The wait is over!

It's that time of year again when the North American Aerospace Defense Command which typically handles sensitive homeland security matters dedicates its incredible resources to a more festive mission: tracking Santa Clause.

With Christmas finally here in some parts of the world, jolly Saint Nicholas in his big red sleigh pulled by nine magical reindeer has already begun his long journey circumnavigating the globe, delivering billions of presents to deserving boys and girls.

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Last year, NORAD said Santa delivered a whopping 7.8 billion presents. But can Kris Kringle outdo himself in 2024?

Follow along below with the NORAD Santa tracker to see. You can also call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santas location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.

Former President Bill Clinton is seemingly feeling better and has been discharged from the hospital after being admitted Monday night with a fever.

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Clinton's deputy chief of staff, Angel Urea, said Tuesday morning that the former president was released earlier in the day after receiving treatment for the flu.

"He and his family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and are touched by the kind messages and well wishes he received," Urea said in a statement. "He sends his warmest wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season to all."

Clinton, who is 78, appeared seemingly healthy this summer when he made several appearances on the campaign trail for Vice President Kamala Harris and vice presidential nominee Tim Walz.

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However, this isn't the first time the 42nd president has been hospitalized with a health scare.

Clinton was hospitalized with an infection in 2021. He also received two stents in an artery in 2010 and in 2004 underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery.

An employee walkout at Starbucks stores across the U.S. is now expanding to hundreds of additional cafes ahead of the Christmas holiday.

Starbucks Workers United the union that represents more than 10,000 employees at some 525 Starbucks stores said baristas at over 300 stores are walking off the job Tuesday in demand of better compensation and benefits.

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"We're fighting for a living wage, fair scheduling, and accessible benefits at a time when Starbucks seems to prefer investing in CEO Brian Niccol's $113 million compensation package," the union said in a statement. "The company's last economic proposal - NO immediate wage increases - is unacceptable."

Watch: Starbucks workers walk off their jobs in Montana

Starbucks workers walk off their jobs in MontanaVideo courtesy Scripps News Missoula (KPAX)

The strike expansion comes a day after Starbucks workers walked off the job at more than 60 stores in twelve major cities across the U.S. Employees began picketing Friday and quickly broadened the strike to include additional stores, with the union citing a lack of progress in contract negotiations with the company.

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In a year when Starbucks invested so many millions in top executive talent, it has failed to present the baristas who make its company run with a viable economic proposal, said Starbucks barista and bargaining delegate Fatemeh Alhadjaboodi, in a statement obtained by The Associated Press.

However, Starbucks has accused Workers United of prematurely ending a bargaining session last week. The company claims it already offers workers competitive pay and benefits including paid family leave and college tuition assistance worth an average of $30 per hour for those who work at least 20 hours a week.

One of the busiest travel days of the year got off to a rough start due to a "technical issue" that disrupted American Airlines flights across the U.S.

The Federal Aviation Administration said early Tuesday that American Airlines requested a ground stop for all of its flights nationwide as millions hit the skies ahead of the Christmas holiday. A short time later, the agency announced that the nationwide ground stop had been canceled.

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"We have resolved a vendor technology issue that briefly affected flights this morning," American Airlines said in a statement. "We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and have issued a travel alert to allow for additional flexibility."

This comes after numerous American Airlines passengers were posting on social media that their flights had been stopped on runways at various airports and were returning to their gates.

"We're currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines Flights," the airline replied back to one person on social media. "Your safety is our utmost priority, once this is rectified, we'll have you safely on your way to your destination."

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American Airlines didn't elaborate further on what may have caused the technical issue.

The grounding comes just months after a global tech outage sent airlines and other institutions into mayhem. The Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike later said a bug in a software update caused the disruptions.

A passenger was detained at Los Angeles International Airport for having fireworks and knives in her carry-on luggage, the TSA said last week.

A woman had dozens of small fireworks, a number of knives and replica guns and pepper spray in her carry-on when she attempted to fly to Philadelphia on December 15.

TSA screening prompted a search of the bag. Police interviewed the passenger and the bomb squad confiscated the fireworks.

