Comment on Mood of the Nation: Some optimism amid struggles

LOS ANGELES — For nearly 40 years, customers flocked to Party City for Halloween costumes, favors for children’s birthday parties and decorations for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Now, the go-to shop for everything from cartoon-themed balloons to Super Bowl decor is closing stores. Party City announced Saturday that it would start a “wind down” of its retail and wholesale operations as it prepares to shutter nearly 700 stores nationwide.

By Genevieve Ko, The New York Times It was only a matter of days, but, somehow, losing the usual week between Thanksgiving and the start of December compressed the holiday marathon into a 100-yard dash. I was winded by the time I pulled the first batch of cookies out of the oven, and now it’s time to host another feast? After all of the gift wrapping and party hopping, there’s something wonderful about slowing down to prepare a big meal, especially when the centerpiece leaves you time to sip eggnog (or just lie down and rest). A pork shoulder roast rivals a standing rib roast or beef tenderloin in richness, but it’s more foolproof (and costs far less).

WASHINGTON — After days of threats and demands, Donald Trump had little to show for it once lawmakers passed a budget deal in the early hours of Saturday, narrowly averting a pre-Christmas government shutdown. The president-elect successfully pushed House Republicans to jettison some spending, but he failed to achieve his central goal of raising the debt limit.

A Lafayette Police Department officer was cited for careless driving after crashing into a Toyota Camry while responding to a separate crash Saturday night, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The officer was “driving emergent” with lights and sirens and heading to a nearby rollover crash when they hit the Camry near U.

Sean Payton’s been telling his team all season that they’d eventually be playing in bigger games. Those games are here and so far the results are mixed. The Broncos started slow but dominated late to beat Indianapolis and get to the doorstep of the playoffs. Then they did the opposite and squandered a dominant start against the Los Angeles Chargers in their first chance to clinch a spot. Each game showed how small the margin is this time of year. If Colts running back Jonathan Taylor doesn’t drop the ball at the goal line in the second half of Week 15, Indianapolis goes up 20-7 and perhaps wins that game. The key sequence from a momentum standpoint in the Broncos’ 34-27 loss to the Chargers?

Broncos coach Sean Payton said he hopes starting cornerback Riley Moss, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury, can play on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals. “The sooner the better that we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully, it’s this weekend,” Payton said in a conference call with reporters on Sunday. Moss has been sidelined since he sustained an MCL injury in a road win against the Raiders on Nov.