Rental car service Turo was used to obtain the vehicles in separate attacks early New Year's Day in Las Vegas and New Orleans, the company confirmed late Wednesday.

Officials have not confirmed any connection between the attacks. The incident in New Orleans involved a Ford F-150 Lightning truck that ran over dozens of people on Bourbon Street, killing 14. Authorities have said the Las Vegas incident involved a Tesla Cybertruck loaded with fireworks and fuel canisters.

Authorities said the driver of the Cybertruck died and seven others were injured from an intentional explosion.

RELATED STORY | Suspects in Vegas explosion, New Orleans attack served at same Army base, sources say

Turo said it was "devastated" by the incidents.

"Our trust and safety team is actively partnering with law enforcement authorities to share any information that could be helpful in their investigations," the company said in a statement. "We do not believe that either renter had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat, and we are not currently aware of any information that indicates the two incidents are related."

What is Turo

Turo is similar to short-term vacation rentals, but instead of homes, Turo rents vehicles. The platform differs from standard rental car companies in that the vehicles rented to drivers are owned by a third party.

People can list their vehicles for rent, and customers can use the app to obtain the vehicle from the owners.

The company operates in the United States, Canada, Australia, France, and the United Kingdom.

Turo began operations in 2021 and as of last year, boasted that nearly 360,000 vehicles have been listed on the platform. The company said its hosts have earned $3.8 billion by using the platform.

RELATED STORY | Police executing search warrants following deadly New Orleans truck attack

The company said that in 2023, 3.7 million guests booked a vehicle using Turo.

"Turo is dedicated to fostering a trustworthy marketplace. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards in risk management, thanks to our world-class trust and safety technologies and teams that include experienced former law enforcement professionals," the company said on Wednesday.

In its 2023 year-end financial report, Turo recognized the liability facing the company.

"We may be found to be subject to liability for the activities of hosts and guests, which could harm our reputation, increase our operating costs, and materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition," it said.

Law enforcement in New Orleans said they are hardening their security plans as the venue prepares to host two major football games, with the first coming on Thursday.

Wednesday's Sugar Bowl, which is part of the expanded College Football Playoff, was slated for a Wednesday evening kickoff, but officials postponed the game to Thursday afternoon. The delay came hours after a deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street killed 14 people.

Anne Kirkpatrick, superintendent of New Orleans Police, said additional resources will be used to secure the Superdome as an estimated 70,000 fans will enter the stadium Thursday afternoon. The Superdome will then host the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.

RELATED STORY | Suspects in Vegas explosion, New Orleans attack served at same Army base, sources say

"We have proven that we can provide safe passage to the Superdome and back," she said. "We've done that time and time again. We're going to just harden our plan. We're going to harden our targets is what we're going to do, but we believe we can absolutely provide a safe and wonderful environment today and for the Super Bowl and all of our activities."

This year's Super Bowl will be the 11th time the game will be held in New Orleans, and the eighth time the game has been at the Superdome. No other venue has hosted more Super Bowl games than the Superdome.

The Sugar Bowl has been held at the Superdome every year since 1975, with the exception of 2006 when Hurricane Katrina damaged the facility.

RELATED STORY | Law enforcement executing search warrants following deadly New Orleans truck attack

Twenty-two years into his professional basketball career, there is no question LeBron James is still playing at a high level. Through 28 games this year, James is averaging 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and nine assists per game.

While he is perhaps no longer a clear MVP candidate like he was throughout much of his career, he is still a sure-fire All-Star.

As James turned 40 years old on Monday, questions turned to his future. Numerous NBA All-Stars continued playing into their early 40s, but most players had to settle for limited roles by that age.

Not James. But it's clear that James has no plans to continue his career as an aging former star.

James said the process of playing at a high level has "never been easy." But he said his decision to retire won't be based on his ability to play at a high level.

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"If I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for about another weird that I might say this but about another five or seven years, if I wanted to, James said. But Im not going to do that.

James was asked whether he would miss the game after leaving, and he said yes, but clarified he would not come back to basketball once retired.

James was widely considered one of the top prospects to ever enter the NBA Draft after his high school graduation in 2003. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose home arena was just miles from his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

After a seven-year stint with the Cavs, he had an acrimonious exit to Miami, which included four NBA Finals appearances and two championships. He then returned to Cleveland for four seasons, leading the Cavs to the NBA Finals in all four years, and winning the franchise's first NBA title in 2016.

