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.

RELATED STORY | 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor recalls confusion and chaos during Japanese bombing 83 years ago

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.

RELATED STORY | Costco accused of unfair labor practices by Teamsters union

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.

Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits, the United States' largest distributor of wine and spirits, faces a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission for alleged price discrimination.

The FTC accused the company of giving large discount chains such as Costco and Walmart price breaks while charging small independent stores a higher price. Federal officials say that Southern Glazer's violated the Robinson-Patman Act. The FTC says that the act prohibits companies from giving their favored customers an unfair advantage in the market.

The commission voted 3-2 in favor of filing the lawsuit.

The FTC says this price discrimination hurts small businesses and stifles competition.

When local businesses get squeezed because of unfair pricing practices that favor large chains, Americans see fewer choices and pay higher pricesand communities suffer, said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. The law says that businesses of all sizes should be able to compete on a level playing field. Enforcers have ignored this mandate from Congress for decades, but the FTCs action today will help protect fair competition, lower prices, and restore the rule of law.

RELATED STORY | Federal judge temporarily halts Kroger and Albertsons proposed merger

Southern Glazier's disagreed with the FTC's allegations.

The FTCs lawsuit takes issue with the use of volume discounts that Southern Glazersand nearly every distributor of consumer products in the countryuses to lower customers costs and enable consumers to pay lower prices for the everyday goods they need," the company said in a statement. "Dissents filed by Commissioners Holyoak and Ferguson articulate reasons why this enforcement actionaimed at an industry that is already heavily regulated by the states pursuant to the 21st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and by the U.S. Treasury Departments Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureauis both misguided and legally flawed."

The National Grocers Association has encouraged the FTC to be more aggressive in enforcing the Robinson-Patman Act. The group representing independent grocers says more needs to be done to protect small businesses.

Grocery consolidation has made it extremely challenging for independent, family-run supermarkets to compete, as national chains have been allowed to illegally demand special pricing and treatment from suppliers for decades, said NGA chief government relations officer and counsel Chris Jones. By enforcing Robinson-Patman, the FTC is simply upholding good law, honoring Congress intent to level the playing field between local Main Street businesses and powerful Wall Street interests."

RELATED STORY | Trump says he'll name Andrew Ferguson head of Federal Trade Commission

The Supreme Court is launching a pilot program for the public to obtain courtroom seating through an online lottery.

In a press release, the Supreme Court said those who attend will have reserved seating to hear oral arguments or a non-argument session. The deadline for ticket requests is four weeks before the hearing. Tickets will be awarded to the public randomly.

In the past, the court provided seats to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. The process often caused long lines and people to arrive at the court hours before sessions would begin. The Supreme Court said there will still be a limited number of seats available for those who line up before hearings during the pilot program.

RELATED STORY | Biden calls for Supreme Court overhaul, including term limits and binding ethics code

Although all hearings are considered open to the public, only a handful of seats are for the public. The Supreme Court reserves numerous seats for attorneys who are licensed to argue before the Supreme Court. Also, there are seats reserved for members of the news media.

Each justice is allowed to have up to four clerks sit in on a hearing. The justices may also invite special guests.

The Supreme Court building can still be accessed for self-guided tours on most weekdays without tickets. However, the courtroom and the building's first floor are off-limits during hearings except for those attending the hearing.

RELATED STORY | Supreme Court doesn't seem convinced FDA was unfair in blocking flavored vapes as teen use increased

The ticket pilot program will kick-off in February.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced it is implementing a new rule that limits how much banks can charge on overdrafts starting Oct. 1, 2025.

The announcement comes after a year of legal battles between the banking industry and Biden administration.

While the CFPB's new regulations are set to go into place on Oct. 1, 2025, the incoming Trump administration has the power to rescind the new rule by executive order.

The decree gives the banks the option to charge $5 per overdraft or a fee that covers their losses. The Biden administration claims that overdraft fees are used to provide banks with enormous profits.

