In the last year, the population of the United States grew at the fastest rate in more than 20 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

New data shows that the U.S. population increased by almost 1% this year, or by 3.3 million people, surpassing 340 million. The South experienced the most population growth of all the regions by far, increasing by 1.8 million people.

Also helping to increase the population was the fact that births outnumbered deaths by nearly 519,000 between 2023 and 2024.

The voting-age resident population (ages 18 and over) grew to nearly 267 million in the last year, while the population of people ages 17 and under actually declined by 0.2 million to 73.1 million in 2024.

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An annual growth rate of 1.0% is higher than what weve seen over recent years but well within historical norms, said Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Census Bureaus Population Division. What stands out is the diminishing role of natural increase over the last five years, as net international migration has become the primary driver of the nations growth.

Only three statesVermont, Mississippi, and West Virginialost population in the last year. West Virginia had the largest population loss, as the state lost 516 residents.

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A Missouri man who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, will be allowed to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the presidential inauguration next month.

Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan made the decision Thursday. Eric Peterson is slated to be sentenced on January 27, a week after President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office on the Capitol grounds. According to his plea agreement, in addition to whatever sentence he receives, Peterson must also pay $500 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol.

The Department of Justice accused Peterson of knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted area with intent to impede and disrupt the orderly conduct of government business and official functions. The DOJ also accused him of engaging in disorderly and disruptive conduct within the United States Capitol Grounds.

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The U.S. Capitol was also the site of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection when hundreds of his supporters entered, disrupting the counting of the Electoral College.

The Department of Justice also recently objected to allowing fellow Jan. 6 defendant Cindy Young to attend the inauguration during her supervised release after a misdemeanor conviction relating to the insurrection. A judge has not yet decided whether Young should be allowed to attend.

Frito-Lay is recalling one of its most popular snack products over concerns it could cause a "life-threatening allergic reaction" if consumed.

The Texas-based company announced this week the recall impacts a "limited number" of 13-ounce bags of Lay's Classic Potato Chips that were sold in Washington and Oregon and may contain "undeclared milk."

Frito-Lay said recalled bags must have both a "Guaranteed Fresh" date of Feb. 11, 2025, and one of the following manufacturing codes: 6462307xx or 6463307xx.

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"If consumers have an allergy or sensitivity to milk, they should not consume the product and discard it immediately," the company said in a statement. "Frito-Lay has informed the FDA of this action."

To date, no allergic reactions related to the product have been reported. However, Frito-Lay is urging consumers with any questions or concerns to contact its consumer relations department at 1-800-352-4477.

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The company also stated that no other Lay's products, flavors, sizes or variety packs are impacted by the recall.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted late Thursday to reject a slimmed-down funding bill that would have averted a looming government shutdown.

House Republicans unveiled the 116-page bill down from over 1,500 pages Thursday afternoon and it quickly garnered the support of President-elect Donald Trump. However, 38 Republicans sided with nearly all Democrats in the House to reject the bill by a vote of 235- 174.

RELATED STORY | House Republicans unveil slimmed-down funding bill

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed reporters after the vote, blaming Democrats for the failure.

"The only difference in this legislation was that we would push the debt ceiling to January of 2027," he said. "I want you all to remember, it was just last spring that these same Democrats berated Republicans and said that it was irresponsible to hold the debt limit the debt ceiling hostage. What changed?"

The continuing resolution would have averted a government shutdown Friday at midnight and added a debt limit extension until January 30, 2027. It also included millions of dollars for disaster relief to help communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as money for farmers who have been impacted by droughts, wildfires and floods.

However, the bill did not include money for things like pay raises for members of Congress or the transfer of land for the NFL's Washington Commanders to build a new football stadium.

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Ahead of the vote, Democrats also voiced frustration with billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who railed against the original bipartisan bill.

"The Musk, Johnson proposal is not serious," said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "It's laughable. Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown."

President-elect Donald Trump has come out in support of a new short-term government funding bill.

House Republicans unveiled the 116-page bill, down from over 1,500 pages, on Thursday afternoon. It includes millions for disaster relief to help communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton as well as money for farmers who have been impacted by droughts, wildfires and floods.

The continuing resolution also added a debt limit extension until January 30, 2027.

The new version of the bill does not include money for things like pay raises for members of Congress or the transfer of land for the Washington Commanders to build a new football stadium.

"Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish,' Trump said on Truth Social while encouraging "All Republicans" and Democrats to vote yes on the bill.

However, it does not appear Democrats are on board with the new bill.

"The Musk, Johnson proposal is not serious," said Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "It's laughable. Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown."

Jeffries is referring to Elon Musk, who railed against the original bill.

With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House, they would need nearly all members of the GOP to vote for it or have some Democrats join them in supporting the resolution. It would also need to pass the Senate, which Democrats still control.