The 22-year journey was one that James didn't expect at age 18.

RELATED STORY | LeBron and Bronny James make history as NBA's first father-son duo to play together

"I didn't give myself a timetable of how long I would play the game," he said. "I told myself I wanted to maximize the time I had in the league and I wanted to be as great as I could be."

The last year also brought the highlight of him playing alongside his son Bronny James, who made his NBA debut in October. The duo became the first father-son pair to ever play in the same NBA game.

After a sluggish start for the Lakers, Bronny James has seen his production rise in the second-tier G League, scoring in double figures in seven of the last eight games.

One thing nearly all former presidents have in common is a love of sports. For Donald Trump, the game was golf. For Barack Obama, the sport was basketball. President George W. Bush owned Major League Baseballs Texas Rangers.

For Jimmy Carter, the sport was tennis.

At the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is a clay tennis court. The tennis court was installed during Carters childhood on the family farm.

The farm and his childhood home later became the location for the park in Plains, Georgia.

In his 1975 book Why Not the Best? Carter described how he would play against his father as a teenager.

My father was an excellent tennis player, Carter wrote. I could never beat my father. He had a wicked sliced ball which barely bounded at all on the relatively soft dirt court.

RELATED STORY | Former President Jimmy Carter dies at age 100

Carter was able to upgrade his court when he entered the White House in 1977. The complex had a court installed during President Theodore Roosevelts tenure.

But during his time in the White House, the use of the tennis courts became political fodder.

Staffer James Fallows wrote in The Atlantic that Carter would personally sign off on when the White House tennis court could be used, and by which staffers.

The in-house tennis enthusiasts, of whom I was perhaps the most shameless, dispatched brief notes through his secretary asking to use the court on Tuesday afternoons while he was at a congressional briefing, or a Saturday morning, while he was away, Fallows wrote. I always provided spaces where he could check Yes or No; Carter would make his decision and send the note back, initialed J.

Carter was asked by Bill Moyers about whether he personally signed off on the tennis courts use. Carter told Moyers he delegated the task to a secretary.

Carters love of tennis came home to Plains in 1977 during his first year in the White House. World Team Tennis staged a match in the small Georgia town, which was attended by Carters mother Lillian. The competition was between a team of Soviet Union stars against top Americans playing on the Phoenix Racquets.

Despite Big Lots dissolving amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, the company announced late Friday that it has agreed to a sale with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, LLC that would involve keeping hundreds of stores open, if the deal is approved by a judge.

The company was in the process of launching "going out of business" sales at all of its locations after a possible deal to sell the company to Nexus Capital Management fell through.

Big Lots has already closed hundreds of locations this year. The company still has more than 900 locations. No timetable has been set on when the other locations will close.

RELATED STORY | Big Lots files for bankruptcy, says more stores could close

As part of the new agreement, Gordon Brothers Retail Partners will transfer Big Lots assets, including stores, distribution centers, and intellectual property, to other retailers and companies, Big Lots said. Variety Wholesalers, which also operates the retailer Roses, intends to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores. Variety Wholesalers also plans to operate the stores under the Big Lots brand moving forward.

Variety Wholesalers will also keep two Big Lots distribution centers open under the agreement.

"The strategic sale to Gordon Brothers and the transfer to Variety Wholesalers is a favorable and significant achievement for Big Lots that reflects the tireless work and collective effort of our team," Bruce Thorn, Big Lots' President, said. "This sale agreement and transfer present the strongest opportunity to preserve jobs, maximize value for the estate and ensure continuity of the Big Lots brand. We are grateful to our associates nationwide for their grit and resilience throughout this process."

A federal bankruptcy court still has to approve the transfer of stores.

RELATED STORY | Costco memberships grow despite price increase as profits surge

As many companies are cutting back or ending diversity initiatives, Costco's Board of Trustees is pushing back on efforts to end the company's DEI programs.

The Board urged its shareholders to vote against a proposal submitted by the National Center for Public Policy Research that called on Costco to eliminate DEI programs. The group claims that DEI programs are discriminatory and put the company at financial risk.

"It's clear that DEI holds litigation, reputational and financial risks to the Company, and therefore financial risks to shareholders," the National Center for Public Policy Research wrote in its letter of support.

