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Winter's Dawn: Celebrating the Solstice

The Winter Solstice, which occurred on December 21st, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, signaling the official start of winter. Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Julia Gomez from USA TODAY explore the significance of this astronomical event and how it is celebrated across different cultures. The solstice, occurring when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, brings the least amount of daylight and the longest night. This year, the solstice fell on December 21st at 4:21 a.m. EST, marking the astronomical beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Historically, the Winter Solstice has been a time of celebration and reflection. Ancient civilizations, such as the Romans with their Saturnalia festival and the Norsemen with their bonfires, honored the return of the sun and the promise of longer days ahead. Today, people continue to observe the solstice with various traditions, including gatherings, feasts, and rituals that pay homage to the natural cycles of l...
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Congress Averts Government Shutdown with Last-Minute Spending Bill

 

In a dramatic turn of events, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a crucial spending bill late Friday night. The bill, which extends government funding until mid-March, was approved by the House with a vote of 366 to 34 and later passed by the Senate. This legislation provides $110 billion in relief for natural disaster survivors and aid to farmers, while also extending the farm bill.

However, the bill notably excludes President-elect Donald Trump's demand to raise the debt ceiling. Instead, Republicans are considering a handshake deal to raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion early next year and reduce future government spending by $2.5 trillion. This compromise does not have the force of law and will be revisited in the coming months.

The spending package also left out key Democratic priorities, such as funding for pediatric cancer research. Despite these omissions, the bill's passage was seen as a significant achievement for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who received praise from Elon Musk, co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

The successful passage of the bill marks a temporary reprieve from the threat of a government shutdown, but the issue of the debt ceiling remains unresolved. Congress has until January 2, 2025, to address the debt limit, after which the Treasury Department may enact temporary measures to extend the deadline into next summer.

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