A bill needs to pass before Saturday to avoid a government shutdown.

Manchester, New Hampshire, has earned the title of Zillows most popular housing market of 2024.

This year's list is dominated by areas in the Northeast, with the Midwest also making a strong showing and just one West Coast city cracking the top 10.

Zillow says this years rankings highlighted the appeal of what's known as exurbs smaller towns located beyond the suburbs yet still within commuting distance of major metropolitan areas.

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"In another year of higher mortgage rates, areas of affordability and opportunity were center stage in 2024," said Zillow Chief Economist Skylar Olsen. "With the rise of hybrid work models, more people are discovering hidden-gem cities they might have previously overlooked when daily commutes were the norm. Buyers are seeking out locations that offer the right mix of affordable living and lifestyle amenities."

Zillows top 10 most popular markets of 2024 include:

Manchester, New Hampshire Rockford, Illinois Stamford, Connecticut Columbia, Maryland Bridgeport, Connecticut Allentown, Pennsylvania Peoria, Illinois New Haven, Connecticut Waterbury, Connecticut Sunnyvale, California

Zillows analysis examined metrics such as page-view traffic, home value growth and the speed of home sales.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced temporary flight restrictions for drones over 22 communities in New Jersey.

Restrictions exist in areas including Burlington to South Brunswick until Jan. 17.

"At the request of federal security partners, the FAA published 22 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical New Jersey infrastructure," the FAA said in a statement to Scripps News.

The flying objects, which were first spotted over New Jersey in mid-November, have since been reported in at least seven other states. President Joe Biden addressed concerns about the drones on Tuesday night.

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"Theres nothing nefarious apparently, but theyre checking it all out," the president said.

He added, "Were following it closely. So far, no sense of danger.

National security officials have also downplayed concerns. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said this week that while "concerning activity" is still being investigated, it's not uncommon to see drones flying in the sky.

The ban in New Jersey has some exceptions. Drones can be flown if they are used in conjunction with law enforcement, national defense, homeland security or disaster response missions.

A source familiar with murder suspect Luigi Mangione's legal team told Scripps News Wednesday that the 26-year-old is expected to waive extradition.

Mangione is scheduled for a 9:00 am hearing Thursday in Altoona, Pennsylvania. If he chooses to waive extradition, he could be remanded to New York as quickly as the same day.

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Mangione was indicted Tuesday in New York on multiple counts of murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Manhattan District Attorney said Mangione faces a first-degree murder charge and two second-degree murder charges. Two of those counts include allegations of committing the crimes in furtherance of terrorism and as an act of terrorism. Two of the murder charges carry a maximum of life in prison.

He was initially arrested and held on forgery and firearms charges in Pennsylvania after eluding authorities for nearly a week following Thompson's death.

This is a developing story. Stay with Scripps News for additional updates.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday over bird flu infection in cattle herds in the state.

State health officials have now found bird flu infections in dairy cattle in at least 641 dairy farms. Infections on roughly half of the farms were identified within the last month.

The declaration is meant to surge more staff and resources to state agencies that are responding to the outbreak, through testing, quarantine efforts and PPE distribution for high-risk workers.

"This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak," Gov. Newsom said in a statement on the new declaration. "While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus."

The declaration follows the detection of bird flu on more dairy farms in Southern California. State health officials first identified bird flu in dairy cattle in August of 2024.

Bird flu has now infected dairy herds across 16 states.

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Federal health officials say there have been 61 cases of bird flu infection in humans, mostly among people who had close contact with dairy herds or farmed poultry. 34 of the reported cases were from California.

In December an individual in southwestern Louisiana became the first to be hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu, and also the first to be infected from exposure to sick birds in a residential setting.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of bird flu. The agency says the overall risk to the U.S. public from the current outbreak remains low.

Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have identified a previously unknown disease that killed more than 140 people as a severe form of malaria.

The country health ministry said Tuesday the strain manifested as a respiratory disease and was made worse by malnutrition in the region.

Symptoms of the disease include headache, fever, cough and anemia.

Initial diagnosis was difficult thanks to the remote nature of the region and limited local capacity for testing. The first samples had to be sent nearly 300 miles away for study.

In total, officials say, 592 cases have been tracked since October. 6.2% of cases have been fatal. More than half of those who died were children who were already affected by severe malnutrition when they were infected.

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Malaria is spread in humans through mosquito bites. It does not transmit from person to person.

The disease is widespread in tropical Africa. Within Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for more than 11% of deaths from the disease, according to the World Health Organization.

Experts from the WHO and from the Congolese government are working to trace the disease, process more samples and distribute medicines to counter the spread of malaria.

Your next trip to Walmart may be recorded from a new angle. The company is reportedly testing body-worn cameras on its employees.

Some are already being worn by employees in the pilot program, multiple outlets reported. The pilot program is aimed at deterring conflict and preventing theft.

