Saturday, January 4, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1896, after seven petitions to Congress, Utah officially became the 45th state when President Grover Cleveland signed a proclamation admitting the Utah Territory into the Union.

In today's edition, we report on the U.S. Surgeon General's call for updated alcohol warning labels, amid reports linking alcohol consumption to seven types of cancer. What do you think? Take the poll below and let us know: Should alcohol warning labels be updated?

We're sponsored this weekend by Upwellness. Be sure to check them out in today's edition!

Rep. Mike Johnson Re-elected House Speaker

Rep. Mike Johnson was re-elected as Speaker of the House on Friday, securing the gavel on the first ballot after two GOP holdouts switched their votes before the second round of voting could begin.

Reps. Keith Self, Thomas Massie, and Ralph Norman initially voted against Johnson, with Self and Norman ultimately switching their votes. Massie, the lone holdout, voted for GOP Whip Rep. Tom Emmer.

President-elect Trump called all three lawmakers in an attempt to convince them to change their votes, arguing that "Mike's the only one who can be elected." Self and Norman also had a private conversation with Johnson prior to switching their votes.

Due to the slim Republican majority in the House, Johnson could only afford to lose one of the 219 GOP votes to remain as speaker. All 215 Democrats voted for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Surgeon General Calls for Alcohol Labels

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for warning labels on alcoholic beverages, similar to cigarette labels, citing new research linking alcohol to seven types of cancer.

According to researchers, alcohol consumption increases the risks for breast, colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box cancers, and it contributes to an estimated 20,000 cancer deaths a year.

Murthy has recommended new labels be more visible, including a warning about the increased risk of cancer, suggested limits for alcohol consumption, and an expansion of alcohol education efforts.

Current alcohol labels, warning against drinking while pregnant or before driving, haven't been updated since 1988.

Update: Major Winter Storm Expected

Updated weather forecasts now predict a winter storm could bring over a foot of snow to parts of the Plains, Midwest, and Appalachians, while temperatures may plunge to 32°F or below in at least 40 states.

This is the first major storm of the year, and it's expected to span over 1,500 miles across the central and eastern U.S. this weekend and into early next week. Heavy snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain are anticipated, leading to significant travel disruptions.

Meteorologists have already issued winter storm warnings for about 45 million people from Kansas to Maryland. Following the storm, Arctic air from Canada will bring significantly below-average temperatures to the northern Plains and Southeast.

➤ President Biden reviewed options several weeks ago for a potential preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities during national security meetings, sources confirmed. (More)

➤ Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled sentencing for January 10th in President-elect Donald Trump's NYC case regarding the alleged falsifying of business records, denying a request for dismissal and indicating he might impose no punishment for Trump's 34 felony convictions. (More)

➤ The White House blocked Japan's Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel on Friday, citing national security concerns, while the companies both called the decision politically motivated. (More)

➤ The Judicial Conference declined to refer Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Justice Department over alleged federal ethics violations, citing doubts about its legal authority. (More)

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➤ The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings face off tomorrow on Sunday Night Football, with the winner securing the NFC's No. 1 seed and the loser dropping to the No. 5 seed for a road playoff game. (See Preview)

➤ Six-time all-star forward Jimmy Butler has told the Miami Heat he would like to be traded according to multiple reports. (More)

➤ Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has declared for the NFL draft after two seasons as the Crimson Tide's starter. (More)

➤ Yesterday's results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA

Today's holiday section is brought to you by:

A 2025 list of federal holidays and observances outlines key dates and closures for federal offices, banks, and financial markets. (See List)

Retailers are set to hire extra staff this month to handle an influx of holiday returns, dubbed "Returnuary," nearly $900 billion in merchandise projected to be returned. (More)

A historic Kentucky mansion will host micro weddings on Valentine's Day, offering couples an officiant, cake, sparkling cider, wedding portrait, and 20 guests for $1,000. (See Details)

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Daily Market Report 01/03/2025

▲	NASDAQ National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations	19,621.68	1.77%
▲	SPX S&P 500	5,942.47	1.26%
▲	DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average	42,732.13	0.80%
▲	BTC Bitcoin	$98,201.48	1.36%
▼	GOLD Per Ounce	$2,650.50	-0.32%

Gold and Bitcoin are traded 24 hours a day.

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This Food Kills Knee, Hip & Back Pain

As a naturopathic physician, for the better part of the last 20 years my main job has been to keep my patients' joints moving freely...

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Read Now: 6 Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Your Knees, Hips, & Back

➤ A suspected Chinese submarine drone was discovered by fishermen off the coast of Masbate, Philippines last week, raising national security concerns. (More)

➤ Slovakia has threatened to cut financial support for over 130,000 Ukrainian refugees in response to Kyiv shutting down a decades-old pipeline supplying Russian natural gas to Central Europe. (More)

➤ A 7-year-old Zimbabwean boy was found alive after surviving five days in a lion-infested game park, living on wild fruits and water from a hole he dug in a dry riverbank. (More)

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➤ Some Attorneys call January "Divorce Month" and the first working Monday "Divorce Day," as filings spike due to holiday stress and the decision to postpone separation until the new year. (More)

➤ Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit, accusing the tech giant of activating its virtual assistant, Siri, to eavesdrop on people using iPhones and other enabled devices. (More)

➤ A surfer off the coast of Mavericks, California, may have broken a world record by riding an estimated 108-foot wave, surpassing the previous 86-foot record by over 20 feet. (See Wave)

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Should alcohol warning labels be updated?

Yesterday's Results:

What is your least favorite part of the new year?

Looming tax returns: 43%
Christmas decorations still: up: 28%
Remembering that it's 2025: 20%
Starting something new: 9%

Daily Quote

"This is a testament to the power of unity, hope, prayer and never giving up."

— Zimbabwean official Mutsa Murombedzi on the recovery of a missing child who was lost in a lion-infested game park.