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The sheer number of prohibited items discovered in a single carry-on bag is extremely concerning, TSA official Jason Pantages said in a statement. Let this incident serve as a reminder to all travelers to double-check the contents of your bag prior to coming to the airport.

While certain items, including knives and replica guns, can be transported in checked baggage, the TSA says explosives are never permitted aboard planes, whether in carry-on or checked baggage.

One of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea in Hawaii, is erupting again.

The latest eruption is taking places in the volcano's caldera, at its summit. The eruption follows a surge in seismic activity that started early in the morning on Monday.

Webcam footage of the caldera from the U.S. Geological Survey showed lava geysering into the air, which reached 270 feet at its highest point.

USGS scientist Ken Hon, who leads the staff at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said in briefing Monday the eruption manifested quickly.

"The onset of this was very rapid. We had kind of normal background activity through most of the night. At about 1:30, the seismicity really picked up this morning. By 2 am we could see we were measuring seismicity related to a crack that was opening, being forced open by magma as it moved toward the surface."

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According to the observatory, the eruption may generate hazards including volcanic smog, which may spread on the wind and carry sulphur dioxide content that can aggravate respiratory health problems.

The agency also warned that more cracking and fissure activity could occur at any time, and that lava should be taken seriously in the event of an eruption.

"Hawaiian lava flows generally advance slowly downslope and can be avoided by people. They can destroy everything in their paths including vegetation and infrastructurewhich can cut off road access and utilities."

Kilauea last erupted in September and June of this year.

An overflow of lava from the volcano in 2018 destroyed more than 700 homes.

Burt, the saltwater crocodile who gained fame after appearing in the 1986 movie "Crocodile Dundee," has passed away at the age of 90.

He was living at Crocosaurus Cove, an aquarium in Australia, at the time of his death.

"Captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River, Burt became one of the most recognised crocodiles in the world, appearing in Crocodile Dundee and helping to shape Australias image as a land of rugged natural beauty and awe-inspiring wildlife," Crocosaurus Cove said on social media.

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A post shared by Crocosaurus Cove | Darwin NT (@crocosauruscove)

The film starred Paul Hogan as Mick Dundee, an Australian bushman whose fearless encounter with a crocodile in the outback became one of the films most iconic scenes. Burt was among the crocodiles used in creating this unforgettable moment.

Crocosaurus Cove said Burt had been at the facility since 2008 and became a "fierce and fascinating ambassador for crocodile education.

"His fiery temperament earned him the respect of his caretakers and visitors alike, as he embodied the raw and untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile," the aquarium said.

Hogan, who gained international acclaim for his portrayal of Mick Dundee, has not yet publicly commented on Burt's passing.

If you plan on being busy in the kitchen this holiday week, the price of eggs may catch you off guard.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a dozen of grade-A eggs now costs $3.65 on average. That price is up from $2.52 at the beginning of the year.

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Experts tell The New York Times that the avian bird flu is the major cause for the price increase. The outbreak has wiped out flock of egg-laying hens, causing wholesale prices to jump.

While cases of the virus in humans remains rare, the virus is increasingly being found on poultry and cattle farms. Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over bird flu infection in cattle herds in the state.

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To date, there have been 64 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S., but no human-to-human transmission. Most of the cases have resulted in mild symptoms for patients in the U.S. and a full recovery.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on last week that a person in Louisiana is the first to be hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu, and also the first to be infected from exposure to sick birds in a residential setting.

A House Ethics report report released on Monday claims former Rep. Matt Gatez "engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl."

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

In the report, the House Ethics Committee says Gaetz violated Florida's statutory rape law because of his alleged sexual relationship with the teen.

It also says Gaetz "regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity with him" between 2017 and 202.

In addition, the report accuses Gaetz of using or possessing cocaine and ecstasy, as well as accepting gifts, including a trip to the Bahamas.

"The Committee concluded there was substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress," the report says.

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The report goes on to say, "The Committee did not find sufficient evidence to conclude that Representative Gaetz violated the federal sex trafficking statute. Although Representative Gaetz did cause the transportation of women across state lines for purposes of commercial sex, the Committee did not find evidence that any of those women were under 18 at the time of travel, nor did the Committee find sufficient evidence to conclude that the commercial sex acts were induced by force, fraud, or coercion."