RELATED STORY | Student loan servicers were taking auto payments without consent, report says

Banks that have less than $10 billion in assets are exempt from the rule.

The CFPB estimates that the new rule would save Americans about $5 billion.

"For far too long, the largest banks have exploited a legal loophole that has drained billions of dollars from Americans' deposit accounts," said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. "The CFPB is cracking down on these excessive junk fees and requiring big banks to come clean about the interest rate they're charging on overdraft loans."

Many leaders in the banking industry have opposed the rule.

Community banks provide a wide range of products and services in a competitive marketplace that customers may select to address situations in which theyve overdrawn their account, including overdraft programs, free ad hoc solutions, alerts about their account status, account transfers, and more. If enacted, the CFPBs restrictions would have a negative ripple effect on customers and businesses that rely on overdraft services by causing them to experience the harsh realities of rejected payments," said Independent Community Bankers of America CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey.

RELATED STORY | Apple and Goldman Sachs must pay $89 million for mishandling Apple Card transactions, CFPB orders

American Bankers Association CEO Rob Nichols suggested his organization could take additional legal action.

In addition to the consumer harm this rule will cause, its yet another example of the CFPBs willingness under Director Chopra to exceed its Congressionally mandated guardrails," he said. "The Bureau has no legal authority to subject overdraft services offered by any financial institution to Regulation Z, much less implement a price cap on overdraft protection. We will closely review the final rule with our members and consider all options going forward. It should not be allowed to go into effect.

Rules put in place over a decade ago capped first-time missed payments to $25, which was allowed to go up based on inflation. The new rule would not increase the allowable late fee based on inflation.

TSG and Bank of Americas annual gift card survey revealed that about 60% of Americans got a gift card last Christmas season, but nearly a third of them waited until after Valentine's Day to use most of their cards.

To avoid wasting money on gift cards, WalletHub has released a list of the best gift cards to give this holiday season. Given its popularity, it should come as no surprise that Target ranks No. 1. It is followed by Amazon, Sephora and Walmart.

MasterCard ranks at the bottom of the list, followed by Smoothie King, American Express and Fandango.

RELATED STORY | Got a Christmas gift card? Why you should spend it immediately

The rankings factor in popularity, buyer discount, resale value, retailer rating and shipping and purchasing fees.

While Visa and American Express cards rank among the most popular, they are among just a handful of cards with shipping and purchase fees. Out of 50 gift cards ranked by WalletHub, 14 have fees.

If you are looking for gift cards with the highest resale value, Costco ranks No. 1. For the best buyer discounts, Sonic and Cinemark rank highly.

Besides Visa, Amazon and Target rank as the most popular holiday gift cards.

Here are the top 10 gift cards to buy, according to WalletHub:

Amazon Target Sephora Walmart Starbucks Disney REI Home Depot Nike eBay

The National Retail Federation projects the average consumer will purchase three to four gift cards and spend $51.18 per gift card ($170.48 per person). The NRF says that restaurants are the most popular gift card category (30%), followed by department stores (25%), bank-issued gift cards (25%) and coffee shops (22%).

RELATED STORY | Where and how to tip? Americans are confused as the practice expands

From auto shops to fast food restaurants, Americans are being asked to leave tips at places they weren't asked to years ago. With tipping more prevalent than ever before, this might raise questions as to what to do this holiday season.

According to the financial services corporation Fidelity, you might want to set a budget on how much to leave for those who provide you service throughout the year, such as your barber or personal trainer.

"This list is different for everyone and can get long, so check it twice. Prioritize tips for those who've made the biggest difference in your life lately, how regularly you use their services, and how long you've known them," Fidelity writes. 

RELATED STORY | Where and how to tip? Americans are confused as the practice expands

The Emily Post Institute provides some general guidance for Americans when it comes to tipping.

For people with whom you may have close personal relationships, such as an au pair or live-in nanny, the Emily Post Institute recommends a tip of up to one week's pay plus a gift from the family.

