State Tourism Spending Up 5.3% To $11.42 Billion

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The New Moon peaks in Capricorn at 5:27 p.m. EST (2:27 p.m. PST). Happy Birthday for Monday, Dec. 30, 2024: As a natural leader, you create order out of chaos. You’re organized and see how to make improvements. Exciting changes brought opportunities this year.

Today is Monday, Dec. 30, the 365th day of 2024. There is one day left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 30, 2006, former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal. Also on this date: In 1860, 10 days after South Carolina seceded from the Union, the state militia seized the United States Army arsenal in Charleston. Related Articles Today in History: December 29, the Wounded Knee Massacre Today in History: December 28, grand jury declines to indict police officers in Tamir Rice killing Today in History: December 27, Benazir Bhutto assassinated Today in History: December 26, massive earthquake triggers devastating tsunami Today in History: December 25, George Washington crosses the Delaware In 1896, José Rizal, whose writings inspired the Philippine Revolution, was executed by Spanish army troops after being convicted of rebellion, sedition and conspiracy. In 1903, more than 600 people died when fire broke out at the recently opened Iroquois Theater in Chicago. In 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) officially came into existence. In 2009, seven CIA employees and a Jordanian intelligence officer were killed by a suicide bomber at a U.

For President Jimmy Carter, morality was a personal obligation that became a national calling. A deeply religious man, he taught Sunday school for most of his adult life until the point in 2020 when he physically couldn’t anymore, and he projected that same moral leadership from his entry into politics through his ascendance to the presidency.

The Broncos will put their playoff aspirations on the line Sunday afternoon. Denver’s Week 18 home game against Kansas City is set for a 2:25 p.m. kickoff. The league finalized the schedule for the final week of the regular season on Sunday night. Sean Payton’s team must win its season finale against the Chiefs to ensure a playoff spot after losing its past two games at the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati.

Moo Deng might seem to most people like just an adorable viral baby hippo, but to the government of Thailand, where she’s from, she’s a cultural ambassador and shining example of the country’s push to boost what it calls its “soft power.” The term soft power was coined at the height of the Cold War by American political scientist Joseph Nye, who used it to describe “when one country gets other countries to want what it wants” without the use of force, in contrast to the hard power “of ordering others to do what it wants.” [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] But in the last year and a half, since the Pheu Thai party came to power in August 2023, Thailand has sought to redefine soft power instead as getting others to want what it has—with a particular emphasis on highlighting the country’s cultural prominence to attract tourists and foreign investment. Moo Deng isn’t alone.

Rod Serling was born on December 25, 1924 in Syracuse New York. My father was born on December 25, 1926 and always felt cheated that his birthday fell on Christmas day. We always kidded with him about it. Serling's Twilight Zone was my first influence in wanting to become a writer.