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December 24, 2025.

Jim Holtshouse watches video through a Rendever virtual-reality headset at the Forum at Rancho San Antonio retirement community in Cupertino, Calif. on June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Terry Chea)

Virtual reality opens doors for older people to build closer connections in real life

December 24, 2025

Many retirement developments serve as a tranquil refuge for older people who can no longer traveling to faraway places or engaging in bold adventures. But residents of hundreds of senior living communities can return to their days of wanderlust and thrill-seeking when staff members schedule a date for them to take turns donning virtual reality headsets. The headsets may transport them to Europe, immerse them in the ocean depths or soar them on hang-gliding expeditions while they sit by each other. Although VR can be isolating, a Massachusetts company has turned the technology into a catalyst for better cognition and social connections in 800 retirement communities in the United States and Canada.

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FILE - Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, during a news conference in New York on July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Public release of Epstein records puts Maxwell under fresh scrutiny amid her claims of innocence

December 24, 2025

British socialite and onetime Jeffrey Epstein girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell is back in the spotlight with the public release of investigative records that led to her 2021 sex trafficking conviction. Among items unsealed are the grand jury transcripts of testimony that led to her indictment. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence. She was moved to a minimum-security camp in Texas earlier this year soon after she submitted to two days of questioning by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Two weeks ago, she asked a federal judge to free her, claiming she was unjustly convicted. The public release of investigative materials brings fresh light to the evidence against her.

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Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson reacts after sustaining an injury during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson avoids major knee injury but will miss a few games, AP source says

December 24, 2025

A person with knowledge of the medical tests tells The Associated Press that the Denver Nuggets have received positive news about forward Cameron Johnson. An MRI revealed Johnson has only a bone bruise on his right knee, not any ligament or structural damage. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce the results of Johnson’s MRI. Johnson was injured during the fourth quarter of Denver’s 131-130 loss at Dallas on Tuesday night. There’s no timetable for his return, but he’s expected to miss a few games. The Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas night.

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President Donald Trump, speaks accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, during a NORAD, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Tracks Santa Operation call at his Mar-a-Lago club, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump warns against infiltration by a ‘bad Santa,’ defends coal in jovial Christmas calls with kids

December 24, 2025

President Donald Trump marked Christmas Eve by chatting with children about their holiday wishes. Vacationing at Mar-a-Lago in Florida he and first lady Melania Trump took calls from kids through the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which has long playfully tracked Santa’s journeys around the globe. Trump joked about ensuring St. Nick isn’t a “bad Santa” infiltrating the country. He was in a jovial mood. Asked about leaving cookies for Santa, Trump laughingly suggested Santa might be disappointed if there weren’t any given his “cherubic” stature. He also defended “clean, beautiful coal” as a Christmas gift.

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FILE - A memorial wreath stands next to the bronze memorial bust by Robert Berks of President John F. Kennedy in the grand foyer at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Nov. 22, 2013, on the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's death. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Kennedy Center Christmas Eve jazz concert canceled after Trump name added to building

December 24, 2025

A planned Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center has been canceled. Musician Chuck Redd, the show’s host, says he called off the performance after the White House announced President Donald Trump’s name would be added to the facility. The building’s facade now reads The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Scholars say this violates the law. The law prohibits the board from making the center a memorial to anyone else. Numerous artists have canceled performances since Trump returned to office, including Issa Rae and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Steelers LB TJ Watt returns to practice two weeks after surgery to repair collapsed lung

December 24, 2025

T.J. Watt has returned to practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks after surgery for a partially collapsed lung. Watt was a partial participant on Wednesday. Coach Mike Tomlin says he hopes Watt can play this weekend against the Cleveland Browns but his availability remains uncertain. Watt’s presence on the field is a positive sign for the Steelers, who aim to have him back for the playoffs if they qualify. Watt, recently named to his eighth Pro Bowl, has seven sacks this season. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says Watt’s presence on the practice field is good for the team.

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FILE - Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, during a news conference in New York on July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

After missing deadline, DOJ says it may need a ‘few more weeks’ to finish releasing Epstein files

December 24, 2025

The Justice Department says that finishing the release of all of the Jeffrey Epstein files could take a “few more weeks,” further delaying compliance with a Dec. 19 deadline set by Congress. The department said Wednesday that U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, as well as the FBI, found more than a million more documents that could be relevant to the Epstein case. DOJ did not say in its statement when they were informed of those new files. DOJ insisted in its statement that its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review those documents and make the redactions required under the law, passed nearly unanimously by Congress last month.