In instances where you may have regular contact with a service worker, such as a personal trainer, babysitter, or stylist, a tip equal to the cost of one session is recommended.

RELATED STORY | Tipping frustration reaches the boiling point: Is there a solution?

As for mail carriers and other package deliverers, the Emily Post Institute says a small gift generally in the $15-$20 range works well.

The holidays come as many Americans say they're fatigued by tipping. Earlier this year, Bankrate conducted a survey finding that 59% of Americans view tipping negatively. The same survey said that 35% of Americans believe tipping culture has gotten out of control.

According to Bankrate, housekeepers were the most likely to get a holiday tip this year, followed by child care providers and teachers:

Housekeeper: 57% Childcare provider: 55% Teacher: 53% Landscaper/gardener/snow remover: 41% Mail carrier: 31% Trash/recycling collector: 26%

If you cant afford to tip everyone, consider who went above and beyond to make your life easier, said Bankrate's Ted Rossman. Pooling resources with community members such as a class gift for your kids teachers can be a good way to broaden the impact and limit the awkwardness of how much each individual family contributed.

President-elect Donald Trump was named Time's Person of the Year for 2024, marking the second time he was bestowed with the designation.

His son Donald Trump Jr. revealed on Wednesday that his dad would be this year's Person of the Year.

Posted on X on Wednesday, Trump Jr. said, "Trump wins Time Person of The Year and Chris Wray announces hes out of the FBI on the same day," and added, "Are you sick of all the winning yet?"

Time said that Trump participated in a 30-minute photo shoot followed by a 65-minute interview ahead of Thursday's announcement.

2024 marks the seventh consecutive time the winner of the presidential election also was named Person of the Year. Trump was named Person of the Year in 2016 after his win in that year's election. Since Jimmy Carter, every president has been Person of the Year at least once. Gerald Ford was the last U.S. president to never be named Person of the Year.

One paragraph encapsulates why Trump was this year's winner.

"Trumps political rebirth is unparalleled in American history. His first term ended in disgrace, with his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results culminating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol," Time wrote. "He was shunned by most party officials when he announced his candidacy in late 2022 amid multiple criminal investigations. Little more than a year later, Trump cleared the Republican field, clinching one of the fastest contested presidential primaries in history. He spent six weeks during the general election in a New York City courtroom, the first former President to be convicted of a crimea fact that did little to dampen his support. An assassins bullet missed his skull by less than an inch at a rally in Butler, Pa., in July. Over the next four months, he beat not one but two Democratic opponents, swept all seven swing states, and became the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years. He has realigned American politics, remaking the GOP and leaving Democrats reckoning with what went awry."

RELATED STORY | Caitlin Clark is Time's Athlete of the Year

The 2023 winner was pop musician Taylor Swift.

Earlier this week, Time announced the shortlist of finalists. The list includes Kamala Harris, Kate Middleton, Elon Musk, Yulia Navalnaya, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerome Powell, Joe Rogan, Claudia Sheinbaum and Mark Zuckerberg.

Trump was a finalist for the designation in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

"Since 1927, TIME has named a person, group, or concept that had the biggest impactfor good or for illon the world over the previous 12 months," Time said.

While the designation has generally been seen as an honor, many controversial figures have been named Person of the Year, including Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Putin.

Albertsons announced on Wednesday it is suing Kroger after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the Kroger Company from acquiring Albertsons on Tuesday.

Albertsons says that Kroger failed to make a "good faith" effort to secure the merger. The company also said that Kroger harmed Albertsons' shareholders and employees by not securing the merger.

"A successful merger between Albertsons and Kroger would have delivered meaningful benefits for America's consumers, Krogers and Albertsons associates, and communities across the country. Rather than fulfill its contractual obligations to ensure that the merger succeeded, Kroger acted in its own financial self-interest, repeatedly providing insufficient divestiture proposals that ignored regulators concerns," said Albertsons general counsel Tom Moriarty.

