Stephen King won't pay to keep his Twitter verification: 'They should pay me'

Reuters
Police report details 2017 sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth
A woman filed a sexual assault complaint in 2017 against Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to take charge of the Pentagon, according to a California police report. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has denied the assault allegations and told police at the time that "there was 'always' conversation and 'always' consensual contact," between him and the woman, according to the report. The case was referred to the Monterey County district attorney by the Monterey police department, but it declined to file charges since they could not be "supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt".
NBC News
Meta removes 2 million accounts related to 'pig-butchering' scams
Some major tech companies including Meta are taking steps to combat “pig butchering” scams, which trick Americans out of billions of dollars each year through fake online friendships and romances.
CBS News
Actor Jussie Smollett's conviction overturned by Illinois Supreme Court
The state's highest court ruled a special prosecutor's decision to re-indict Smollett violated his constitutional rights after Cook County prosecutors previously dropped charges against him.
Reuters
Analysis-Trump's return could extend US stocks' dominance over global rivals
U.S. stocks are extending their lead over global peers and some investors believe that dominance could grow if President-elect Donald Trump can implement his economic platform without becoming mired in a full-blown trade war or ballooning the federal deficit. Though U.S. stocks have outperformed their counterparts for more than a decade, the valuation gap has widened this year thanks to resilient economic growth and strong corporate earnings - particularly for the technology sector, where excitement over developments in artificial intelligence have boosted the shares of companies such as chipmaker Nvidia. Some market participants believe Trump’s agenda of tax cuts, deregulation and even tariffs can further fuel U.S. exceptionalism, outweighing worries over their potentially disruptive nature and inflationary potential.
NBC News
Vaccination rates for flu and Covid are low this season, CDC says
Vaccination rates for Covid and the flu are low for adults in the U.S. so far this season, according to a new CDC report.
USA TODAY
Democratic Sen. Bob Casey concedes to Republican Dave McCormick amid recount in Pa. Senate race
The race has been among the closest in commonwealth history, with the two men separated by approximately a quarter of a percentage point.
NBC News
Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death and could be in Uzbekistan, now in talks with U.S. officials
A Wisconsin man is alive and well and likely in Uzbekistan after faking his own death in a staged kayaking accident — and is now in talks with officials hoping to bring him home to his family, authorities said Thursday.
USA TODAY
Who is Pam Bondi? Donald Trump taps former Florida attorney general to become U.S. attorney general
Donald Trump chose former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to become top-law enforcement officer hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination.
AFP
Brazil police urge Bolsonaro's indictment for 2022 'coup' plot
Brazilian police on Thursday called for the indictment of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro over a 2022 "coup" plot to prevent current leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office.The police investigation calling for Bolsonaro's indictment detailed an alleged decree the ex-president was said to have issued in December 2022 ordering high-ranking military officers to arrest Moraes.
Politico
Trump picks Pam Bondi for AG after Matt Gaetz withdraws
Trump said in a statement she will be able to “refocus” the Justice Department.
Reuters
Ukrainian parliament postpones Friday sitting, public broadcaster reports
"On 22nd November, plans called for a session of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament), which included questions to the government, but this was cancelled for reasons of potential security issues," Suspilne said. The postponement occurred after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said Russia had struck the central city of Dnipro with a new medium-range hypersonic missile in response to Ukrainian use of Western missiles on targets in Russia. Putin suggested more could follow "in case of escalation of aggressive actions".
Reuters
Trump picks Pam Bondi for US Attorney General after Gaetz withdraws
Gaetz, who faced opposition from Senate Republicans, was the subject of a House Ethics Committee probe into allegations of having sex with an underage 17-year-old girl. Bondi served as the top law enforcement officer of the country's third most populous state from 2011 to 2019.
USA TODAY
GOP senator introduces bill to eliminate US Department of Education
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, on Thursday introduced a bill to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education.
USA TODAY
Pennsylvania snow forecast: Multiple inches expected in some areas amid winter storm warnings
Over 6 inches of snow is possible in parts of Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains, as a winter storm brews in the Northeast.
AFP
Panama says jungle crossing of US-bound migrants down nearly 40%
The number of US-bound migrants passing through the Darien jungle has fallen by 39 percent so far this year, with a total of 294,000 attempting the dangerous journey since January, Panama's president said Thursday. "There has been a 39 percent decrease in the flow of migrants," president Jose Raul Mulino told reporters in Panama City.
Associated Press
Democrats strike deal to get more Biden judges confirmed before Congress adjourns
The Senate won't hold votes on four of President Joe Biden's appellate court nominees as part of a deal with Republicans to allow for speedier consideration of other judicial nominations and bring Biden within striking distance of the 234 total judicial confirmations that occurred during President-elect Donald Trump's first term. Republicans forced numerous procedural votes this week and late-night sessions as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attempted to move ahead in getting more of Biden's nominees confirmed before Congress adjourns and Republicans take control of the chamber in January.
Associated Press
McConnell to head subcommittee overseeing defense spending as he prepares to step down as GOP leader
Sen. Mitch McConnell said Thursday he will lead a subcommittee overseeing defense spending as he carves out new roles once he relinquishes his long-running post as Senate Republican leader. The Kentucky Republican revealed he will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The transition comes as McConnell is ending his role as the longest-serving Senate leader in history, just as Republicans prepare to take majority control of the chamber after big gains in this month's election.
CNN
Sen. Bob Casey concedes Pennsylvania Senate race to Republican Dave McCormick
Republican Dave McCormick will defeat Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, CNN projects, boosting the GOP majority in the Senate next year.
USA TODAY
A Pennsylvania boy used AI to make nude images of female students. Was it illegal?
The photos were made using likenesses of nearly 50 Lancaster Country Day School students. A tipster reported them via the anonymous app Safe2Say.
NBC News
Jussie Smollett conviction in hate crime hoax overturned by Illinois Supreme Court
Actor Jussie Smollett's conviction in a case that accused him of falsely reporting a hate crime to Chicago police in 2019 has been overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court over prosecutorial issues.

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