Gaetz, who has denied any wrongdoing, filed a lawsuit on Monday with a federal court to block its release.

"The Committee's unconstitutional and ultra vires attempt to exercise jurisdiction over a private citizen through the threatened release of an investigative report containing potentially defamatory allegations, in violation of the Committee's own rules," the lawsuit states.

Gaetz withdrew his request for immediate action Monday afternoon since the report had already been released.

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

Luigi Mangione appeared in a Manhattan courthouse Monday morning where he pleaded not guilty to state charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson earlier this month outside a New York City hotel. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said he faces a first-degree murder charge and two second-degree murder charges in the alleged killing.

"This type of premeditated, targeted gun violence cannot and will not be tolerated, and my office has been working day in and day out to bring the defendant to justice, Bragg said in a statement.

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Mangione eluded authorities for nearly a week even as police released pictures of him in and around New York City.

On Dec. 9, police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, responded to a possible sighting at a McDonald's. Officers responded and found Mangione eating breakfast at the restaurant.

Police said Mangione presented them with a fake ID before they searched his vehicle, where they say a firearm was located.

Court documents allege Mangione was also found in possession of a loaded 9 mm pistol and silencer consistent with the weapon used to kill Thompson; clothing that matched appeal worn by the shooter during Thompson's killing; an envelope with several thousand dollars; and a letter addressed "To the Feds."

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A notebook with troubling passages was also found, according to court documents. Investigators said the entries described details as "finally coming together and the target is insurance because it checks every box.

Mangione also faces federal charges of murder through use of a firearm, as well as stalking and other crimes. He's expected to face trial in New York prior to his federal trial.

A potential government shutdown won't affect everyone the same way. There are essential workers, whose jobs must continue, and non-essential jobs that would pause for the duration. But the American public would see the effects of both.

There are about 2.3 million federal workers in the U.S. Those who are deemed essential would continue their work during a shutdown, albeit without pay. Non-essential workers, such as those in certain research fields or who staff national parks, would be furloughed until a new funding deal is reached.

U.S. Postal Service operations, for example, would continue during a shutdown. Most of TSA's workforce is also considered essential, so security screenings at airports would also continue during the busy holiday travel season.

National Parks would remain open, but without staff to look after maintenance. In past shutdowns, the National Park Service warned trash was likely to pile up while staff were furloughed.

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Federal employees who are furloughed would feel the most direct impacts of a shutdown.

In 2018, when the government shut down, many local workers had to lean on Washington, D.C. food banks when their paychecks stopped.

Furloughed workers receive back pay when furloughs end, but the slowdown in the government's far-reaching services can still add up to billions of dollars in costs.

A shutdown may delay everything from DOJ prosecutions to small business contracts and IRS processing for new mortgage applications.

A 1996 Congressional report estimated that it cost $1.4 billion to shut the government down for 27 days. Adjusted for inflation that would be more than $2.8 billion today.

The national average for a gallon of gas has gone up two cents last week to $3.14 just as a record amount of Americans are set to travel for the winter holidays.

Gas prices had been declining but reversed course this week. Meanwhile, electric vehicle drivers won't be paying any more to charge at a public station as the rate for that service has stayed flat, according to AAA.

AAA said 107 million people are forecast to travel by car this holiday season.

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There's also a record number of people expected to travel through the skies, officials said.

The Transportation Security Administration said travelers should allocate extra time for delays through security and other airport checkpoints, particularly if they are traveling to the northeast. That region is undergoing a $30 billion transformation, leading to potential construction-related delays.

TSA recommends waiting until you reach your destination to wrap your gifts in case they require extra screening. You'll also want to make sure you're only bringing solid foods through a security checkpoint.

Nuna Baby Essentials has recalled more than 600,000 child car seats because of issues with a plastic harness adjuster button.

The recall involves RAVA models manufactured between 2016 and 2023.

