The New Safe Haven (no Speak English)

Amid the holiday rush for last-minute gifts Sunday, Stephanie Tariga stopped by the Party City on Western Avenue in North Center to pick up decorations for a Christmas Party she and her husband are planning to host for friends. Looking through a collection of Christmas decorations, the Avondale resident said she was drawn in by the news of the company’s closure as well as the large sale that accompanied it. “We heard that there’s probably gonna be a sale since they’re closing, so that’s why we came here,” Tariga said. Indeed, after nearly 40 years, the nation’s largest party supply store chain will be closing its doors in the new year.

The job market is tight as 2024 draws to a close, but the outlook for year-end bonuses is taking a surprising turn.

"Seven hours of RedZone football starts here." That’s how Scott Hanson opened Sunday’s broadcast, with his usual upbeat energy — but this time, with a twinge of irony. Why? Because last week (and again this week), the NFL’s RedZone channel — long celebrated for its uninterrupted, ad-free blitz of touchdowns and drama — broke its sacred covenant: it ran commercials.

The author's twins were born on December 23rd. Courtesy of the authorMy birthday falls in the week between Christmas and New Year. Other celebrations always overshadowed my special day. My twins were born on December 23rd, and I often can't make their birth as special as I'd like. Growing up, I often gave my parents low-key guilt trips about my birthday.

Daniel Gonzalez/Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesPresident-elect Donald Trump has threatened to retake control of the Panama Canal. Trump blasted the "exorbitant" fees charged to US vessels using the canal. Panama has controlled the canal since 1999. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to retake control of the Panama Canal as he hit out at what he called the "exorbitant" fees charged to US ships traversing the passage.

Some Christmas traditions look a little different in the UK. Alexey Fedorenko/Shutterstock There are some Christmas traditions in the UK that might confuse people from the US. Every Christmas, families gather to watch pantomimes or meet their school friends at the pub. They also eat Yorkshire puddings, mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Christmas cake. Christmas in the United Kingdom differs slightly from celebrations in America and elsewhere around the world.