full visibility into the affected network infrastructure" and working to bring affected IT systems back online following the hack, department spokesperson Andy Owen told CNN in an email.

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/14/politics/maryland-health-department-hack-covid-19-data/index.html

Is Utah already overusing its share of water from the Colorado River?

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Seth Arens, a research scientist for Western Water Assessment, tracks changes in vegetation and eco systems occurring in areas where Lake Powell once was as he documents specific locations year after year ...

source https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2021/12/14/is-utah-already-overusing/

Microsoft recalls time it rejected Rockstar's pitch to put GTA3 on the original Xbox

As part of its fascinating Power On documentary series released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Xbox, Microsoft has discussed the time it rejected Rockstar's pitch to put Grand Theft Auto 3 on the original Xbox back in 2001 - a decision that would ultimately lead to the multi-million-selling phenomenon being snapped up by Sony as a timed exclusive.

The story, which follows similarly candid recollections from Microsoft in Power On - including the admission its closure of Fable developer Lionhead Studios was one of the company's "biggest missteps" - comes in the third episode. Here, various members of the original Xbox team discuss Microsoft's preparations for the console's launch, which saw the group going on a "barnstorming tour" across America, Europe, and Japan to build excitement and convince developers its machine could be a success.

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Covid-19 vaccinations began a year ago. These numbers show how it's going

(CNN) On December 14, 2020, nurse Sandra Lindsay rolled up her left sleeve at a New York City hospital and became one of the first people in the US to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The vaccine was from Pfizer/BioNTech, and it had been authorized for ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/14/health/covid-vaccines-by-the-numbers-cec/index.html

Man who threatened to shoot Pelosi sentenced to more than two years in prison

(CNN) A Georgia man who drove cross-country with an assault rifle and threatened to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was sentenced to 28 months behind bars in an emotional hearing on Tuesday. Cleveland Meredith Jr. pleaded guilty in September to sending ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/14/politics/capitol-pelosi-threat/index.html

Climate change has destabilized the Earth's poles, putting the rest of the planet in peril

The Oregon State University glaciologist had chosen this spot for her Antarctic field research precisely because of its stability. While other parts of the infamous Thwaites Glacier crumbled, this wedge of floating ice acted as a brace, slowing the melt.

source https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/12/14/climate-change-arctic-antarctic-poles/

There's a free PlayStation Plus online multiplayer trial happening this weekend

If you're curious about PlayStation Plus but haven't yet become a member - or have no intention of ever becoming a member, but have a sudden urge to play some online multiplayer games all the same - Sony is giving players two days to trial the subscription service this weekend.

PlayStation Plus, should you be unfamiliar, is required to play the vast majority of PlayStation 4 and PS5 multiplayer games online (although free-to-play titles such as Fortnite are excluded), and, as an extra incentive to subscribe, offers a monthly selection of games to add to your library for the duration of a membership at no extra cost.

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Off Topic: An end-of-the-year miracle!

I have an update for a story I published a while back LINK. It was a self-indulgent story, and it's a self-indulgent update. Apologies very much in advance.

Back in October I wrote a piece about a painting I really love - Capriccio: St Paul's and a Venetian Canal, by William Marlow. It's an obscure painting - it's held in the Tate's collection but it's rarely on display - and Marlow is an obscure painter. I have googled gently over the twenty years since I saw the painting and have seen a few of his pieces, most of them sort of fine but not particularly memorable.

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NSF grant supports Asian American and Pacific Islander students in geosciences

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The geosciences lag other STEM fields when it comes to racial and ethnic representation. A two-year, $295,000 grant from the National Science Foundation aims to address this issue by encouraging more Asian American and Pacific ...

source https://www.psu.edu/news/earth-and-mineral-sciences/story/nsf-grant-supports-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-students

Delaware County Launches Emergency Rental Assistance Program's $30 Million Phase 2

Released: December 13, 2021. Following a highly successful first round of the Delaware County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the County has seamlessly launched a second round of funding to help low-income tenants with rent and utility assistance ...

source https://www.delcopa.gov/publicrelations/releases/2021/emergencyrentalassistancephase2.html

Taliban seek ties with US and other ex-foes, Afghan foreign minister says

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers are committed in principle to education and jobs for girls and women, a marked departure from their previous time in power, and seek the world's "mercy and compassion" to help millions of Afghans in ...

