JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1051

Washington — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday earlier this week refused the Trump administration's emergency request to deploy National Guard troops to the Chicago area, leaving in place lower-court orders that bar federalized troops from operating on city streets while legal challenges proceed. The unsigned 6-3 order said the government had not identified statutory authority allowing the military to execute laws in Illinois; Justices Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch dissented. The action follows district and appeals-court rulings, earlier federalization of guardsmen in October, and litigation over the Militia Act and Posse Comitatus questions. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — The Department of Education said Tuesday it will begin garnishing wages of borrowers in default, sending notices to about 1,000 people the week of January 7 and expanding monthly in coming months. Millions are considered in default after 270 days without payment. The department will provide 30 days' notice and said collections will proceed only after borrowers receive notice and opportunity to repay. The move follows the May end of the pandemic payment pause and resumption of collections, including tax refund offsets; payments restarted October 2023 with a one-year grace extension. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Los Angeles: A powerful atmospheric river, the Pineapple Express, struck Southern California, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and mountain snow that forced hundreds to evacuate, triggered flash flood and mudslide warnings and prompted a state of emergency. National Weather Service forecasters issued flood watches and urged travelers to reconsider Christmas plans as officials delivered about 380 evacuation notices to vulnerable homes and conducted door‑to‑door checks. Emergency crews reported water rescues and road closures while public works monitored saturated slopes near recent burn scars. Officials urged residents to obey warnings and evacuate when ordered. Based on 11 articles reviewed and research.

Washington — The U.S. Justice Department this week publicly released tens of thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, including about 30,000 pages published Dec. 23–24 and additional materials the DOJ said on Dec. 25 may total more than one million potentially related records. The files include a disputed card purportedly from Epstein referencing President Donald Trump, a prosecutor email noting eight Trump flights on Epstein’s jet in the 1990s, and a 2021 subpoena to Mar‑a‑Lago. The DOJ said some claims are unfounded and has begun reviewing and redacting further records for release. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Lincoln, Neb. Former U.S. senator Ben Sasse on Tuesday announced he has been diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer and said the prognosis is terminal. Sasse, 53, wrote that he learned of the disease last week and that he is 'gonna die,' while noting he will pursue treatment and referenced immunotherapy advances. He served Nebraska in the Senate from 2015 to 2023 and resigned to become president of the University of Florida, stepping down the following year for family reasons and caregiving duties. Federal and state officials offered condolences and public support. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it will replace the H-1B random lottery with a weighted, nationwide selection system that prioritizes higher-skilled, higher-paid applicants, effective Feb. 27, 2026 for the fiscal 2027 registration season. The rule, DHS said, aims to protect wages and working conditions for American workers and will weight registrations by skill and pay. USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser described prior exploitation of the lottery by employers seeking lower-paid foreign hires. A federal judge on Dec. 23 also rejected a legal challenge to the administration’s $100,000 H-1B fee. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Cheyenne, Wyoming. Rep. Harriet Hageman announced Tuesday she will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis, launching the 2026 campaign after Lummis' retirement. Hageman emphasized defending Wyoming energy and agricultural interests, She pledged to prioritize state jobs, public lands, and tribal relations. cited her alignment with former President Donald Trump, and noted her 2022 primary victory over Liz Cheney. Trump endorsed her hours later. Hageman is the first major Republican to join the contest, setting up a likely competitive GOP primary in the heavily Republican state. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — The Conference Board reported that consumer confidence fell 3.8 points to 89.1 in December from a revised 92.9 in November. The short-term expectations index remained at 70.7 for the eleventh consecutive month below 80. Consumers' assessments of current conditions dropped 9.5 points to 116.8. Survey write-ins cited high prices, inflation and the effect of tariffs introduced in April as primary concerns. The share saying jobs were plentiful fell to 26.7 percent, reflecting weaker labor perceptions amid five straight monthly declines. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

St. Paul, Minnesota. Nearly 100 mayors sent a Dec. 22 letter to Gov. Tim Walz and state legislators demanding action after alleged widespread fraud and fiscal decisions they say threaten local budgets. Mayors cited a projected $2.9 billion 2028–29 fiscal deficit, reports of billions in fraudulent social-services payments, and prior surplus spending. They requested independent audits and budgetary restraint to protect local services and limit property-tax increases. State and federal investigators and a congressional probe have likewise sought documents and testimony. Mayors appeared on regional media this week to press for accountability. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, former Nebraska senator Ben Sasse announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with terminal stage-four pancreatic cancer. Sasse posted on X that he learned last week his cancer has metastasized and wrote, "and am gonna die." He served in the U.S. Senate from 2015 to 2023, resigned to become president of the University of Florida, and later left that role to prioritize family after his wife's epilepsy diagnosis. He emphasized gratitude toward friends and siblings. Sasse said he plans to pursue treatment and spend time with his family during the holidays. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.