RELATED STORY | US companies are rolling back DEI programs to critics' praise, but consumers don't agree, data shows

In response, Costco's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to urge shareholders to decline the proposal. Shareholders will have their say on Jan. 23.

"Our success at Costco Wholesale has been built on service to our critical stakeholders: employees, members, and suppliers," the Board wrote in response to the proposal. "Our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion follow our code of ethics: For our employees, these efforts are built around inclusion having all of our employees feel valued and respected. Our efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion remind and reinforce with everyone at our Company the importance of creating opportunities for all.

"We believe that these efforts enhance our capacity to attract and retain employees who will help our business succeed. This capacity is critical because we owe our success to our now over 300,000 employees around the globe."

The National Center for Public Policy Search said the Supreme Court decision reached in 2023 in SFFA v. Harvard indicated that companies' DEI programs could potentially be illegal. The Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action policies by colleges violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

RELATED STORY | Costco memberships grow despite price increase as profits surge

Costco's Board countered that the group was incorrect on its belief that the company's DEI policies violate the law.

"We believe that our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are legally appropriate, and nothing in the proposal demonstrates otherwise. As part of our obeying the law, all decisions regarding recruiting, hiring, promotion, assignment, training, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, pregnancy disability, work-related injury, covered military or veteran status, political ideology or expression, genetic information, marital status, or other protected status," Costco's Board said in response.

Most Americans say they enjoy getting gift cards, but sometimes they go to waste.

According to a 2023 report by Credit Summit, nearly $21 billion in gift cards go unspent. Thats as 60% of Americans surveyed said they have at least one unused gift card.

The National Retail Federation said it expected Americans to spend $28.6 billion on holiday gift cards this year. The National Retail Federation said shoppers planned to purchase between three to four gift cards and spend an average of $51.18 per card ($170.48 per person).

Many Americans surveyed by Credit Summit reported not immediately using gift cards because they want to save them for something special or until they need something in particular. Only 19% say they use their gift cards immediately.

RELATED STORY | Nearly half of parents are going into debt over Christmas gifts

Although it might make sense to wait to use a gift card for a special occasion, experts say that might not be a good idea. With inflation at 2.7%, as prices go up, gift cards lose their value.

Additionally, gift card recipients run the risk of a company going out of business, or of the person losing the card. Store closings are of particular concern in recent months as major chains such as Big Lots and Party City have announced plans to close all locations, and other retailers like CVS and Family Dollar have made significant cuts.

There are many ways the value of them can go to zero, Peter Harms, professor of management at the University of Alabama, said in a release. You can lose the card, misplace it, the target business can stop accepting them or go bankrupt. But even if none of those things happen, the current rampant inflation will eat away its value regardless.

Experts say its OK to sell gift cards rather than letting them go to waste.

My advice, if you receive a gift card, is to treat yourself immediately before you lose the card or forget you have it, Dorothy Kelly, personal finance lecturer at University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, said in a release. If possible, add it to your digital wallet, or your online account with that vendor.

RELATED STORY | Parents of kids who believe in Santa say they're spending more on Christmas

Those two options will make it more likely that you will actually use the entire balance. For givers, I recommend gift cards from well-known retailers that are ubiquitous and have an easy-to-use app which can accept and track electronic gift card balances.

Although gift cards can lose value, 90% of Americans say they enjoy receiving them. Amazon, restaurant and grocery stores are among the most-liked cards.

The main advantage of gift cards is that they are easy to purchase, Steven Meyers, professor of psychology at Roosevelt University, said in a release. They dont require special insights into what the recipient may want or need. They are easy to store and deliver, and it reduces the likelihood that the person would need to return an item that they do not like.

Rickey Henderson, a Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder who set MLB's career stolen base record, has died just days before his 66th birthday, according to reports.

A source told the Bay Area News Group Henderson died on Friday from pneumonia.

Henderson's career spanned from 1979 all the way through 2003, playing for 10 MLB teams, including four stops in Oakland. Henderson was a 10-time all-star and won World Series titles with the A's in 1989 and 1993.

Henderson was the embodiment of Oakland baseball, having grown up in the city. His No. 24 jersey was retired by the A's soon after his retirement. He ended up playing parts of 14 seasons for his hometown squad.

