CHRISTMAS EVE

The Michigan Supreme Court will hold a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, May 18, to discuss a proposal to require state courts to observe Juneteenth as a holiday. The proposed amendment would mean Juneteenth would replace either the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve as a weekday holiday in the state court system. There is also another option being considered — to add Juneteenth as a court holiday without omitting another holiday, meaning the courts would close for one additional holiday each year. The proposed amendment to the holiday calendar for Michigan courts comes after a federal decision made on June 17, 2021, that officially recognizes Juneteenth as a national holiday. In the order, Justice David Viviano dissented in the proposal to close state courts for the Juneteenth holiday.

Bodyboarder Tomas Butterfield, 42, was bitten in the head, chest and shoulder in the attack at Morro Bay, some 200 miles north of L.A., official reports say. It was a great white shark that killed him on Christmas Eve, the reports conclude.

A bodyboarder was attacked by a great white shark in central California on Christmas Eve and died within minutes, official reports have concluded. Tomas Abraham Butterfield, 42, was bitten in the head, chest and shoulder in the Morro Bay attack and died from “complications of multiple penetrating blunt force traumatic injuries,” according to a coroner's report, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo County reported Tuesday. A piece of what appeared to be a shark's tooth was found on his body, the Tribune said, citing a report by a sheriff's detective that was among documents released to the paper under a public records request.

Human remains found in Illinois have been identified as Susan Lund, a pregnant Clarksville mother who went missing almost three decades ago.

Feb. 16—Last weekend, I asked my mother-in-law, Roye, for her special potato casserole recipe. This is a dish she reserves for holidays, like Christmas Eve or Easter. I thought she called it special because she makes it only for special occasions, but, no, when she sent me the recipe, the name of it is really is Special Potato Casserole, and it's from "Elegant Entertaining Cookbook" by Myra ...

Some families seem to have it all together, and others ... well, not so much.

A view of the arch at Montana de Oro State Park in California. (Flickr/Randy Robinson) Not even the magic of Christmas could save an iconic California rock formation from collapsing. On Christmas Eve, the historic rock arch along a San Luis Obispo beach in California's Montana de Oro State Park, situated about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, collapsed in on itself, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times. The rock formation's collapse has been blamed on the record-breaki

Dear Amy: My late first wife has a sister who hosts a Christmas Eve dinner. The event tends to go past 10 p.m., resulting in tired participants for our Christmas morning, as well as no Christmas Eve together for our blended family. We do not know whether to drop it or continue to express regret about this competing annual Christmas Eve event and increase the volume. – Half a Family on Christmas EveDear Half-a-Family: My response is not what you want to hear. For you to have all of your adult children with you on both Christmas Eve and the following day – is unrealistic.

Reader is trying to find a solution for annual Christmas Eve events that separate his family's attendance.

The pandemic is far from over, with the omicron variant driving cases of the virus to record levels as Americans enter a new year.

A new bakery in Mount Clemens is celebrating more than just new beginnings.

A Pennsylvania man has been charged with murder in the fatal Christmas Eve shooting of a man at a cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection will reportedly begin a more public phase of the probe in the new year. CBS News congressional reporter Zak Hudak joined CBSN with more on the progress of their investigation.

This drone video shows the streets of Itapetinga, Brazil, underwater on Dec. 27. Flooding has devastated the state of Bahia since November with at least 20 fatalities and 63,000 people displaced.

Save the Children confirmed two of its staff were among at least 35 people killed​ in a Christmas Eve attack​ in eastern Myanmar.

The Times Square ball is getting 192 new crystals this year. The crystals this year represent the gift of wisdom.

After amassing tens of thousands of troops on its shared border with Ukraine, Russia may be pulling back at least some of their forces. The unconfirmed report comes from a Russian news agency, citing Russian military sources. However, a sizable force of up to 100,000 troops remain near the border. Daniel Treisman, a professor in the political science department at UCLA, joined CBSN's Elise Preston to discuss these latest developments.

