It’s Friday, Jr.!🙋🏼♀️ I’m Nicole Fallert. Is the Grinch Meal worth the hype?
Quick Thursday news:
First of three polar vortex systems is expected this month
Frigid temperatures are expected to impact much of the central and eastern U.S. in the coming weeks.
I just got a chill: The surges of Arctic air will generate rounds of flurries and squalls in certain locations and may assist igniting storms with more widespread snow.
- We’re headed for an extremely cold December. On Thursday, wind chills between negative 10 to negative 25 degrees are expected in the upper Midwest and Northern Plains.
- How does a polar vortex form? It’s a normal pattern that tends to contain the coldest weather close to the North Pole. A portion of the polar vortex may break off or drift south.
- Say slush: Meanwhile, several states in the Northeast are being hit by a “wintry mix” with snowfall up to an inch an hour and travel delays. Maybe book a ski trip or make a snow sculpture?
It’s high stakes today for the hepatitis B vaccine
The influential Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Dec. 4 and 5 to debate changes to the immunization schedule, which calls for routine vaccines at set intervals for newborns and young children. On the panel’s agenda for Thursday: Discussing the hepatitis B vaccine, collecting public comments and voting. Public health experts warn any delay to the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, given to newborns within 24 hours of birth, could threaten decades of progress.
More news to know now
What’s the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
A look behind Epstein’s closed doors
House Democrats released more photos Wednesday from the investigation of the late disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes amid continued calls on the Department of Justice to release its files as Congress has demanded. Democrats on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee described the visuals as “never-before-seen photos and videos of Jeffrey Epstein’s private island that are a harrowing look behind Epstein’s closed doors.” See the images.
Did Hegseth risk the safety of American troops?
A Pentagon watchdog found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endangered American troops and their mission when he discussed a covert military operation in Yemen over the commercial messaging app Signal — but that he had the right to declassify the information, according to a person who has seen the report.
Today’s talkers
So you want to ditch soda? Here’s how.
Soda isn’t great for us. That’s not breaking news. And for those who wish to stop, cutting soda cold-turkey might not be a good idea — as some USA TODAY journalists recently learned when we tried it. But what do you drink instead? The alternative that’s right for you has a lot to do with why you’re drinking soda in the first place.
Photo of the day: Glowing with Reba and Kristin
The annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting Wednesday night featured seasonal performances from Brad Paisley, Laufey, Reba McEntire and Kristin Chenoweth, among other stars. Everyone dazzled like the holiday lights.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.