Henderson had 1,406 career stolen bases making him the only player in MLB history to have over 1,000 swipes. He also ranked No. 1 for runs scored with 2,295, 50 more than Ty Cobb.

"Rickey Henderson used the ultimate combination of power and speed to break numerous major league baseball records during his career," the Baseball Hall of Fame said about Henderson's career. "But what solidified his place in baseball history was his love for the game."

While the winter solstice begins on Saturday, the sun has already started setting later in the evening for most of the Northern Hemisphere for over a week.

For instance, the sunset for Saturday in Los Angeles is at 4:48 p.m., four minutes later than it was on December 10. The amount of time gained each day varies based on a location's latitude.

In January, Bismarck gains 39 minutes of evening sun, while Los Angeles gains a mere 28 minutes.

It turns out that as our sunsets get later and will continue to do so until the end of June, sunrise times will also continue to get later until roughly January 1. So for most Americans, the shortest day of the year is indeed December 21, when the solstice actually occurs.

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The sun will rise today in Los Angeles at 6:55 a.m. By December 31, the sun will come up a full three minutes later at 6:58 a.m. The sun rises on Saturday at 7:16 a.m. in New York, but on December 31, the sun will rise at 7:19 a.m.

Why does this happen?

It is because Earth's orbit around the sun is not perfectly round, and sometimes we find ourselves a little closer to the sun. The Earth is actually 3 million miles closer to the sun in January than in July. This slight change is enough to alter when the sun sets and rises.

Because of Earth's shifting distance from the sun, the time it takes for the sun to reach the same point in the sky gets later each day through the month of December. What is considered high-noon sunlight also becomes later throughout the month.

You can check sunrise and sunset times on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website.

The Food and Drug Administration announced late Friday that it has approved Zepbound to treat obstructive sleep apnea for those who are moderately or severely obese.

The drug is to be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity, the FDA said.

Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound, stated that the drug was approximately five times more effective than a placebo in reducing breathing disruptions in adults who were not using positive airway pressure therapy. Furthermore, among adults who used positive airway pressure therapy, Zepbound resulted in 29 fewer breathing disruptions per hour in comparison to the 6 disruptions seen with a placebo.

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Eli Lilly also indicated that the drug had a significant effect on weight. Adults on Zepbound combined with positive airway pressure therapy lost an average of 45 pounds, while those on placebo with positive airway pressure therapy lost just 4 pounds. In contrast, adults on Zepbound without positive airway pressure therapy lost an average of 50 pounds, compared to just 6 pounds for those on placebo.

"Today, many cases of OSA go undiagnosed and untreated, leaving millions at risk for serious health consequences," said Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA. "Zepbound is the first medication that significantly improves moderate-to-severe OSA and aids in long-term weight loss in adults with obesity. Nearly half of clinical trial patients saw such improvements that they no longer had symptoms associated with OSA, marking a critical step forward in reducing the burden of this disease and its interconnected health challenges."

The FDA noted that this was the first time it has approved a medication to treat obstructive sleep apnea. According to the National Council on Aging, it is estimated that approximately 33 million Americans use Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines to treat sleep apnea. Older people, men and people who are overweight are more likely to have sleep apnea.

The organization estimates that 33 million Americans use a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea.

RELATED STORY | Eli Lilly releases discounted single-dose vials of Zepbound weight-loss drug

Todays approval marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea, said Sally Seymour, M.D., director of the division of Pulmonology, Allergy, and Critical Care in the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. This is a major step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Eli Lilly says that Zepbound uses hormone receptors to help people who are considered obese or overweight lose weight and keep it off.

Like any medication, Zepbound may have side effects. Eli Lilly noted that Zepbound can be related to numerous adverse gastrointestinal reactions.

Party City, a chain of 700 party-goods stores throughout the United States, announced on Saturday it has filed Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The bankruptcy will result in the company closing all of its locations.

The company cited "an immensely challenging environment driven by inflationary pressures on costs and consumer spending, among other factors."

As of Friday afternoon, associates were unaware of plans to close all locations.

"After working tirelessly to find a path forward that would allow us to continue operating, we will unfortunately be winding down our business, including the eventual closure of our stores," Party City said in a letter to investors. "The environment has continued to be extremely challenging for us and many other retailers, particularly given inflationary pressures on costs and consumer spending, and while we worked hard to navigate these headwinds, our very best efforts were ultimately not enough to overcome these challenges."