The two chains first announced a proposed merger in October 2022. The companies had set early 2024 as a target to complete the merger, but the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the move. The FTC alleged that the deal was "anticompetitive" and would lead to higher prices and fewer options for consumers.

"The FTC, along with our state partners, scored a major victory for the American people, successfully blocking Krogers acquisition of Albertsons. This historic win protects millions of Americans across the country from higher prices for essential groceriesfrom milk, to bread, to eggsultimately allowing consumers to keep more money in their pockets," FTC Bureau of Competition Director Henry Liu said.

RELATED STORY | Federal judge temporarily halts Kroger and Albertsons proposed merger

Albertsons said it is seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger to make Albertsons and its shareholders whole.

Kroger said it denies Albertsons' claims.

Albertsons claims are baseless and without merit," a Kroger spokesperson said. "Kroger refutes these allegations in the strongest possible terms, especially in light of Albertsons repeated intentional material breaches and interference throughout the merger process."

The spokesperson added that Kroger went to "extraordinary lengths to uphold the merger agreement throughout the entirety of the regulatory process and the facts will make that abundantly clear."

RELATED STORY | Federal judge temporarily halts Kroger and Albertsons proposed merger

The two companies hold a combined 5,000 locations throughout the U.S. If the merger had been allowed to proceed, Kroger would have operated 4,414 locations throughout the U.S. after unloading nearly 600 stores.

Thomas Dickey, the attorney representing Luigi Mangione, said his client "appreciates" the support he has gotten from members of the public who want to back his legal defense. Dickey told CNN's Kaitlin Collins on Tuesday that his client will unlikely accept their financial support.

When asked how he was being paid for his services by Collins, Dickey refused to answer.

Mangione was arrested on Monday after being linked to last week's fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

RELATED STORY | Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO ignites online fury over health insurance industry

Dickey revealed that his staff have gotten offers to pay for Mangione's legal fees, but it's unlikely his office would accept their offers.

"I just don't feel comfortable about that," he said. "Obviously, my client appreciates the support that he has, but I don't know. I just look in, but it just doesn't sit right with me."

An online fundraiser for Mangione has claimed to raise over $28,000 for his legal defense.

"We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right of fair legal representation," the fundraiser's organizers wrote.

RELATED STORY | Family of man charged with murder of health care CEO says they are 'devastated'

When asked why people were offering to pay for the legal defense of someone accused of killing Thompson, Dickey responded to Collins, "The Supreme Court says all these rich billionaires can give all kinds of money to candidates, and that's free speech. So maybe these people were exercising their right to free speech and saying that's the way they're supporting my client."

A judge on Tuesday ordered Mangione to remain behind bars, not allowing him to post bail. Dickey said that there was "zero evidence" of Mangione's guilt, and that he should be allowed to post bond.

The consumer price index, the top measure for consumer inflation in the U.S., increased in November to 2.7% in the 12-month period ending last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which released the updated consumer price index on Wednesday.

The new data shows that the U.S. has lost some progress in combating inflation in recent months. In September, the 12-month inflation rate was down to 2.4% before increasing to 2.6% in October.

In the last decade, prices generally increase at a rate of 3.2% per year. In the last 20 years, consumer inflation has generally increased by 3% annually. But the Federal Reserve has aimed to keep annual inflation right at 2%.

RELATED STORY | US added strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown

The consumer price index weighs the costs of goods based on their importance. Items like food, shelter and energy tend to be weighted more heavily. Overall, the price of goods and services increased 0.3% during November.

After annual inflation reached 9% in the middle of 2022, the Federal Reserve implemented a series of interest rate hikes in 2022 and 2023 to combat high inflation. It has since lowered federal interest rates by 0.75 basis points.

One particularly concerning point in Wednesday's report was an increase in the cost of groceries in November. Food at home prices increased 0.5% during November, making food 1.6% more expensive than a year ago. Driving the increase in food prices was the cost of meat, which increased by 1% in November and 3.8% for the 12-month period ending last month.

According to government data, food prices increased by 9.9% in 2022, faster than in any year since 1979.