Two men are charged in the Christmas Eve crime, according to a press release. Here’s what we know.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Police have identified a woman shot and killed on Christmas Eve in Grand Rapids and say a man is charged in her death. At the time of the shooting, police took a person into custody. Police on Monday, Dec. 27 said Kent County prosecutors authorized charges against Dequan Keuonte Nelson, 33. Nelson is held at the Kent County Jail without bond. More from MLiveSpectrum Health leaders hopeful after dip in COVID-19 patient numbersMan charged with homicide after fatal Christmas Eve shooting in Upper Peninsula cabinMichigan’s homeless facing serious challenges this winter as COVID-19 threatens shelters

Vaccinated health care staff and other essential workers can return to work five days — rather than the previous 10 days — after a positive COVID-19 test if they meet certain safety standards.

Vaccinated health care staff and other essential workers can return to work five days — rather than the previous 10 days — after a positive COVID-19 test if they meet certain safety standards.

With online sales expected to hit a record, returns could reach new heights, too. CBS News correspondent Janet Shamlian got an inside look at how some e-tailers are trying to make the business of returns more sustainable.

Blockbusters returned and streaming services sustained. Here are 2021's best films as ranked by USA TODAY's Film Critic, Brian Truitt.

Oscar-nominated director and producer Jean-Marc Vallée dies; Tributes paid to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu; "Spider-Man: No Way Home" stays in the number one spot at the US box office (Dec. 27)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday paid tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, calling him "one of our nation's finest patriots", and announcing a period of national mourning. (Dec. 27)

Ways to cope and support your loved ones who are grieving around the holidays.

Here's the latest for Monday December 27th: Putin demands NATO deny membership to Ukraine; Winter storms hit West Coast; COVID spiking around NYC; Winter storms hit West Coast; Coronavirus outbreak on cruise ship.

Highlights of this day in history: Soviet Union invades Afghanistan; Charles Darwin sets out on round-the-world voyage; Radio City Music Hall opens in New York; James Barrie's play "Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" opens in London. (Dec. 27)

Here's a look at the top stories making headlines on the "CBS Weekend News with Meg Oliver."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The Holbrook family of Michigan stepped off Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas frustrated and angry after the cruise ship they were on returned to Port Everglades from its eight-night voyage. Christopher Holbrook, 49, tested positive for COVID-19 while aboard and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in his room in isolation. “It was the worst Christmas,” Holbrook said ...

The wife of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was arrested Christmas Eve on a domestic violence charge that the right-wing provocateur said stems from a “medication imbalance.”Sheriff’s deputies took Erika Wulff Jones into custody and booked her into an Austin jail around 8:45 p.m. Friday. Jail records show the 43-year-old faces misdemeanor charges of assault causing bodily injury to a family member and resisting arrest, search or transport. “It’s a private family matter that happened on Christmas Eve,” Jones told The Associated Press in a brief interview. An attorney for Wulff Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shroyer has said he’s “innocent of the charges.”Jones said his wife’s arrest “doesn’t concern my politics” and that “it wasn’t some kind of personal hateful thing or anything.”

A Pennsylvania church with a 221-year history held its final service and is scheduled to close at the end of the year because of declining membership and attendance. The First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, which is nearly as old as the borough itself, held the final scheduled service on Christmas Eve after having welcomed generations of families over the course of more than two centuries. The church was established in 1800 by the same men who founded Bellefonte in 1795 at a time when there were only 16 states and counted among its members two former Pennsylvania governors.

Like it or not, the Christmas weather scenario played out pretty much as expected.

The wife of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was arrested Christmas Eve on a domestic violence charge that the right-wing provocateur said stems from a "medication imbalance.” Sheriff's deputies took Erika Wulff Jones into custody and booked her into an Austin jail around 8:45 p.m. Friday. Alex Jones, an Austin resident and founder of the right-wing media group Infowars, declined Saturday to say whether he'd been injured or elaborate on what happened beyond that he believes it was related to his wife's recent change of medication.

Scottish singer Tom Walker has praised the piano skills of the Duchess of Cambridge after the pair recorded a Christmas tune that was shown during a carol concert.

