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Washington In a historic move for the departing White House occupant, the Democratic-led Senate confirmed President Joe Biden's nomination as the 235th federal judge, one more than former President Donald Trump had obtained. With Friday's most recent confirmation, which may be his final, Biden would leave office with 187 district court judges, 45 appeals court judges, one Supreme Court justice, and two justices on the U.S. Court of International Trade. "Judges shape our lives," Biden stated in a message on Saturday addressed to Xon. "I m proud of those who heeded the call to serve, and of the legacy I ll leave with the men and women I ve appointed." As the gavel fell amid some cheers in the Senate chamber, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hailed the vote as historic. More judges have...

WASHINGTON — After Congress passed a government financing package, President Joe Biden signed it on Saturday, thereby preventing a shutdown scenario. The plan contains a one-year agriculture bill, $100 billion in disaster aid, and existing government funding through March 14. President-elect Donald Trump's demand for an extension of the debt ceiling was not included. "This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted," Biden said in a statement. "But it rejects the accelerated pathway to a tax cut for billionaires that Republicans sought, and it ensures the government can continue to operate at full capacity." "That s good news for the American people, especially as families gather to celebrate this holiday season," he said. Shortly after the House p...

WASHINGTON — After Congress passed a government financing package, President Joe Biden signed it on Saturday, thereby preventing a shutdown scenario. The plan contains a one-year agriculture bill, $100 billion in disaster aid, and existing government funding through March 14. President-elect Donald Trump's demand for an extension of the debt ceiling was not included. Shortly after the House passed the spending package, the Senate cleared it overnight on Saturday. The House vote was 366-34, and the Senate vote was 85-11. The law has been signed, according to a White House statement, although Biden has not yet officially commented on the news. Biden backed the bill that finally cleared Congress, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday. "It eliminates the acceler...

WASHINGTON — After Congress passed a government financing package, President Joe Biden signed it on Saturday, thereby preventing a shutdown scenario. The plan contains a one-year agriculture bill, $100 billion in disaster aid, and existing government funding through March 14. President-elect Donald Trump's demand for an extension of the debt ceiling was not included. Shortly after the House passed the spending package, the Senate cleared it overnight on Saturday. The House vote was 366-34, and the Senate vote was 85-11. The law has been signed, according to a White House statement, although Biden has not yet officially commented on the news. Biden backed the legislation that finally cleared Congress, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday. "While it does not include eve...

WASHINGTON — After Congress passed a government financing package, President Joe Biden signed it on Saturday, thereby preventing a shutdown scenario. The plan contains a one-year agriculture bill, $100 billion in disaster aid, and existing government funding through March 14. The law has been signed, according to a White House statement, although Biden has not yet officially commented on the news. Biden backed the legislation that finally cleared Congress, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday. "While it does not include everything we sought, it includes disaster relief that the President requested for the communities recovering from the storm, eliminates the accelerated pathway to a tax cut for billionaires, and would ensure that the government can continue to operate...

Washington A government shutdown that threatened to jeopardize the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of federal employees came just days before the busiest time of year for the holidays. Although a short-term spending bill signed into law by President Joe Biden has since been signed, many federal employees and contractors are upset that Congress put the country in danger of another funding lapse and caused financial uncertainty for the federal workforce. While certain federal employees must report to work if their position is deemed vital, the majority are furloughed during a shutdown. Employees in both situations get their back pay after the shutdown is over, but if a budget bill isn't signed into law, no new paychecks are produced. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation ...

MUNICH Five people have been killed in a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market in eastern Germany, according to German officials on Saturday. More than 200 people have been injured, including dozens who are critically hurt. Shoppers had congregated Friday night in Magdeburg, a city of roughly 240,000 people west of Berlin, when the automobile crashed 1200 feet onto a crowd in a small alley. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters from Magdeburg that this is a horrible, awful tragedy and that we should be very concerned about the approximately 40 individuals who are gravely hurt. He went on to say that in order to respond with the appropriate criminal and other repercussions, we must comprehend the offender and his motivations. Reiner Haseloff, the premier of Saxony-Anhalt state, ...

The last celestial event of 2024, the Ursid meteor shower, is expected to peak early on Sunday, December 22. Under ideal circumstances, the Ursids may produce only 5 to 10 meteors per hour, although they have occasionally shocked observers with higher activity rates. Notably, up to 100 meteors per hour were produced during outbursts in 1945 and 1986. Comet 8P/Tuttle, a periodic comet that orbits the sun for 13.6 years, is the source of this meteor shower. The streaks of light known as meteors are caused by particles that reach our atmosphere and burn up as Earth passes through this debris. Look for a dark spot away from city lights for the greatest viewing. The Little Dipper, or Ursa Minor, is a circumpolar constellation that is visible from northern latitudes all night long. It is located...

MUNICH Five people have been killed in a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market in eastern Germany, according to German officials on Saturday. More than 200 people have been injured, including dozens who are critically hurt. Shoppers had congregated Friday night in Magdeburg, a city of roughly 240,000 people west of Berlin, when the automobile crashed 1200 feet onto a crowd in a small alley. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters from Magdeburg that this is a horrible, awful tragedy and that we should be very concerned about the approximately 40 individuals who are gravely hurt. He went on to say that in order to respond with the appropriate criminal and other repercussions, we must comprehend the offender and his motivations. Reiner Haseloff, the premier of Saxony-Anhalt state, ...

Madison, Wisconsin. According to court documents obtained by NBC News, a 15-year-old girl who police say killed two people and injured numerous others at a private Christian school in Wisconsin had what seemed to be a turbulent home life filled with divorces, custody battles, and a series of court-mandated mediation sessions to settle disagreements over her care. During the two marriages and divorces of Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow, their daughter Natalie would occasionally visit both of their homes every few days to attend therapy. According to court records, they got married in 2011 and went through their first divorce in 2014. According to the agreements, Natalie would reside mainly with her mother, although the two agreed to share custody of her. According to their marriage certificate, ...