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It's the same type of body camera widely used by law enforcement. Now, it's expanding to retail settings with other stores like TJ Maxx and Homegoods doing the same.

A Walmart spokesperson said while they dont talk about the specifics of their security measures, they are always looking at new and innovative technology used across the retail industry.

The U.S. Supreme Court revealed on Wednesday that it will hear TikTok's challenge to a law that could lead to a ban on the app in the U.S.

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance petitioned the high court for an emergency injunction ahead of the law going into effect on Jan. 19.

The Supreme Court has set oral arguments for Jan. 10.

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was passed with bipartisan support in February. Lawmakers expressed concern that the Chinese government could force Bytedance, a Chinese company, to share user data and manipulate algorithms to influence U.S. public opinion.

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However, TikTok argues that the government has not produced any evidence that the app is a national security threat, while also claiming the law violates the constitutional right to free speech.

The Supreme Court says the parties will be arguing the following question: Does the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, as applied to petitioners, violate the First Amendment?

A federal appeals court previously upheld the law, which would require the company to sell or face a ban.

TikTok is one of the most popular apps in the country. The company says it has 170 million monthly users.

The public will likely get more insight into a House Ethics Committee investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz.

The committee recently conducted a secret vote to release its report, according to CNN and The New York Times.

The committee had been looking into alleged sexual misconduct by Gaetz, along with accusations of illicit drug use and the alleged acceptance of improper gifts. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

CNN reports that the report is now expected to be made public after the House takes its final vote of the year and leaves for Washington, possibly as early as Friday.

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Earlier this month, Republicans blocked the immediate release of the report. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said the report should not be released since Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress.

Gaetz, who previously represented Florida's 1st Congressional District, won reelection last month for what would have been his fifth term in Congress. However, he resigned his seat upon learning about his nomination to be attorney general. Gaetz ultimately withdrew his nomination amid intense scrutiny about the House Ethics Committee investigation.

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Gaetz has since landed himself a job as a TV show host on One America News Network.

"The Matt Gaetz Show" will launch in January. He will also co-host a weekly political podcast with OAN show anchor Dan Ball.

On Tuesday, Canadian leaders announced a spending plan to bolster border security in an effort to prevent 25% tariffs from going into effect by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

In a post on X, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the new security measures at its border with the U.S. includes deploying new helicopters, drones, and surveillance tools, adding new scanners and sniffer dog teams to stop and seize fentanyl and cracking down on the money laundering thats funding cross-border crime.

The new measures will cost Canada $900 million over a span of six years.

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Trump said several weeks ago he would impose a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico if they did not boost their border security to help stop the trafficking of illegal drugs which led to a lot of reaction from the countries' leaders.

Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago last month to meet with the president-elect, but that didn't stop Trump from making disparaging comments towards Trudeau on his social media implying Canada would become the 51st state of the U.S. and referring to him as a governor rather than prime minister.

This comes as Trudeau faces growing pressure from Canadians to resign after his top minister abruptly quit and criticized his handling of the budget.

President Joe Biden addressed the drone sightings that have captured the attention of people across the country.

The flying objects, which were first spotted over New Jersey in mid-November, have since been reported in at least seven other states. However, President Biden said Tuesday night that people shouldn't be concerned.

"Theres nothing nefarious apparently, but theyre checking it all out," the president said.

He added, "Were following it closely. So far, no sense of danger.

National security officials have also downplayed concerns. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said this week that while "concerning activity" is still being investigated, it's not uncommon to see drones flying in the sky.

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby also said on Monday that the drones do not appear to present a safety risk.

"We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful, commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones," he said. "We have not identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey, or other states in the Northeast."

Still, that answer has not satisfied the public and even some lawmakers, who have requested more information about drones. Some have also called for Congress to pass the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act. They say it would give states more power to counter the drones.

Meanwhile, the FBI has warned the public not to aim lasers or shoot weapons at drones or other aircraft.

pic.twitter.com/ELgIo1gnOt

FBI Newark (@FBINewark) December 16, 2024

One young American who is taking his responsibility for civic engagement seriously is Knowa De Baraso, an influencer and internet personality who became a viral sensation during the 2024 presidential election  at just 13 years old.

He spoke with Scripps News about Kamala Harris' impact and what comes next for young Democrats as President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

"I've been on the campaign trail with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris since the beginning of 2023," De Baraso said. "Since then, Kamala Harris has used her 'rizz' with young voters to convince them to vote for that side. What Kamala Harris is doing now is encouraging her young voters to stay active despite the challenging election results."

"Kamala Harris, aside from Al Gore, has been the best with young voters not only because of her positions on climate change and the gun violence epidemic, but simply because of who she is and what she has accomplished," he said.

The Democratic National Committee is slated to pick new leadership for the party in February. What is needed to appeal to young Democrats?

