The Mega Millions jackpot will reach its highest level since the multistate lottery increased ticket prices to $5 in April. The jackpot for Fridays drawing is an estimated $965 million, lottery officials said.

The jackpot has grown steadily since a player in Virginia won $348 million on June 27. No ticket has matched all six winning numbers 10, 13, 40, 42, 46 and Mega Ball 1 since then. This year there have been four winning Mega Millions jackpots.

The last time the jackpot was larger was when a California woman won $1.269 billion. Fridays $965 million prize ranks as the eighth-largest in the games history.

The winner may choose to receive $965 million in 29 annual payments through an annuity or take a one-time cash payout of $445.3 million. Most winners opt for the lump sum.

The odds of matching all six numbers are about 1 in 290 million. Matching only the five white balls without the Mega Ball wins at least $1 million. The odds of winning that prize are 1 in 12.6 million.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The only states that do not participate are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.

Retail sales bounced back in October as shoppers geared up for the holidays. The National Retail Federation says sales jumped 5% compared with last year.

Digital products led the way with a 22% increase.

Clothing and sporting goods stores also saw strong gains. Clothing and accessories are up about 8% year over year. Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores had an over 7% jump.

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The retail federations CEO says solid consumer spending is setting up positive momentum heading into the holiday shopping season. The group said it expects holiday sales will increase between 3.7% and 4.2%. This is despite a government shutdown that retailers are calling a "serious headwind."

Retail sales grew in October as consumers geared up for the holiday season, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. Recent economic data has been mixed, yet consumer spending remains solid supported by wage growth outpacing inflation, historically low unemployment, and wealth effects from strong stock market valuations. These factors point to continued momentum heading into the holidays as consumers focus on family, friends and finding value to make their budgets go further.

Some retailers did see a small drop, most notably furniture and home furnishings stores as well as building and garden supply stores.

Veterans can buy a home more than four years sooner using a VA loan with zero down payment. A new study from Realtor.com finds 74% of first-time VA loan users put no money down.

Conventional buyers typically need a 12% down payment, which takes years to save. On a $430,000 home, thats about $51,600 upfront.

For someone saving 15% of their income, it would take 4.4 years to accumulate that amount.

In high-cost cities like Los Angeles, VA loans can put veterans in a home up to 10 years sooner. Even in lower-cost cities like Akron, Ohio, it can shorten the time it takes to save for a down payment by about 3.3 years.

For many veterans and service members, a VA loan can be a game changer, said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. By removing the hurdle of a large down payment, these loans open doors to homeownership and financial security years sooner.

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Realtor.com found that while many military families qualify for the VA loan, few use it. The site estimates that just one-third of veterans and active-duty service members are aware of the program.

Many veterans dont realize that a VA loan removes the need for a down payment, which is one of the biggest hurdles to homeownership, said Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight and education at Veterans United Home Loans. As the nations largest VA lender, we see every day how this benefit changes lives. When veterans understand the power of their VA loan, they can start building equity and stability for their families years sooner.

The Department of Veterans Affairs says these loans also offer competitive, low interest rates.

After the U.S. Senate voted Monday to fund the government through the end of January, the House is set to return for the first time in more than seven weeks.

House Republicans say they are expected to consider a resolution to reopen the government Wednesday. The first votes could occur as early as 4 p.m. that day.

The last time the House was fully in session was Sept. 19. Since then, the chamber has only been open for so-called pro forma sessions, when no roll call votes are taken.

RELATED STORY | Senate passes bill that would reopen government, setting up a vote in the House

With the House resuming legislative business, Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., will be sworn in. Grijalva won a special election in Arizonas 7th Congressional District in late September, but House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to swear her in, saying it was because the House was not in session a situation prolonged by the shutdown.

Grijalva had pushed to be sworn in sooner, as she was left without a formal congressional office during the shutdown.

House Democrats upset with deal

While it appears there will be enough Republican votes to pass the resolution, House Democrats expressed frustration with eight Senate Democrats who joined Republicans in supporting it. Democrats had said they would not approve a resolution without a deal to keep health care tax subsidies.

But as the shutdown lingered, and its effects began to hit the nations airports and food banks, eight Democrats joined 52 Republicans in voting for a continuing resolution to fund the government.

Democrats secured several concessions, including a promise to consider health care legislation and assurances that there would be no mass layoffs in the federal government.

RELATED STORY | Senate advances bipartisan deal to end shutdown after clearing key 60-vote hurdle

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the ranking member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, criticized the eight Senate Democrats for approving the bill.

It is outrageous that a few Senate Democrats have joined Republicans in undermining our fight to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing, she said. I will fight against this bill here in the House.Once the resolution passes the House, it will go to President Donald Trump for his signature. Once signed, the government shutdown would officially end.