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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) hits on a drum as he and teammates celebrate with the Spurs fans after defeating the Oklahoma Thunder in an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

Spurs celebrate big win over Thunder, but matchup with reigning champs not a rivalry yet

December 24, 2025

The San Antonio Spurs are the hottest team in the NBA just a year removed from two of the worst seasons in franchise history. So players and fans can be excused for celebrating a win in December like it’s 1999 and their first NBA championship. San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 130-110 on Tuesday night, handing the Thunder their worst defeat of the season and their second loss to the Spurs in 11 days. It was the Spurs’ seventh straight victory, the league’s longest active streak. Just don’t call the matchup between the teams a rivalry yet.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Commanders turn to 39-year-old Josh Johnson on Christmas with Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota hurt

December 24, 2025

With Jayden Daniels shut down for the regular season because of an elbow injury and backup Marcus Mariota sidelined, the Washington Commanders will start Josh Johnson against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas. The 39-year-old Johnson is the NFL record holder with 14 teams played for over his career. His first start since 2021 comes in Washington’s rematch against its longtime NFC East rival.

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FILE - A for sale sign stands outside a single-family residence on the market May 22, 2024, in southeast Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Average US long-term mortgage rate ticks down to 6.18% this week

December 24, 2025

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage ticked down modestly this week, remaining in the same narrow range of the past two months. The average long-term mortgage rate fell to 6.18% from 6.21% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.85%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, rose this week. The rate averaged 5.50%, up from 5.47% last week. Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation.

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FILE - Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Horizon cruise ship is shown docked at PortMiami, April 9, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Teen suspect in stepsister’s cruise ship death says he doesn’t remember anything, documents say

December 24, 2025

A 16-year-old boy being investigated in the death of his stepsister on a Carnival cruise ship last month has no recollection of the incident. Court documents in Florida reveal text exchanges between his parents, where the boy’s mother says he repeatedly claims he doesn’t remember anything. Anna Kepner’s death aboard the Carnival ship was ruled a homicide by mechanical asphyxia. The case has drawn international attention and sparked speculation on social media. The FBI and medical examiner’s office in South Florida have not disclosed details about the case. The boy has been identified as a suspect in court documents related to a custody case.

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President Donald Trump listens to a question as he speaks at his Mar-a-Lago club, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Judge blocks Trump effort to strip security clearance from attorney who represented whistleblowers

December 24, 2025

A federal judge is halting the enforcement of a March presidential memorandum that revoked the security clearance of a prominent Washington attorney. Mark Zaid was one of 15 individuals singled out by the Trump administration; the Washington attorney has in the past represented a number of prominent government whistleblowers. Zaid had sued the Trump administration in response to the revocation of his security clearance, calling it an act of “improper political retribution” that jeopardized his ability to continue representing clients in sensitive national security cases. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali in Washington granted Zaid’s request for a preliminary injunction on Tuesday.

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Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos warms up before an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Florida State QB Thomas Castellanos drops NCAA appeal, enters NFL draft

December 24, 2025

Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has dropped his appeal for another year of college eligibility and declared for the NFL draft. In a social media post, Castellanos thanked family, friends, coaches and teammates and “everyone who has supported me along this journey.” The NCAA initially denied Castellanos’ waiver request for a fifth season. Castellanos, who transferred to Florida State last December after one year at Central Florida and two at Boston College, argued that college football’s sanctioning body should grant him another season because he played in only five games with the Knights in 2022. It’s a moot point now.

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A makeshift memorial of flags, flowers and other items is seen Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, outside of Farragut West Station, near the site where two National Guard members were shot in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Suspect in national guard shooting faces new federal charges that allow death penalty discussions

December 24, 2025

A man accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House is charged in a complaint with federal firearms charges over the ambush on November 26 that fatally wounded one of the West Virginia National Guard members and seriously injured the second. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, has been charged with transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with the intent to commit an offense punishable for more than one year. He also also been charged federally with transporting a stolen firearm in interstate commerce. The federal charges allow the prosecutors to deliberate whether he should face the death penalty in the shooting that killed Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24

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FILE - Brandon Lake poses for a portrait in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

How Christian artists are winning over listeners and entering pop’s mainstream

December 24, 2025

Christian music is growing in popularity while other genres struggle to grow new listenership. Experts and artists say there are a variety of reasons why this religious music is connecting. Social media and streaming are factors. So is the music’s hopeful lyricism, which has evolved to reflect real life. Christian music has also begun embracing many different genres of music and industry professionals say the quality as improved. Certain Christian artists have also begun to crossover into mainstream music, like Lauren Daigle and Brandon Lake. The latter has a Grammy-nominated song in “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with the country singer Jelly Roll. They hope this isn’t just a trend but a movement.

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FILE - Applicants line up at a job fair at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City N.J., on April 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry, File)

US unemployment claims fall again last week, remain at historically healthy level

December 24, 2025

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week and remain at historically healthy levels despite some signs that the labor market is weakening. U.S. applications for jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 20 fell by 10,000 to 214,000 from the previous week’s 224,000, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. That’s below the 232,000 new applications forecast of analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet. The weekly report was released a day early due to the Christmas holiday. Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as a proxy for layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

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