Coronavirus stimulus bill, Christmas Eve shopping: 5 things to know Thursday

Editors, USA TODAY
·3 min read

Coronavirus relief package: Pelosi calls for vote on $2000 checks

The fate of a $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus package is in doubt Thursday as lawmakers on Capitol Hill scrambled to address President Donald Trump's sudden argument that the measure does not provide enough in direct payments. Earlier this week, Congress overwhelmingly approved a measure to offset the economic impact of COVID-19, but Trump called the bipartisan bill a "disgrace," upending weeks of congressional negotiations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has now called for a Christmas Eve vote to raise the amount of direct stimulus included in the measure to $2,000 from the $600 already approved.

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Dr. Fauci celebrates 80th birthday — virtually, of course

Dr. Anthony Fauci will celebrate his 80th birthday on Thursday. However, just as he did at Thanksgiving, the nation's leading infectious disease expert will be reconnecting with family over Zoom. Fauci has urged Americans to avoid traditional indoor gatherings amid a coronavirus surge that many experts say resulted from Thanksgiving activities and and travel. "...That’s just one of the things you're going to have to accept as we go through this unprecedented challenging time," he told The Washington Post. More than 326,000 people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins data.

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Pandemic won't stop NORAD from tracking Santa's sleigh

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will still track Santa Claus' progress as he delivers gifts around the globe on Thursday – Christmas Eve – just as it has done for 65 years. COVID-19 safety restrictions have forced NORAD to thin the ranks at its volunteer call center in Colorado Springs, so some callers seeking Santa's whereabouts may get their update from a recorded message when they dial the toll-free number, 1-877-Hi-NORAD. Info can also be found on the NORAD Tracks Santa website – www.noradsanta.org – as well as its social media pages, Amazon Alexa, Onstar, and a new mobile app.

Winds threaten power outages in Southern California

Planned power outages for beleaguered Southern California residents are expected Thursday as another dangerous Santa Ana wind event could bring the possibility of more wildfires. The National Weather Service has issued a "red flag" warning for much of the region because of the strong winds, single-digit humidity and critically dry fuels. California was the epicenter of fire activity in 2020 as it accounted for a remarkable 40% of the area burned across the nation — more than 6,500 square miles, an area larger than the size of Connecticut.

Christmas Eve holiday shopping: When Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco and other stores close

In a holiday season and year unlike any other, expect last-minute Christmas Eve shopping to be different as well. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the longest lines might be outside stores either in parking lots for curbside pickup or in front of stores as many are limiting the number of shoppers inside. Most stores will be open similar hours compared to Christmas Eve 2019 with the majority of major retailers closing by 6 p.m. with some exceptions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19 bill, Christmas Eve shopping: 5 things to know Thursday