RELATED STORY | US store closings up 69% in 2024 amid Big Lots, CVS, Family Dollar cuts

Prior to closing all of its locations, Party City is offering sales of up to 50% on its items.

"It has been a true pleasure to be a part of your most special moments over the years. And, in the coming weeks, we hope you stop by to say goodbye and pick up your favorite items, whether youre organizing a big celebration now or planning ahead for milestone moments to come," Party City said in a letter to customers.

The closures come at a time when more retailers in the U.S. are shutting locations.

RELATED STORY | Big Lots files for bankruptcy, says more stores could close

According to data provided to Scripps News by Coresight, there have been 7,308 confirmed or planned store closings in the U.S. so far in 2024, which is up by nearly 3,000 from a year ago. In the meantime, there have been 5,818 store openings since the start of the year.

Family Dollar has closed the largest number of stores in 2024, with 718 confirmed closings. CVS has closed or is in the process of closing 586 locations, while Big Lots is closing 580 locations this year, Coresight reports.

Earlier this week, Big Lots announced it was also going out of business after failing to find a buyer amid bankruptcy proceedings.

In one of its final motions before the holiday break, the Senate approved a bipartisan bill early Saturday that would increase social security benefits for millions of public service workers.

The chamber approved House Resolution 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, by a 76-20 margin. All 20 no votes were among Senate Republicans. The bill was previously approved by the House by a 327-76 margin.

With House and Senate approval, it goes to President Joe Biden for his signature into law.

Proponents of the bill say that nearly 2.8 million public service workers, including teachers, police officers and others in government, would be eligible for larger Social Security payments upon retirement.

RELATED STORY | Medicare premiums will rise yet again in 2025. Here's what you need to know

If President Biden signs it, the bill would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset for government workers. The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces the Social Security benefits of someone who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security.

The Government Pension Offset reduces spousal Social Security benefits by two-thirds of a worker's government pension.

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association was among numerous organizations that backed the legislation.

"Congressional passage of the bill is a historic victory for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, which has been advocating for repeal of WEP and GPO for 40 years. It will bring substantial financial relief to federal retirees who have been unfairly penalized for their public service for decades," the organization said in a statement on Saturday.

The conservative-leaning nonprofit The Club for Growth urged lawmakers to vote against the bill, citing an increase in the government deficit.

RELATED STORY | Social Security Administration announces cost-of-living increase for 2025

"These two provisions are meant to preserve the integrity of the Social Security system that so many seniors depend on by ensuring that individuals and their spouses who worked in jobs that did not contribute to the Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and receive pensions from those jobs do not threaten the solvency of Social Security," the group said.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would add $195.6 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years if signed by President Biden0.

A new poll shows that 49% of parents will go into debt to buy Christmas gifts this holiday season, according to a new survey from CouponBirds.

The poll of 2,500 American adults showed that parents are planning to spend, on average, $461 on Christmas gifts per child this year. The poll indicated that 9% of parents will spend at least $1,000 per child this season, with a mere 4% spending less than $100 per child.

Of those going into debt, 65% say they're going to use credit cards, while 21% plan to use buy now and pay later services.

Some parents are opting for experiences instead of toys. Of those polled, 24% say they're gifting events and experiences rather than toys.

RELATED STORY | Parents of kids who believe in Santa say they're spending more on Christmas

Meanwhile, a Gallup poll taken last month found that the typical American will spend $1,012 on gifts this Christmas, up from $975 a year ago. Those in households earning over $100,000 will spend an average of $1,578 this year, while those in households earning between $40,000 and $99,999 will spend an average of $830. Those in households earning below $40,000 will spend an average of $514.

The Gallup poll also found that people with children under 18 within the household will spend an average of $1,442 on holiday gifts, while those in households without children will spend an average of $868.

There was also a partisan divide in Christmas gift-giving. Republicans report they plan on spending $1,231 on Christmas gifts, while Democrats report spending $858.

The White House said Friday it approved another $4.28 billion in student debt cancellation for 54,900 additional public service workers in what could be one of the Biden Administration's final act of loan forgiveness.

Friday's approvals bring the total number of Americans who have had their loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to 1.06 million.

Prior to President Joe Biden taking office, the White House said that a mere 7,000 had received forgiveness under the PSLF program.