As a thank you to veterans and active duty members of the U.S. armed forces, dozens of restaurants are offering free meals for Veterans Day. Check out our list below of different offers. Beverages and gratuity are not included unless noted. Most offers are good for Tuesday only.

Many restaurants not listed below may have previously had free meals for veterans. Some of those restaurants are still offering discounts for current and former military.

Offers are at participating locations only for dine-in only, unless otherwise stated, and most require proof of service.

Applebees: Veterans and active duty service members can receive a free dine-in entre from Applebees special menu. Items include the Bacon Cheeseburger and Fiesta Lime Chicken. Since 2008, Applebees has served 12.3 million free meals on Veterans Day.

BIBIBOP Asian Grill: All BIBIBOP Asian Grill outlets will give veterans and active military a free bowl with an ID. The offer is good for dine-in only.

Biggby Coffee: Veterans and active duty with a military ID can get a free 16 oz. latte hot/iced/frozen beverage on Tuesday.

Bob Evans: With proof of service, veterans and active duty can receive a free dine-in breakfast entre, including the Country Biscuit Breakfast or a stack of hotcakes.

RELATED STORY | Trump says he will rename Veterans Day to Victory Day for World War I, commemorating the end of World War I

Buffalo Wild Wings: Veterans and active duty can receive a free order of 10 boneless wings and French fries with proof of military service for dine-in service. Customers at Buffalo Wild Wings GO locations can order at the counter with proof of service.

California Pizza Kitchen: With proof of service, veterans and active duty are able to select from a limited menu.

Chilis: With proof of service, veterans and active duty members can enjoy a free meal from a menu of four entres, including a Chicken and Ranch Quesadilla and the Oldtimer With Cheese. The offer is dine-in only.

Chipotle: Those who order an entre in-restaurant and present a valid military ID will receive a second entre for free.

Cracker Barrel: Those who present a military ID can get a free sunshine pancake special when dining in.

Dave and Buster's: Active and former military can choose a free entre up to $20 and get a $10 Power Card on Tuesday.

Dennys: With a valid military ID, customers can receive a free Grand Slam breakfast from Dennys from 5 a.m. to noon Tuesday.

Dunkin': With a valid military ID, customers can receive a free doughnut for in-person orders.

Golden Corral: The buffet chain is offering current and active duty military and reservists a free meal at the buffet from 4 p.m. to close on Tuesday.

Hooters: All day Tuesday, veterans and active duty military can choose from one of five entres, including Hooters Boneless Wings.

IHOP: From 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, veterans and active duty members can get free a Red, White and Blueberry Pancake combo.

Little Caesars: The pizza joint will offer its Hot-N-Ready lunch of four slices and a 20-ounce beverage for free to veterans and active military from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Mission BBQ: Veterans and active duty can get a free sandwich all day Tuesday.

Outback Steakhouse: With a valid military ID, Outback Steakhouse is offering a free three-course meal that includes a soup or salad, entree and a slice of cheesecake Monday and Tuesday.

Red Robin: This burger joint offers veterans and active duty members a free Reds Tavern Double Burger and bottomless fries all day Tuesday. It is dine-in only.

Starbucks: Veterans, active duty and military spouses can get a free 12-ounce coffee all day Tuesday.

What is open, closed on Tuesday?

Although many government buildings will be closed, plenty of things will remain open.

What is open

Nearly all major retailers Essential government offices Stock markets

What is closed

Nonessential federal offices, courthouses U.S. post offices Most banks

Essential government offices, like the National Weather Service, will remain open. Examples of nonessential offices closed on Tuesday include the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.

Some schools, universities, local and state government offices may close.

Early projections show Thanksgiving staples will cost less this year compared with 2024.

An analysis from Wells Fargo estimates a typical Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will be about 2% to 3% cheaper in 2025.

This comes despite higher inflation and overall food costs. The consumer price index shows food is about 2.7% more expensive than a year ago.

That increase is largely driven by items such as beef, lunch meat, fish and seafood, coffee, and sugar and sweets. Other grocery staples, including turkey, have seen either modest price increases or price drops.

According to Wells Fargo, an allstore-brand Thanksgiving dinner for 10 would cost about $80, while name-brand products would cost about $95. Mixing national and store brands could help shoppers save more.

RELATED STORY | Think mashed potatoes rule Thanksgiving? Think again

The analysis included turkey, stuffing, frozen vegetables, prepared mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh cranberries, dinner rolls, salad mix, pumpkin pie, and whipped cream.

Private-label dinner rolls are about 22% cheaper this year, and turkey, prepared gravy mix, and fresh cranberries are down about 3% to 4%. Some products, such as salad mix and whipped cream, are more expensive.