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/13/1063591662/taliban-seek-ties-with-u-s-other-ex-foes

Very unusual December weather on the way

Monday night looks tranquil and partly cloudy with a bit of fog possible later. Lows should reach the mid 20s with northeast winds turning east at 5-10 mph. Some patches of fog may linger into Tuesday morning then you can expect partly to mostly cloudy ...

source https://www.waow.com/weather/forecast/very-unusual-december-weather-on-the-way/article_19b51142-5c57-11ec-87c8-3bd17ebb8bef.html

Biden administration taking steps to improve government processes like going through airport security, filing taxes

"And so today I'm signing an executive order to ensure that the federal government puts you, the American people, at the front of the line." The order aims to improve the ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/13/politics/government-processes-executive-order/index.html

WVU Student Named WVU's Fourth Marshall Scholar

West Virginia University's Myya Helm has been named a Marshall Scholar, a prestigious award that offers more than 40 young Americans of high ability the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom for two fully-funded years toward a graduate degree.

source https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2021/12/13/wvu-student-named-wvu-s-fourth-marshall-scholar

Microsoft warns of security vulnerability in Minecraft Java

Microsoft has urged all Minecraft Java owners to update their game now to avoid a nasty security vulnerability.

The issue allows for remote code execution on Minecraft servers by pasting messages into a chat box, and was flagged online by tech security analysts last Friday. Eurogamer contacted Microsoft at the time.

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The Nintendo Switch OLED is down to £305

If you've still got some last-minute Christmas shopping to do and you've got the Nintendo Switch OLED on your shopping list, Amazon has reduced its price to £305.07

This a modest saving of a fiver so its by no means a massive discount, but this is the cheapest we've seen the console selling for on its own during the festive period, and that includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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Ex-BioWare boss Aaryn Flynn sings all about Nightingale

More than three years after departing BioWare and later founding his own studio, Aaryn Flynn's next project has finally been announced. The former BioWare boss turned up on stage at last week's Game Awards to show off Nightingale, a "shared-world survival crafting game" - the first project from Inflexion Games.

But while that trailer gave us a good idea of Nightingale's alternate history fantasy setting, it gave less away on what the game will actually be like to play - and what might have changed since it was originally teased as an online multiplayer RPG.

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Democrats to Ex-Trump Aide: You Can't Dodge a Subpoena Just Because Trump Told You To

House Democrats investigating Donald Trump's pandemic response have a new headache caused by ex-trade adviser Peter Navarro, who is refusing to comply with their subpoena because, as he put it, the 45th president gave him a “direct order” to claim ...

source https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/12/democrats-navarro-subpeona-trump

Influential Texas abortion opponent sees Supreme Court decision as validation to keep fighting

Mark Lee Dickson helped Texas towns ban abortion. On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to block a state law modeled on his ordinance. “We can go anywhere now,” he said. by Eleanor Klibanoff Dec. 12, 2021 6:03 PM Central. Copy link.

source https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/12/texas-abortion-law-supreme-court-advocates/

FEMA Continues Response to Tornado-Damaged Areas

WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas are traveling to Kentucky this morning to meet Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and local officials to discuss the commonwealth's needs while touring ...

source https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20211212/fema-continues-response-tornado-damaged-areas

Readout of President Joe Biden's Briefing on Severe Weather

The President was briefed by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon, and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Julie Chavez ...

source https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/11/readout-of-president-joe-bidens-briefing-on-severe-weather/

Atlus celebrates 25 years of Persona with this new $400 vinyl boxset

Atlus has teamed up with iam8bit to create a $400/£300 25th anniversary of Persona vinyl boxset.

The boxset boasts eight and a half hours of "newly remastered" music from right across the series on coloured vinyl "themed to each Persona".

