WASHINGTON—The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits increased moderately last week, while unemployment rolls hit a 10-month high towards the end of November, suggesting the labor market was gradually slowing down.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation on Dec. 8 that would codify same-sex and interracial marriage as a federally recognized right.

The Twitter accounts of several prominent conservatives were restored this week under new owner Elon Musk, including former President Donald Trump campaign associate Roger Stone and one-time congressional candidate Laura Loomer.

Hundreds of reporters, editors, and other employees at The New York Times launched a 24-hour walkout on Thursday, arguing that discussions between their union and the company have stalled. This is the first strike of its size and scale at the newspaper in 40 years.

WEST PENN TOWNSHIP, Pa.—Pennsylvania State Police say two firefighters died responding to a house fire where a body was found, while two people who lived in the home got out safely.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 8 passed a defense funding bill that would force the termination of the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate if it is also approved by the Senate and signed by President Joe Biden.

Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle have been awarded lucrative cloud contracts valued at up to $9 billion in total, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Dec. 7.

Kraft Heinz foods company is recalling about 2,400 pounds of its ready-to-eat “Oscar Mayer Ham and Cheese Loaf.”

Apple has been sued by two women who claim the company’s AirTag devices were used by their ex-partners to stalk them.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Dec. 6 that lawmakers are at a “significant impasse” on reaching an agreement on a must-pass spending bill, and indicated that a short-term continuing resolution (CR) may be necessary instead.

President Joe Biden could sign a defense funding bill that includes the termination of the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the White House signaled on Dec. 7.

Twitter owner and Tesla boss Elon Musk briefly lost his title as the world’s richest person on Wednesday, according to Forbes, following a steep drop in the value of his stake in the electric-car maker and a $44 billion bet on the social media firm.

Harrison Wagner, the son of veteran actor and soap star Jack Wagner, died from an accidental drug overdose, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed about six months after the 27-year-old was found dead in a California parking lot.

POWHATAN, La.—Three members of Southern University’s marching band, known as the Human Jukebox, were killed in a crash with an 18-wheeler, a university spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.

Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, during a Dec. 5 appearance on Fox’s Tucker Carlson Tonight, called “frightening” a recent report alleging that the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, under Governor-elect Katie Hobbs, colluded with Twitter to censor free speech.

The FBI confirmed Wednesday that the suspect accused of opening fire at a Colorado gay bar last month and killing five people was put on the bureau’s radar when he was arrested for threatening to kill his family.

A top general in the Marine Corps has acknowledged that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is hampering its recruitment goals, but he credited the requirement with keeping military personnel healthy.

The Department of Education (DOE) is to “immediately and permanently” disband a five-month-old national parents council after conservative groups sued it for allegedly being unbalanced and politically biased.

Rescue teams have found the bodies of a woman and a female juvenile after a Florida plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday evening. The plane was recovered earlier on Monday. A 42-year-old man is still missing.

Eating more flavonols, antioxidants found in many vegetables, fruits, tea and wine, may slow your rate of memory loss, a new study finds.

A Texan man who allegedly entered Nancy Pelosi’s office during the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6 was sentenced on Nov. 21.

A special grand jury in Loudoun County, Virginia, said the superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) lied about sexual assaults perpetrated on school grounds in 2021 and that school officials displayed a “stunning lack of openness” about the incidents, according to the special grand jury’s report released on Monday.