The victim was spotted by a female surfer who was able to help him to shore. He was pronounced dead on the scene by officials.

Here are this morning's top stories.

The holiday season is being dampened by the coronavirus pandemic again this year. More than 700 U.S. flights are already canceled today and that's on top of hundreds that were called off on Christmas Eve. The holiday travel woes are the latest reminder of just how disruptive the pandemic has become. Michael George has more.

The staff is tired, the omicron variant is bearing down and the intensive care unit beds are filling fast at a hospital in the French city of Marseille.

Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson got a round of groans on Twitter this Christmas Eve for taking Santa Claus and his reindeer just a tad too literally.

This Christmas Eve, Jolly Old St. Nicholas is once again delivering gifts to children around the world in record time. Here's how to track his whereabouts.

An annual NBC tradition is airing “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve -- but there’s something you might not know.

The coroner's office has identified the 14-year-old girl who was fatally shot by Los Angeles police Thursday when officers fired on an assault suspect, and a bullet went through the wall and struck the girl as she was in a clothing store dressing room.

Amid the surge of coronavirus cases across the U.S., numerous churches have canceled in-person Christmas services.

This Christmas Eve, Jolly Old St. Nicholas is once again delivering gifts to children around the world in record time. Here's how to track his whereabouts.

The travel restrictions were imposed in late November on eight countries.

A family is seeking justice for their loved one featured in a newly released police body camera video that showed Norfolk, Virginia, police tackling a […]

From Bethlehem and Frankfurt to London and Boston, the surging coronavirus dampened Christmas Eve festivities for a second year.

The group at Apple Together has called for a walkout on Twitter. Their demands include a more respectful workplace and paid sick time.

Many major retailers and fast-food chains have announced they will be closed this Christmas Day. A few, however, will stay open for customers.

U.S. airlines have recently ramped up pressure on the CDC to loosen quarantine rules for breakthrough Covid cases.

It appears we still may have some scattered showers around Christmas morning, but then dry out in the afternoon.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Michigan Veteran Homes in Grand Rapids will accept a $30,000 donation at its upcoming Christmas Eve bingo party, officials announced Wednesday, Dec. 22. Leo and Valerie Martin, owners of the Rolling Rock Ranch in Hershey, along with Friends of Rolling Rock Ranch in Kent City, are behind the donation that will benefit and support the residents of the home, according to the press release from Michigan Veteran Homes. Don Pyles, treasurer of Friends of Rolling Rock Ranch, said this is the nonprofit’s sixth year giving to the home. Pyles and Friends of Rolling Rock Ranch Vice President Brian Bennit will present the check. “Rolling Rock Ranch and Friends of Rolling Rock Ranch have been the patriarchs of never letting our veterans feel forgotten,” said Tiffany Carr, community engagement coordinator for Michigan Veteran Homes, said in a statement.

What should you expect weather-wise if you're hitting the road ahead of the holidays? CBS New York chief weathercaster Lonnie Quinn has the forecast.

As expected, it was a breezy, chilly day Wednesday, and even with a few flurries for some festive holiday effect.

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Wednesday evening.

Mission managers will take another look at the forecast Wednesday to confirm a December 25 launch.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 I “The Bachelorette” concludes its latest season on ABC.

City of Dearborn buildings will be closed for all Christmas and New Year’s holidays, including on Dec. 23-24 and Dec. 30-31.

“Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer, and Vixen. On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen.”Children around the world are rejoicing this week after “officials from the North Pole” confirmed that Santa’s reindeer, including Rudolph of course, have been approved for their Christmas Eve flight following a health checkup from Santa’s veterinarian.

An assembly line of holiday films to make the heart sing is the Hallmark Channel's blueprint, and it works every year like mistletoe or eggnog.

Every holiday season, some of the largest department stores in Manhattan present lavish window displays to bring people together and spread joy.

Surrounded by Confederate tributes, an all-White Tennessee jury convicted Tim Gilbert.