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Campaign level select in Halo Infinite is "challenging" but 343 Industries is "working" on it

The opportunity to replay campaign modes in Halo Infinite is "coming later", according to 343 Industries associate creative director, Paul Crocker.

Acknowledging players may be frustrated that there's currently no way they can go back to enjoy and replay story missions, Crocker explained that pivoting to "nonlinear" gameplay makes replaying the campaign "incredibly challenging", but level select is "being worked on".

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This might be the most advanced F1 sim commercially available

At some point later this afternoon in Abu Dhabi, history will be made. Whether Lewis Hamilton clinches his eighth title and pulls clear of the record seven crowns claimed by Michael Schumacher or Max Verstappen takes his first remains to be seen, but whatever the result we're about to witness the end of an era. With a new ruleset designed to bunch the pack up and slow them down - temporarily, at least - we're about to say farewell to the fastest racing cars to have ever graced the planet.

So it's somewhat timely we've just received what I'm certain is the most advanced F1 sim commercially available, thanks to the partnership between iRacing and the Mercedes AMG Team that saw the W12 E arrive to the service earlier this week. I can't pretend to have much by way of first-hand experience of this most muscular iteration of the hybrid era, but I've been lucky enough to be trackside a few times and this certainly brings the supernatural speed and performance of the fastest F1 cars ever to life more vividly than any other title.

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Remarks by President Biden on the Severe Weather that Impacted Several US States

I also — and, apparently, it's just been announced — but I also approved the emergency declaration that was requested a couple of hours ago by Governor Beshear of Kentucky. That's going to accelerate federal emergency assistance for Kentucky right now, ...

source https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/12/11/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-severe-weather-that-impacted-several-u-s-states/

At least 70 feared dead in Kentucky alone, governor says, after tornadoes hit central and southern US

(CNN) Storms unleashed devastating tornadoes late Friday and early Saturday across parts of the central and southern United States, including Kentucky, where the governor says the death toll may exceed 70 after "one of the toughest nights in Kentucky ...

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/11/weather/severe-weather-tornadoes-saturday/index.html

What is a nocturnal tornado? Weather experts say it's twice as deadly

(NEXSTAR) – A large swath of the midwestern and eastern United States is expected to be at risk for storms beginning on Friday evening, with more severe weather such as hail and damaging winds likely for certain regions. But the National Oceanic and ...

source https://www.kxan.com/weather/what-is-a-nocturnal-tornado-weather-experts-say-its-twice-as-deadly/

NLRB staffer charged with selling confidential docs to law firm consultant

(Reuters) - An investigator with the National Labor Relations Board has been charged with selling confidential documents to a consultant for law firms handling cases before the agency, according to a complaint unsealed on Friday.

source https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/nlrb-staffer-charged-with-selling-confidential-docs-law-firm-consultant-2021-12-10/

What John Roberts' role in Texas' abortion case could signal for the future of Roe

(CNN) Chief Justice John Roberts wrote a razor-sharp opinion Friday emphasizing that Texas' abortion law defies Supreme Court precedent and should expose the many state officials who play a key role in the "scheme" to federal lawsuit.

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/11/politics/john-roberts-supreme-court-abortion-texas/index.html

Local hardware stores prepare for first major winter storm of season

At Ted's Home and Hardware in Evansdale, ice melt and other essential winter weather items are flying off the shelves. "It is always a big deal, especially when the big flakes start to ...

source https://www.kwwl.com/weather/local-hardware-stores-prepare-for-first-major-winter-storm-of-season/article_2e1bd47e-59fd-11ec-b4db-ab81fcfed19f.html

Biden orders US to stop financing new carbon-intense projects abroad

WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The Biden administration has ordered U.S. government agencies to immediately stop financing new carbon-intensive fossil fuel projects overseas and prioritize global collaborations to deploy clean energy technology, ...

source https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/biden-orders-us-stop-financing-carbon-intense-overseas-fuel-projects-2021-12-10/