"The defect is a result of debris entering the area where the front harness adjuster is located," the company said in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "The debris may cause the teeth of the adjuster mechanism to no longer properly clamp onto the adjuster strap, resulting in the harness no longer remaining tight."

The NHTSA warns that a child may not remain properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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Nuna said it will provide customers with a free kit, which includes a new seat pad and instructions to properly clean the harness adjuster area.

"We are committed to ensuring the highest safety standards, which is why we are taking this proactive step," Nuna said in a statement on its website.

The company will contact registered owners about receiving the free kit. Unregistered owners can fill out a form on the company's website to receive the kit.

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GoFundMe said more people are using its crowdfunding site to pay for "essential expenses" like housing and food based on their annual "Year in Help" report released earlier this week.

The number of these types of campaigns quadrupled since last year, GoFundMe said. The platform also said monthly bills were one of the fastest-growing categories for donation campaigns.

Examples of this highlighted in the report include a family in Los Angeles who faced eviction from their apartment of 37 years and a family in Las Vegas who needed help to keep their home after health issues, job loss and other financial burdens.

Other areas that attracted donors were medical fundraisers collectively raising more than $1 billion this year and educators, who collectively raised more than $3.3 million using GoFundMe to help supply their classrooms with school supplies.

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The platform issued over 2,000 grants and raised nearly $1.3 million to help provide disaster relief after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Disaster relief also accounted for the most generous day globally, GoFundMe said, when hundreds of thousands of people donated on Oct. 1 to support hurricane recovery efforts.

Over 42 million donations were made to individuals at an average rate of two donations per second on the platform this year.

The average donation amount was $77 and people supported one another with comments or reactions on the pages over 20 million times, according to the report.

The most generous states in the U.S. based on the number of donors per capita were Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, while the most generous cities were Marietta, Georgia; Sarasota, Florida; and Fort Lauderdale.

Ireland was the most generous country in 2024, while Norway was the top country to support fundraisers beyond its borders, GoFundMe said.

The most generous donor came from Australia, donating more than 1,300 times.

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The Food and Drug Administration has reaffirmed its decision that the shortage of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in the popular diabetes and weight loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, is over.

The ruling means most compounding pharmacies must stop producing their versions of the drugs within 90 days. Compounding pharmacies create medications from base ingredients, with licensed pharmacists preparing them as prescribed by doctors.

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During FDA-declared shortages, these pharmacies are legally allowed to produce compounded versions of brand-name drugs.

The compounded alternatives gained significant popularity as patients sought more affordable options to the brand-name products.

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The decision marks a victory for drugmaker Eli Lilly, which challenged the FDAs 2022 decision to officially declare a shortage of tirzepatide.

The FDA says it considers a number of factors before determining that a drug shortage is resolved, including a company's ability to meet current and historical demand, the amount in a manufacturers stock, affected market share, among other things.

Many toys that will be opened by little ones during the holidays will need batteries to operate. But those batteries pose a serious harm, Consumer Reports warns.

A lot of these gadgets and gizmos are powered by button batteries or coin cell batteries, which are small and powerful. It is so small, in fact, Consumer Reports said several are smaller than the size of a Cheerio.

It's clear that the batteries are a choking hazard, but Consumer Reports said there are other hidden dangers if one were to be ingested.

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"Fluids in the body can activate the batterys electrical current, even in a used or dead battery. A battery can burn through a childs esophagus or throat in as little as 2 hours. In contact with stomach acid, a battery can leak corrosive elements, too, posing the risk of poisoning. And if a curious child puts a battery into his or her nose or ear, body tissue there can be damaged," said Consumer Reports.

Swallowed or inserted batteries often require surgery to remove them. And it goes beyond toys: These small batteries are commonly used in household items like remotes.

RELATED STORY | Consumer group warns about dangerous toys ahead of the holidays

Consumer Reports bought 31 products that run on button batteries to assess their safety or lack thereof.

"Ten out of the 31 products we bought had dangerously accessible button batteries, and many more lacked clear warnings about the risks they posed," the group said.

Consumer Reports said before gifting toys or any other battery-operated items, you should test them to make sure the battery compartments are not easily accessible or flimsy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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