Politics of Thanksgiving dinner

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump promoted Walmart's annual Thanksgiving meal report, which he said showed a feast for 10 costing $4 per person, down from $7 last year.

"So Walmart, which everybody trusts and I trust theyre not looking to do anything except give numbers, and they have for many years. They talk about the cost of Thanksgiving and the cost of living through Thanksgiving and enjoying Thanksgiving. For Joe Biden, it was 25% more than it is for me at a later time," Trump said.

However, Walmarts 2024 meal included different components, such as Hawaiian rolls, mini marshmallows, and sweet potatoes. That means its not an apples-to-apples comparison, but rather an example of how to create a Thanksgiving meal on a budget.

In a survey of 5,000 Americans, stuffing or dressing, as its called in some parts of the country remains the No. 1 Thanksgiving side dish for 2025.

The survey, conducted by Campbells, found stuffing is the preferred side dish in 38 states. Mashed potatoes ranked first in six states, while two states chose macaroni and cheese. Several states recorded ties.

Overall, stuffing was followed by mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and green bean casserole. Macaroni and cheese has climbed in the annual ranking as millennials and members of Gen Z are more likely to consider the dish a holiday staple.

If you prefer side dishes over the entre, youre not alone. The poll found 63% of respondents enjoy side dishes more than entres, while 47% said they would be content having only side dishes during holiday gatherings.

Campbells annual report also noted several new trends, including increased use of flavors such as honey, barbecue sauce, and peppers in side dishes this year.

A reduction in U.S. flight volume continues on Saturday as the Federal Aviation Administration works to alleviate pressure on the aviation industry amid the ongoing government shutdown.

As of midday Saturday, 1,073 flights in the U.S. had been canceled, according to FlightAware.com. The number spiked on Friday when over 1,000 flights were canceled. On Thursday, the website reported 201 cancellations. There are already over 1,000 flights canceled for Sunday.

The FAA said about 4% of domestic flights would be canceled on Friday, with that percentage increasing to 10% by next week. Officials said the shutdown has led to a growing number of air traffic controllers calling in sick. Air traffic controllers are among essential government employees required to continue working despite going weeks without a paycheck.

Officials said reductions will occur at 40 airports. Scripps News published a full list of affected airports on Thursdsay.

Airlines announce flight reductions

United Airlines has posted a list of hundreds of flights through Sunday that are being canceled. The airline said that because travel volumes are typically lower in early November, there are plenty of rebooking options.

Other airlines, such as Delta and American Airlines, are directing customers to use their apps.

The expectation is delays will get progressively worse as the shutdown continues.

The FAA will have really a snapback. Because the controllers and the TSA people will get back pay. And so the reality of it is, is that it's like almost like a weather delay. It'll snap back very quickly within a couple of days for sure," said Chris Dane, aviation expert and president of Hickory Global Partners.

What to do if your flight is canceled

Many airlines are offering customers refunds, regardless of whether their flight is directly impacted. United said anyone flying between November 6 and 13 can request a refund or reschedule for free.

Delta and American are also offering customers flying between November 7 and 9 the option to request refunds.

"Even for folks like in basic economy, where they're non-refundable, they're allowing them to be refunded during this period. So the airlines are acting responsibly," Dane said.

Cancellations also impacting cargo

Cargo planes are also among those impacted by the reduction. Companies such as FedEx said they're working to minimize the impact of reduced cargo flights.

"In response to the FAAs U.S. flight capacity adjustment order, we have made the necessary operational modifications to meet the requirements so that shipments continue to move safely and swiftly through our network. Contingency plans are in place to flex our integrated air and ground network to help protect time-sensitive, critical shipments such as lifesaving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other products move through our network without disruption," FedEx said in a statement.

Layoffs last month reached their highest October total in more than 20 years, with American companies announcing more than 153,000 job cuts a 175% increase from October 2023, the firm Challenge, Gray and Christmas said.

Employers cited cost-cutting measures and artificial intelligence as the leading reasons for the layoffs.

Over the last decade, companies have shied away from announcing layoffs in the fourth quarter, so its surprising to see so many in October. With the onset of social media, and the ability for workers to share their negative experiences with their employers, the trend of announcing layoffs before the holidays fell away, a practice that seemed particularly cruel, said Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer for Challenger, Gray & Christmas..

Warehousing led all industries with nearly 48,000 cuts, followed by technology with 33,000.

RELATED STORY | New report finds majority of US workers lack a 'quality job'

So far this year, job cuts have surpassed 1 million for the first time since 2020.

Finding the next job has been challenging for many Americans. Hiring plans are down 35% from last year, hitting their lowest level since 2011.

Federal government "DOGE" job cuts were the leading reason for layoffs in 2025, with 294,000 direct positions and nearly 21,000 indirect jobs being cut due to DOGE.