RELATED STORY | Student loan service providers face new allegations of illegal practices

The PSLF program is among several the White House has touted in its efforts to reduce the burden of student loan debt for millions of Americans. The PSLF program was approved by Congress in 2007 and signed into law by President George W. Bush.

Through the PSLF and other programs, the Biden administration has said it has approved forgiveness for 4.9 million borrowers, providing nearly $180 billion in aid.

Four years ago, the Biden-Harris Administration made a pledge to Americas teachers, service members, nurses, first responders, and other public servants that we would fix the broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and Im proud to say that we delivered, said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a press release.

Public service workers are eligible for debt cancellation after making the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan while working full-time for an eligible employer.

When student loan borrowers began applying for loan forgiveness 10 years after the program went into effect, most were denied relief.

The White House said it made administrative fixes that broadened the definition of qualifying payments. The result has been far more cancellations of debt being processed by the Department of Education.

RELATED STORY | Navient to pay back student loan borrowers $100 million in federal settlement

Since the program was created by Congress, it has not faced the kind of scrutiny from Republicans as other changes to student loans proposed by the Biden administration.

While President-elect Donald Trump has been critical of broad student debt forgiveness, he and other Republicans have not been as critical of the PSLF program. Rep. Mike Lawyer, R-New York, has even proposed the Affordable Loans for Students Act, which would lower student loan interest rates and preserve the PSLF program.

Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, introduced a bill last year that would make it easier for those not currently working in public service to utilize the PSLF program.

In a survey released this week by Slickdeals, the parents of children who believe in Santa Claus say they will spend 27% more on Christmas gifts this year than parents who say their kids don't believe in Santa.

Parents of children who believe in Santa say on average they will spend $491 on gifts this year, whereas their non-believing peers plan to spend $388. The survey also showed that 87% of parents of children who believe in Santa are excited about Christmas, while just 41% of other parents say they're excited.

RELATED STORY | Gift cards to buy and avoid this holiday season

Children who believe in Santa typically average getting seven gifts per year while non-believing children will only get four gifts, the survey found.

"Believing in Santa seems to bring extra magic to the holidays for families," said Elizabeth Simer, chief business officer at Slickdeals. "Parents of Santa-believers may feel more urgency to make each Christmas memorable, which could explain the higher spending."

It also turns out that threats of being on Santa's "naughty list" are generally empty. The survey found that 87% of parents said their children will still get presents from Santa regardless if they have been naughty or nice.

According to a CouponBirds survey, parents are expected to spend $461 per child this Christmas. About 9% of parents will spend $1,000 per child this year.

With many Family Dollar, CVS and Big Lots locations closing throughout the U.S. this year, the number of store closings is up significantly in 2024 compared to 2023.

According to data provided to Scripps News by Coresight, there have been 7,308 confirmed or planned store closings in the U.S. so far in 2024, which is up by nearly 3,000 from a year ago. In the meantime, there have been 5,818 store openings since the start of the year.

RELATED STORY | Big Lots files for bankruptcy, says more stores could close

Family Dollar has closed the largest number of stores, with 718 confirmed closings. CVS has closed or is in the process of closing 586 locations, while Big Lots is closing 580 locations this year, Coresight reports.

Earlier this year, Family Dollar's parent company Dollar Tree said it planned to close 600 underperforming Family Dollar locations between March and June. An additional 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores would close at the end of each store's current lease term, the company said in March.

These chains had the most closures in 2024, according to Coresight:

1) Family Dollar (718)

2) CVS (586)

3) Big Lots (580)

4) Conn's (553)

5) rue21 (543)

6) 7-Eleven (492)

7) Rite Aid (408)

8) 99 Cents Only Stores (371)

9) American Freight (353)

10) Walgreens (259)

Big Lots has also faced significant restructuring amid bankruptcy. The company cited high inflation and high interest rates as reasons for its struggles. Big Lots said customers have cut back on discretionary spending on home and seasonal products, which make up a significant portion of Big Lots' sales.

There are some brands that have expanded their footprints in 2024. Among them, Dollar General is in the process of opening 754 locations this year, while Dollar Tree is opening 541 and 7-Eleven is opening 295.

In some instances, store closings involved brands transferring hands. For instance, DK convenience stores is closing 249 locations but those shops are reopening as OXXO stores. OXXO is a popular chain of convenience stores in Latin America that has its eyes on expanding into the U.S.

