The U.S. government’s deficit in the first two months of the budget year ran 25.1% higher than the same period a year ago as spending to deal with the COVID pandemic soared while tax revenues fell. MORE

California sent about $400 million in fraudulent unemployment benefit payments to state prisoners, a state official said Tuesday, nearly triple the amount disclosed last week and a number that could grow as a criminal investigation continues. VIDEO

MORNING OFFERING TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

  Immaculate Heart of Mary, Heart of my Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, I unite to thy purity, thy sanctity, thy zeal and thy love, all my thoughts, words, acts, and sufferings this day, that there may be nothing in me that does not become through thee, a pleasure to Jesus, a gain to souls, and an act of reparation for the offenses against thy Heart. 

Ellen DeGeneres has tested positive for COVID-19, and production on her talk show will be paused until January, Variety has confirmed. MORE

Lawyers for a church with more than 160 congregations across California said they would seek an immediate court order Thursday allowing indoor worship after the Supreme Court told a lower federal court to reexamine state coronavirus restrictions on church services. MORE

A biotech conference in Boston last February that’s already been flagged as a Covid-19 superspreading event led to at least 245,000 other cases across the US and Europe, a new genetic fingerprinting study shows. VIDEO

“Mummified Mary,” “Weeble Jesus” (after the ovate children’s toys launched by Hasbro in the 1970s), “Martians,” “toilet paper rolls,” and “astronauts” were some of the comparisons made to the cylindrical figures meant to represent the Holy Family, the Magi, and the shepherds at Bethlehem. MORE

STORY

A human fetus (Latin for “offspring”) is the stage of human development from the embryo stage (the end of the eighth week after conception, when the major structures have formed) until birth. When the fetus dies, either naturally or by an elective abortion, the tissue (including intact organs) can be legally donated for research purposes. MORE

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday there was no reason for festivities to be any less normal, although locals were encouraged not to invite people home. MORE

This morning is cloudy, but Dec. 14, the star of Bethlehem was glowing brightly at 6 am from Florida.

The ‘Star of Bethlehem,’ also referred as the ‘Christmas Star,’ will make a historical appearance this year for the first time in 800 years. The timing couldn’t be more important at the end of a very tumultuous and trying time. MORE

GO TO CONSERVATIVE NEWS

Nessel later issued another tweet, writing, “Saying ‘Happy Holidays’ this time of year does not denigrate Christianity. It simply acknowledges and respects the great diversity of our nation and includes each and everyone of us who call ourselves proud Americans.” MORE

UPDATE: 17 states tell Supreme Court they support Texas bid to reverse Biden win THANK YOU IMMACULATE CONCEPTION!
MORE