"This is a dark day": For Texas abortion providers, US Supreme Court ruling feels apocalyptic

Even though a legal fight continues, providers warn that abortion clinics could eventually have to shut down since enforcement of the law can continue. by Karen Brooks Harper Dec. 10, 2021 Updated: 4:33 PM Central. Copy link.

source https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/10/Texas-abortion-providers-scotus-sb8/

Intervention by President Charles Michel at the Summit for Democracy

Today more than ever our democracies, and the lives of our citizens, are defined by the digital transformation. This transformation presents not only huge opportunities but also risks for our democracies. We – in Europe ...

source https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/12/10/intervention-by-president-charles-michel-at-the-summit-for-democracy/

Texas' long fight over abortion rights continues with Supreme Court ruling

Texas, the birthplace of Roe v. Wade, has been at the forefront of major battles over abortion access ever since. Friday's ruling ensures the state remains on the frontlines. by Eleanor Klibanoff Dec. 10, 2021 3:45 PM Central. Copy link.

source https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/10/texas-abortion-rights-supreme-court-history/

Bob Dole celebrated by Biden and national leaders at Washington funeral

Washington (CNN) A funeral service and tribute ceremony for the late Kansas Republican Sen. Bob Dole took place in Washington, DC, on Friday, with current and former lawmakers, as well as friends and family, remembering his legacy of public service.

source https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/10/politics/bob-dole-funeral-washington/index.html

Sniper Elite 5 gets first trailer and is launching next year

Following its blink-and-you'll-miss it debut during this year's Game Awards, developer Rebellion has officially revealed Sniper Elite 5, which will be making its way to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC some time next year.

As you'd expect, Sniper Elite 5 will deliver more of the series' "unparalleled tactical sniping", as Rebellion puts it, alongside an enhanced version of the iconic kill cam, said to be "more realistic and grisly than ever". All that comes with a shift in location, with Sniper Elite 5's WW2 yarn taking the series away from Italy circa 1943, as seen in the previous game, to the France of 1944.

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From faux firs to bald pines: the most unforgettable Christmas trees which (somehow) still bring joy

But despite all this fretting, there is something us Brits find oddly festive about a failed fir – particularly when it's in the public eye. Take the local outcry over the Christmas tree in Bailiff Bridge, a ...

source https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/2021/12/10/faux-firs-bald-pines-unforgettable-christmas-trees-somehow-still/

Appeals court rules against Trump effort to block document release to Jan. 6 panel

A federal appeals court has denied former President Donald Trump's bid to block the release of some of his White House records to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The unanimous ruling from the three-judge panel ...

source https://www.npr.org/2021/12/09/1062811908/appeals-court-rules-against-trump-effort-to-block-document-release-to-jan-6-pane

The Game Awards 2021 live report

The Geoffs are here! Join us live from 1am GMT for all the announcements, and maybe even some awards.

Best PS4 deals for games and accessories in December 2021

Now that the PS5 has settled in as the new console generation, you might think it would be a good time to make a saving on a PS4 this Christmas. However, stock shortages during the pandemic and the fact that all but the PS4 slim models have been officially discontinued by Sony, means new PS4 consoles are actually just as hard to find. On the other hand, those who have a console already can still take advantage of some amazing deals on PS4 games and accessories we've found here.

Some of this month's highlights includePersona 5 Royal for £16.85, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year Edition for £13.89 and a 12 month PlayStation Plus membership for for £41.85.

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Gears of War's Marcus Fenix and Kait Diaz are heading to Fortnite

Gears of War's Marcus Fenix and Kait Diaz are the latest characters to be uprooted from their usual homes and shoved into the metaversal nightmare that is Fortnite, with both arriving in the free-to-play battle royale game later today.

It's not entirely clear what the occasion is - although a quick Google tells me Gears of War is currently celebrating its 15 year, one month, and two day anniversary, so perhaps that's a thing - but Fenix and Diaz will both be available as paid skins in the Fortnite store from 7pm ET this evening, which equates to 12am, 10th December in the UK.

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