5 things to know for December 22: Winter weather, Ukraine, Jan. 6, Crypto, Covid-19

Extreme winter climate is threatening vacation journey on among the busiest days of the 12 months, however there are methods you may keep away from a fiasco when you have a visit developing. Arrive at airports early, pack gentle and take into account rerouting your itinerary in case your flights are within the path of extreme blizzard circumstances. Additionally, regulate attainable alerts out of your airways, as greater than 1,100 flights at the moment inside, into or out of the US have already been canceled. Right here’s what else that you must know to Get As much as Pace and On with Your Day.

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A serious storm system, which the Nationwide Climate Service is asking a “as soon as in a technology kind occasion,” is touching practically each state within the US. Greater than 100 million persons are presently beneath winter climate and wind chill alerts as record-breaking temperature drops are being noticed. Denver Worldwide Airport noticed a 37-degree drop in temperature over one hour Wednesday, which officers mentioned is the most important ever drop recorded at that location. That very same day, Cheyenne, Wyoming, additionally noticed a 30-degree drop in temperature in simply 10 minutes. Governors in Georgia, Oklahoma and Kentucky have every declared a state emergency, as a number of different state leaders activate emergency response operations. Main cities within the South – together with Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi – are all anticipated to see snow at the moment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for US help in an impassioned handle to Congress throughout his first abroad journey because the Russian invasion of his nation started. In his speech Wednesday, Zelensky referred to as for extra US assist and stronger sanctions towards Moscow, telling lawmakers Ukraine “won’t ever give up,” and that their help “just isn’t charity” however an funding in democracy. Earlier within the day, President Joe Biden had introduced the US will ship Kyiv a Patriot missile protection system as a part of a further $1.8 billion help package deal, and Zelensky reiterated that air protection programs are essential to countering Russian assaults. In the meantime, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared there can be a considerable funding in his army because the battle drags on.

Home Republicans launched a report Wednesday centered on safety failures on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, highlighting well-documented breakdowns in intelligence sharing, Capitol safety and coordination between numerous regulation enforcement companies responding to the riot. Republicans solid the report as a rebuttal to the bipartisan Home choose committee’s investigation into the day’s occasions as they’re set to take management of the chamber – and endeavor to take again the narrative. The Democratic-led choose committee had deliberate to launch its ultimate report on Wednesday however has delayed the rollout till at the moment. An govt abstract launched Monday laid blame for the revolt squarely on former President Donald Trump.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced co-founder and former CEO of crypto alternate FTX, is anticipated to quickly be arraigned within the US after being extradited from the Bahamas Wednesday night time. He faces eight counts of fraud and conspiracy following an indictment by federal prosecutors. Within the wake of the corporate’s collapse, federal prosecutors in New York charged him with defrauding traders and stealing billions from FTX buyer belongings to pay for losses at his hedge fund. If convicted on all prices, the 30-year-old might face life in jail. Two of Bankman-Fried’s former senior executives have been additionally charged Wednesday for his or her roles within the yearslong scheme. They pleaded responsible to a number of felony prices and are cooperating with federal prosecutors, in response to courtroom data.

Elements of China hit arduous by rising Covid-19 instances have resorted to rationing the quantity of drugs on the market right down to the capsule because the nation faces an enormous wave of infections. Native variations of Tylenol and Advil – among the most typical medication used to alleviate flu-like signs – are practically inconceivable to get at drugstores throughout China, fueling anger and concern. In some areas, purchases of ibuprofen are being strictly restricted to a most of six tablets or 3 ounces of liquid per buyer per week. In the meantime within the US, Covid-19 and different causes have pushed life expectancy right down to 76.4 years, the bottom it has been since 1996, CDC knowledge reveals.

Runaway llama outsmarts officers in prolonged police chase

The adventurous llama brought about some drama after escaping her enclosure in Fairfax County, Virginia. Watch the video right here.

Santa’s home has soared in worth over the previous 12 months, Zillow says

Even costs within the North Pole are going up: Santa’s Arctic abode, a captivating (however fictional) 3-bedroom cabin, is now price $1.1 million – a rise of 12% over the previous 12 months.

Want a brand new Christmas film?

Talking of Santa, once you’re tempted to look at “Dwelling Alone” for the tenth time, take into account these festive options.

John Mayer reveals inspiration for ‘Your Physique Is a Wonderland’

Followers have lengthy speculated that Mayer’s Grammy-winning 2002 single was impressed by certainly one of his former celeb girlfriends. He’s lastly revealed who the music was actually about. 

Allison Holker Boss posts for the primary time since husband tWitch’s loss of life

“Oh how my coronary heart aches,” the dancer wrote in an Instagram put up, one week after her late husband’s loss of life.

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris, arguably greatest identified for the “Immaculate Reception,” one of the iconic landing performs in NFL historical past, has died on the age of 72, the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame introduced on Wednesday. Harris was a four-time Tremendous Bowl champion, successful MVP honors in Tremendous Bowl IX after speeding for 158 yards within the recreation towards the Minnesota Vikings to assist the Steelers seize their first-ever league title. The nine-time Professional Bowler was enshrined into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1990.

8

That’s what number of vehicles have been concerned in a Thanksgiving pileup within the San Francisco Bay Space after a Tesla’s “full-self-driving” software program braked unexpectedly, the motive force instructed police. The crash led to 9 folks being handled for minor accidents together with one juvenile who was hospitalized, in response to a California Freeway Patrol site visitors crash report. Tesla’s driver-assist applied sciences are already being investigated by the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration following experiences of sudden braking that happens “with out warning, at random, and infrequently repeatedly in a single drive.” The company has obtained tons of of complaints from Tesla drivers.

“This invoice is hanging by a thread.”

– Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, warning Wednesday that Democrats are struggling to achieve an settlement with Republicans on the $1.7 trillion federal spending invoice. Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, in the meantime, has mentioned senators are “making good progress” towards securing an settlement by the top of the week, earlier than authorities funding runs out. Talks are anticipated to proceed this morning.

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One husband’s tribute to a timeless love

Charles “LaLa” Evans put collectively a robust memorial to recollect his late spouse Louise after greater than 59 years of marriage. Watch this quick video to see how he celebrates their stunning love story. (Click on right here to view.)