RELATED STORY | More than a quarter of Americans plan to take on gift shopping debt ahead of Christmas

Other items far more expensive this year compared to last include auto insurance (+12.7%), motor vehicle repair (+5.7%), shelter (4.7%) and medical care services (+3.7%).

Energy, especially fuel oil and gasoline, are actually cheaper this year than last year, helping keep inflation in check.

With wages outpacing the inflation rate, Americans are regaining some of the buying power lost in 2022.

Average hourly wages increased 13 cents in November to $35.61. Workers are making an average of $1.38 an hour more than a year ago. Average weekly wages were $1,221 in November, up from $1,178 a year ago. The 3.7% increase in wages is outpacing inflation.

Teamsters slapped Costco with allegations of unfair labor practices on Wednesday, saying the company "expelled" union representatives from stores and harassed workers for wearing Teamsters attire.

The allegations come a week before negotiations resume over a new agreement covering more than 18,000 Costco Teamsters nationwide. Talks were suspended in August, Teamsters said. Teamsters reached its first national agreement with Costco in 2022, and that contract ends in January.

Teamsters also accused Costco of changing the locks on union bulletin boards. removing literature and blocking Teamsters from providing future updates.

RELATED STORY | Costco reports that it's dropping prices on many items. Here's why

Scripps News has contacted Costco for its reaction to the allegations.

The lawless and outrageous behavior from Costcos corporate executives will not be tolerated, said Teamsters General President Sean M. OBrien. A company that claims to be 'worker-friendly' does not trample on federal labor law or contract rights to intimidate workers. Costcos executives are showing their true colors greedy, deceitful, and anti-worker. The company has sold its soul to Wall Street greed, and the Teamsters will bring the full weight of our union to hold it accountable.

On its website, Costco claims it is "much more employee-focused than other Fortune 500 companies."

"By offering fair wages and top-notch benefits, the company has created a workplace culture that attracts positive, high-energy, talented employees," the company added.

RELATED STORY | Costco will start scanning membership cards at store entrances

As of 2023, Costco had 208,000 employees in the United States.

Costco has seen massive growth in recent years. In 2023, the company had $242.3 billion in revenue, growing 6.8% between 2022 and 2023. The company also increased revenue by 15.8% a year earlier.

At the final hearing of the House's Task Force on the Attempted Assassination Attempt of Donald J. Trump, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe outlined changes the agency made following the July 13 incident that left Trump wounded in the ear.

Rowe told task force members that the Secret Service provided Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris the "highest levels" of protection during the remainder of the campaign and that it was "commensurate with the level of protection provided to the president."

After it was revealed that local law enforcement in Butler, Pennsylvania, was unable to reach Secret Service agents during the July 13 rally, Rowe told Congress that he required "the co-location of Secret Service personnel with state and local public safety counterparts at unified command posts."

RELATED STORY | Biden says Secret Service 'needs more help' after gunman allegedly targeted Trump

Rowe also said he deployed personnel to assist in the development of radio communications networks, with redundancies, at Secret Service-protected campaign sites.

"My goal is to improve our mission effectiveness and rebuild public trust. One of the key systemic changes was the directive to mandate a unified command in a singular location for all protective sites, something that was not done on July 13th in Butler," the acting Secret Service director told Congress, according to prepared remarks. "This co-location enhances our communications and intelligence-sharing mechanisms with state, local and federal partners to better anticipate threats and respond to them more swiftly."

Rowe also said that the Secret Service increased the number of special agents assigned to Trump's protective detail. The Secret Service has also expanded the use of unmanned aerial systems at venues and is expanding the use of counter-unmanned aerial systems to prevent an attack.

RELATED STORY | FBI investigates apparent Trump assassination attempt as suspect details emerge

The July 13 shooting at a Pennsylvania campaign rally was the most serious assassination attempt on a current or former president since President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. Following the shooting, then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told Congress that the incident was the Secret Service's "most significant operational failure" in decades.

