Today is Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. Let's get caught up.
Keep scrolling for celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history. Plus, check out a special year-end edition of our daily news podcast:
Here's a preview of today's top stories:
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Texas has arrested thousands on trespassing charges at the border. Illegal crossings are still high
Starting in March, Texas will allow police to arrest migrants who enter the state illegally and give local judges the authority to order them out of the country. The new law comes two years after Texas launched a smaller-scale operation to arrest migrants for trespassing. But although that operation was also intended to stem illegal crossings, there is little indication that it has done so.
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The results raise questions about the impact arrests have on deterring immigration as Texas readies to give police even broader powers to apprehend migrants on charges of illegal entry. Civil rights organizations have already sued to stop the new law signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that encroaches on the U.S. government's immigration authority.
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Boebert switches congressional districts, avoiding a Democratic opponent who has far outraised her
Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert announced Wednesday she is switching congressional districts, avoiding a likely rematch against a Democrat who has far outraised her and following an embarrassing moment of groping and vaping that shook even loyal supporters.
In a Facebook video Wednesday evening, Boebert announced she would enter the crowded Republican primary in retiring Rep. Ken Buck's seat in the eastern side of the state, leaving the more competitive 3rd District seat she barely won last year — and which she was in peril of losing next year as some in her party have soured on her controversial style.
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Nikki Haley, asked what caused the Civil War, leaves out slavery. It's not the first time
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was asked Wednesday by a New Hampshire voter about the reason for the Civil War, and she didn’t mention slavery in her response — leading the voter to say he was “astonished” by her omission.
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Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in largely emptied north
Israeli forces bombarded cities, towns and refugee camps across Gaza overnight and into Thursday, killing dozens of people in an air and ground offensive against Hamas that has widened to most of the territory and forced thousands more to flee from homes and shelters.
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US announces new weapons package for Ukraine, as funds dwindle and Congress is stalled on aid bill
The U.S. on Wednesday announced what officials say could be the final package of military aid to Ukraine unless Congress approves supplemental funding legislation that is stalled on Capitol Hill.
The weapons, worth up to $250 million, include an array of air munitions and other missiles, artillery, anti-armor systems, ammunition, demolition and medical equipment and parts. The aid, provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, will be pulled from Pentagon stockpiles.
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US companies are picky about investing in China. The exceptions? Burgers, lattes
As a tumultuous 2023 for the Chinese economy comes to a close, there has been at least one bright spot for Beijing when it comes to foreign investment: American fast-food chains have decided a market of 1.4 billion people is simply too delicious to pass up.
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The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft for using its stories to train chatbots
The New York Times says the companies are threatening its livelihood by effectively stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists, in some cases spitting out Times' material verbatim to people who seek answers from generative artificial intelligence like OpenAI's ChatGPT. The newspaper's lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan and follows what appears to be a breakdown in talks between the newspaper and the two companies, which began in April.
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MORNING LISTEN
"The Ethical Life" Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada are joined by special guest Lawrence Eppard of the "Utterly Moderate Podcast" to make predictions for 2024. Topics include the conflict in the Middle East, the 2024 election and advances in technology.
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TRENDING TOPICS
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TODAY IN HISTORY
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TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