"What excites me is a Democratic Party of innovation, of saying 'we're going to get dirty money out of politics,' 'what we're going to do is do something about the gun violence epidemic,' 'we're going to build and Barack Obama and Joe Biden's leadership in their White House,'" De Baraso said.

"What the Democratic party needs right now is a true leader," De Baraso said. "David Hogg just put his hat in the ring for vice chair. It's not the race of the leadership that really excites young people. It's more so their ideas. You could be a White male, you could be a Black lady or your could be a Black man if you believe in conservatism, we're not going to be excited about it. It's less about the race of the person and more about their ideas."

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What does De Baraso want to see during President-elect Trump's second term in office?

"I want to see young people on Twitter, on Instagram constantly criticizing what Donald Trump has done. Not only that, but take a nonpartisan approach to applaud some of the good things he could do. Let's say he actually takes a step which is highly unlikely to do something about the gun violence epidemic. Applaud him for that, so he knows when he's doing good and doing bad. Don't just criticize him for each and every thing, because that could be really dangerous."

Watch the full interview with De Baraso in the video above.

David Hogg, who survived the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is running to be a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Hogg, now 24, says he is aiming to be part of national Democratic leadership to reach younger voters who moved toward Donald Trump and the right in the last election.

"Moving forward, we must have a renewed focus on our youth outreach in all states and territories to rebuild our coalition after the massive shift to the right among young voters this election," he said in a statement.

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Hogg has spent years as an anti-violence activist, co-founding the group March For Our Lives with fellow student survivors of the Parkland shooting. He also founded Leaders We Deserve, an activist group that focuses on getting younger people elected to local and national government.

Other candidates seeking vice-chair seats include Joe Barbuto, chair of the Wyoming Democratic party; Shasti Conrad, chair of the Washington state Democrats; and James Zogby, a pro-Palestinian advocate and an existing member of the DNC.

Hogg and other candidates for DNC chair positions will participate in party forums in January before chair elections on Feb. 1, 2025.

The Pentagon on Monday tried to calm fears about drones spotted over at least eight states.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder noted that while "concerning activity" is still being investigated, it's not uncommon to see drones flying in the sky.

He added that it's also not an indication of "malicious activity or any public safety threat."

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told reporters on Monday the drones did not appear to present a safety risk.

"We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful, commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones," Kirby said. "We have not identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey, or other states in the Northeast."

Public concern began to arise in mid-November when drones were spotted over New Jersey. Since then, people in places like New York, Pennsylvania and even Ohio have spotted drones.

RELATED STORY | Federal government sending 'state-of-the-art' drone detection system to New York

In at least one case, drones were spotted over a military base. Ryder acknowledged that drones near military bases are not necessarily uncommon.

"If a determination is made that unauthorized drones are conducting any malign or malicious activity, commanders are authorized to take appropriate action to mitigate and counter these unmanned systems," Ryder said.

Officials said on Monday that drones spotted over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Greene County, Ohio, had not presented a threat.

"To date, installation leaders have determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents, facilities, or assets," said Bob Purtiman, Chief of Public Affairs for Wright-Patterson AFB.

U.S. officials have been reluctant to say who may be responsible for flying the drones in each case. Ryder noted, however, that many drones are flying lawfully.

RELATED STORY | Two men arrested following 'hazardous drone operation' near Boston airport

"We need to be careful to avoid assuming malintent or malicious behavior," he added.

Ryder was pressed on whether the drones were part of a U.S. military operation.

"To my knowledge, there are no military operations that are these are not military drones," he said.

Scripps News confirmed with a source familiar with the proceedings that the House Intelligence Committee will hold a classified briefing about the drones on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the FBI in New Jersey has warned the public not to aim lasers or shoot weapons at drones or other aircraft.

TikTok has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency injunction to halt the enforcement of a law that would effectively ban the app in the United States.

Earlier this month, a federal appeals court ruled against TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, which argue that the law requiring the companys sale is unconstitutional. Following the ruling, TikTok announced it would appeal to the Supreme Court.

RELATED STORY | Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was passed with bipartisan support in February. Lawmakers expressed concern that the Chinese government could force Bytedance, a Chinese company, to share user data and manipulate algorithms to influence U.S. public opinion.

In the court filing on Monday, TikTok argues that the government would not be harmed by an injunction because there is "no imminent threat to national security." It also says the injunction would allow the incoming Trump administration to state its position.

Content creators who rely on the app for income filed a similar plea with the court, claiming the law is in opposition to their right to free speech.

RELATED STORY | TikTok was aware of risks kids and teens face on its platform, legal document alleges

TikTok is one of the most popular apps in the country. The company says it has 170 million monthly users.

If the Supreme Court does not step in, the law is slated to go into effect on Jan. 19. TikTok asked the court to inform them of a decision by Jan. 6.