No one matched all six numbers in Friday's Mega Millions drawing, which had a jackpot of $670 million. With no one claiming Tuesday's jackpot, Mega Millions' next drawing will have a top prize of $740 million.

Friday's drawing had white balls 36, 43, 52, 58 and 65, plus the gold Mega Ball 16. Although no one claimed the top prize, there were a total of 1,256,298 winning tickets for prizes ranging from $2 to $3 million. Four players hit all five white balls, winning prizes of at least $1 million.

Tuesday's drawing will be the eighth largest in the lottery's history. The jackpot has steadily grown since September, when a winning ticket worth $810 million was sold in Texas. The Sept. 10, 2024, drawing marked the seventh largest in the history of Mega Millions.

If someone wins Tuesday's top prize, they can choose $740 million paid over 29 years or a one-time lump sum of $317.8 million.

The lottery launched in 1996 with 1-in-52.9-million odds. Drawings then had 50 white balls and 25 gold balls. By 2013, the lottery had 1-in-258-million odds by having 75 white balls and 15 gold balls.

In 2017, Mega Millions actually reduced the number of white balls a first among multi-state lotteries to 70, but increased the number of gold balls to 25. This has made Mega Millions the toughest lottery to win with 1-in-302-million odds.

Tickets are $2 each. The odds of winning a smaller prize are about 1 in 24.

RELATED STORY | Changes are coming to the Mega Millions lottery. Here's what to know

Eighteen states allow winners of large lotteries to stay fully anonymous, shielding winners from the attention claiming such a prize can draw.

Saturday marks Wreaths Across America Day and the organization behind the annual day hopes to lay over 2 million wreaths at over 4,600 locations across the U.S.

The organization honors those who served in the U.S. military, dating back to the Revolutionary War all the way to present-day conflicts. One of the group's largest events will occur at Arlington National Cemetery. The occasion started over three decades ago by Maine wreath maker Morrill Worcester who used a single truck to deliver 5,000 wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. Worcester's efforts garnered little attention before a 2005 photo of wreaths lying in the snow at Arlington National Cemetery drew national attention.

It has grown considerably since.

RELATED STORY | Military left without IVF coverage as Congress secures fertility benefits

2024 marks the 18th year that Wreaths Across America has officially existed as a nonprofit organization. It now involves over 7,000 sponsors.

"When a volunteer places a wreath on a servicemembers grave on National Wreaths Across America Day, we encourage them to speak that persons name aloud, thank them for their service and sacrifice, and reflect on their life along with our wreath-laying ceremonies," Wreaths Across America said.

Fourteen semi-trucks set off from Maine last week on a week-long journey to Arlington. The escort included dozens of stops before reaching Arlington.

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Along with thousands of wreaths, the escort included Gold Star and Blue Star family members.

We are honored to host Wreaths Across America Day 2024. This day provides visitors an opportunity to reflect on the importance of service and learn the stories of the men and women who fought for our country, said Executive Director of the Office of Army Cemeteries and Army National Military Cemeteries Karen Durham-Aguilera.

Participating wreath-laying locations can be found on the Wreaths Across America website.

Costco investors have had much to celebrate this year as the company's first increase in membership fees in years seemed to do little to scare off customers during the fall.

According to a quarter financial report released by Costco, the company ended November with 77.4 million paid memberships. The company had ended August with 76.2 million members. In the last year, Costco has added 5.4 million members.

The growth in memberships came even as the company implemented a $5 increase in basic memberships and a $10 jump in executive memberships.

With Costco earning much of its income off membership fees, the company has had a successful year for investors. The company's stock is up 52% since the start of 2024.

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One potential way the company has garnered some members is by strongly enforcing membership rules. The company has installed scanners at entrances in hopes of stopping customers from sharing memberships.

Costco noted several records set over the previous quarter, including selling its highest number of pizzas in a single day on Halloween.

To accommodate its growth in members, Costco said it plans to open 26 new locations in 2025.

While Costco is known for selling food items in bulk, company leaders said new and unique products helped drive customer growth in the last year.

"That's part of the treasure hunt at Costco is always keeping nimble and continue to change those categories that we can find new areas to improve the lives of our members," said Ron Vachris, Costco CEO.