Experts expect it to remain a challenging landscape for workers.

Its possible with rate cuts and a strong showing in November, companies may make a late season push for employees, but at this point, we do not expect a strong seasonal hiring environment in 2025, said Challenger.

American household debt reached a new record high in the third quarter.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported total debt balances rose to $18.59 trillion between July and September, a $197 billion increase from the previous quarter.

RELATED STORY | Experts issue warnings to credit card users as debt hits record $1.14 trillion

Mortgage debt grew by $137 billion to $13.07 trillion. Credit card balances jumped $24 billion and are now 5.75% higher than a year ago.

Delinquency rates remain elevated, with 4.5% of debt in some stage of late payment.

The report said that student loan balances rose by $15 billion and now stand at $1.65 trillion.

The median credit score for new auto loans remained steady, but the report also found that some tightening of subprime lending standards.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday it is halting sales of unapproved ingestible fluoride prescriptions for children age 3 or younger who have a low or moderate risk of tooth decay.

The FDA said it notified four companies to stop marketing the products, noting they have never been approved for safety, effectiveness or quality. The agency said the products increase the risk of altering the gut microbiome and have shown no benefit in reducing cavities among infants.

When the FDA first proposed the action, the American Dental Association criticized the move, saying ingestible fluoride tablets play a critical role in preventing tooth decay among children in rural communities.

RELATED STORY | What the science says about fluoride in water

In non-fluoridated communities, especially rural areas, fluoride supplements are the only chance for individuals to get the appropriate amount of fluoride to prevent tooth decay, said Dr. Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association. This is true even when other sources of fluoride are available, like fluoride-containing toothpastes and mouth rinses.Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the ADAs position relies on outdated science. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary suggested there are better methods to combat tooth decay.

Its scary that these products have been used for decades without approval. Todays action raises public awareness, informs medical professionals, and builds on President Trumps commitment to Make Our Children Healthy Again, Kennedy said.The FDA said there is strong evidence that fluoride reduces the risk of cavities in older children, but warned of broader health implications for young children.

In a letter to health care professionals, Makary recommended topical applications, along with daily tooth brushing using an appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Nashville International Airport became the latest U.S. airport to report a ground delay Friday due to a shortage of air traffic control staff.

The shortage comes amid the ongoing government shutdown, which has forced federal employees including Federal Aviation Administration workers to work without pay.

The FAA said the ground delay began at 10 a.m. and is expected to end at 4:59 p.m. local time. The airport advised travelers to check their flight status and contact their airlines before arriving.

FlightAware reported that 22% of departures from Nashville were delayed, while 25% of arrivals faced delays.

The delays in Nashville followed significant disruptions Thursday at Orlando International Airport. The Florida airport reported fewer delays Friday.

RELATED STORY | Trumps nuclear option call to end shutdown could change the Senate forever

Officials acknowledge the strain the shutdown has put on air traffic control workers.

Ive been clear to our air traffic controllers: they need to show up for work. They do really important work for our country and they need to show up, but Im not going to lie and say theyre not feeling the stress, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier this week. Many are the heads of households, the only income earners in their homes, and they have families. The fact that theyre having a hard time paying their bills is deeply concerning.The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said there was already a shortage of controllers before the shutdown.

Union President Nick Daniels warned the stakes continue to rise with each missed paycheck.

Many are already working six days a week, and now they are facing the impossible choice of taking on extra jobs just to feed their families, Daniels said. Meanwhile, Congress is leading us toward what could be the longest shutdown in our nations history, and introducing risk into an already fragile system.

For most Americans, clocks will turn back one hour early Sunday morning, shifting sunrise and sunset times. Next week, the sun will rise nearly an hour earlier, while sunsets will occur more than 60 minutes earlier.

As the U.S. moves toward the winter solstice, sunset times will continue to get earlier, while sunrises will gradually start happening later.

A recent APNORC poll shows most Americans are not in favor of the practice. Only 12% of respondents support the current system of changing clocks back in November and forward in March. Forty-seven percent oppose the changes, and 40% are neutral.

RELATED STORY | Why are clocks set forward in the spring for daylight saving time?

If Americans dont want to change the clock, would they prefer to keep daylight saving time year-round or remain on standard time year-round?

It depends on whom you ask.

Overall, 56% of respondents prefer permanent daylight saving time rather than year-round standard time. Among self-described morning people, however, standard time has a slight edge 50% support compared to 49% for daylight saving time.

Congress has debated ending the clock-change practice for years. The closest the U.S. came was in March 2022, when the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would put states on daylight saving time year-round. It passed under unanimous consent, meaning no senator objected to moving the bill forward. That does not necessarily mean it had broad support.

President Donald Trump has said he would support permanent daylight saving time but has called it a 50/50 issue.