She resigned following her congressional testimony that yielded bipartisan calls for her to step down.

But the July 13 was not the only serious attempt to harm Trump. In September, officials responded to an armed man outside of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Authorities arrested Ryan Wesley Routh, who allegedly pointed a rifle toward the golf club while Trump was golfing.

After closing its last location more than two decades ago, the iconic restaurant brand Chi-Chi's is set for its return in 2025.

Michael McDermott, the son of the restaurant's co-founder Marno McDermott, said he plans to reopen multiple locations, some 21 years after the chain closed its final restaurant. McDermott worked with Hormel Foods to get the rights to the Chi-Chi's trademark. Hormel Foods has continued making salsa under the Chi-Chi's brand name since the chain's 2004 closure.

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McDermott did not say where the first location would open. He did say that he would blend the traditional Chi-Chi's experience with modern influences.

"I still have fond memories of growing up in the Chi-Chi's restaurants that my father built throughout their time, instilling in me the passion and determination to pursue my own career in the restaurant industry," said Michael McDermott, founder of Chi-Chi's Restaurants, LLC, the new company formed to revive Chi-Chi's. "We have seen the impact our restaurant has had on individuals and families across the country and believe there is a strong opportunity to bring the brand back in a way that resonates with today's consumer an updated dining experience with the same great taste and Mexican flavor."

At one point, Chi-Chi's had over 200 locations throughout the U.S. There were several locations that existed outside of the U.S. after 2004, but according to online reviews, the last remaining Chi-Chi's in Vienna, Austria, closed earlier this year. Chi-Chi's was a thriving restaurant brand in the 80s and 90s, but struggled with bad press after a hepatitis A outbreak was associated with the chain.

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According to a 2003 CBS News report, an outbreak of hepatitis A associated with green onions served in the restaurant's salsa killed three patrons and sickened 600 others. In the wake of the outbreak, Chi-Chi's faced numerous lawsuits and also filed for bankruptcy.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Wednesday as advocates for transgender youth try to overturn a Tennessee law banning puberty blockers and hormones in some instances.

In 2023, a federal appeals court allowed Tennessee to enforce the law that bans certain types of medical care for transgender minors with diagnosed gender dysphoria. The state of Tennessee says the law, which passed by a 77-16 margin in the House and 26-6 in the Senate, bans hormone treatment for gender dysphoric or gender incongruent prepubertal minors.

The implications of this case reach far beyond Tennessee. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 26 states have laws stopping doctors from providing some types of gender-affirming care. If the Tennessee law is overturned, similar laws in other states would likely be impacted.

The people of Tennessee, through their elected representatives, took measured action with Senate Bill 1 to protect kids from irreversible, unproven medical procedures, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. Lawmakers recognized that there is little to no credible evidence to justify the serious risks these procedures present to youth and joined a growing number of European countries in restricting their use on minors with gender-identity issues.

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But the ACLU and Biden's Department of Justice disagreed. The Department of Justice said that "by denying only transgender youth access to these forms of medically necessary care while allowing non-transgender minors access to the same or similar procedures, SB 1 discriminates against transgender youth."

The Tennessee law allows doctors to provide such treatment in cases of congenital defects, a minor's disease or physical injury. The Biden Justice Department says this exception means that transgender youth are being unlawfully discriminated against based on their sex and transgender status. The Justice Department and ACLU say Senate Bill 1 violates the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause.

No person should be denied access to necessary medical care just because of their transgender status, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. The right to consider your health and medically-approved treatment options with your family and doctors is a right that everyone should have, including transgender children, who are especially vulnerable to serious risks of depression, anxiety and suicide."

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Although the court has a clear conservative lean, in 2020, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch ruled with the court's then-four liberal justices on an employment discrimination case. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that a business that dismisses a worker based on gender identity or sexual orientation violates the equal employment opportunity provision in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Their ruling essentially expanded the group of classes the law protects to include people who are gay or transgender.

A ruling in the case being heard on Wednesday is not expected for several months.