The European Union and Britain are back to quarreling less than a year after finalizing Brexit.

An inmate serving two life sentences in Michigan has been charged in the 1985 death of a Florida teen who found dead on Christmas Eve. Police in Florida say DNA evidence recovered at the time of the murder was revaluated last year using new technology, leading to a break in the case. “A DNA profile was matched to an inmate in the Michigan corrections database,” said Jacksonville Sheriff’s Chief T.K. Investigators traveled to Michigan earlier this year to interview Austin and conduct tests to see if the DNA was a match. They will now seek to have Austin extradited to Florida to face charges there as well.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state was bringing in 2,500 out-of-state medical personnel to relieve exhausted doctors and nurses.

The Pentagon has announced it will keep a Navy aircraft carrier in the Middle East to provide protection for the more than 10,000 American and coalition troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in coming weeks.

Eight days have passed since Dion Emery was killed in a hit-and-run on Christmas Eve near the intersection of Schoolcraft and Greenfield roads. “He died by himself, He died by himself,” cried Dion’s mother, Patricia Rutland. His mother, and other family members, are all questioning why someone would hit Dion and keep on driving, on Christmas Eve of all days. If it wasn’t for a post made to a group on social media, the family would have never found out. More: Detroit crime news

UK chief trade negotiator David Frost looks on as Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement at 10 Downing Street, London Wednesday Dec. 30, 2020. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)BRUSSELS – Britain’s Parliament voted resoundingly on Wednesday to approve a trade deal with the European Union, paving the way for an orderly break with the bloc that will finally complete the U.K.’s long and divisive Brexit journey. With just a day to spare, lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 521-73 in favor of the agreement sealed between the U.K. government and the EU last week. She noted that the deal protected trade in goods but did not cover services, which account for 80% of Britain's economy. “We have a deal in trade, which benefits the EU, but not a deal in services, which would have benefitted the U.K.," May said.

Lights atop a police cruiser flash at the scene of a crime in this undated file image. ADRIAN, Mich. – Police are looking for the man responsible for a stabbing on Christmas Eve in Adrian. Police said the victim was transported to a hospital in Toledo but the other man left on foot before police could arrive. Adrian Police were assisted at the scene by the Adrian Fire Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Adrian Police Department at 517-264-4808 or via email at APDTips@adrianmi.gov.

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, Mich. – While serving a search warrant Saturday, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office located the body of a man wanted in connection with a Christmas Eve road rage shooting. ORIGINAL STORY: Washtenaw County deputies search for suspect in road rage shootingAccording to authorities, the road rage incident happened neat the intersection of Alber and Textile roads in Lodi Township at about 9:45 a.m. Deputies said the suspect fired gunshots, hitting the victim’s vehicle multiple times. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said they were able to identify a potential suspect through tips provided to authorities. Police said the deputies spent several hours attempting to make contact to serve a search warrant Saturday before discovering the 51-year-old man’s body inside the home. Anyone with information is asked to contact Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office at 734-973-7711.

DETROIT – Detroit police are asking for help locating a missing 37-year-old woman. Tiffani Knall was reported missing on Christmas Eve from the 19000 block of Hickory Street. Her mother last spoke to her on Dec. 20 at 11:20 a.m. and has not heard or seen her since then. Anyone with information should contact the Detroit Police Department’s 9th Precinct Investigative Unit at 313-596-5940 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.

DETROIT – Police are investigating a homicide that happened around 8:20 p.m. on Christmas Eve in the 15800 block of Wildemere Street in Detroit. According to police, the victim is a man in his 30s. His body was found inside an upper flat in the area with multiple gunshot wounds. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Detroit Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 313-596-2260.

I will spend Christmas at home alone because I don't have anyone to spend them with. “I don’t feel like celebrating anything,” Otero said as she sat down to eat a plate of salmon with potatoes. “We have missed one another these Christmas holidays,” Cano said. I am one of the last ones left. I will spend Christmas at home alone because I don’t have anyone to spend it with.”AP writer Joseph Wilson contributed to this report.

DETROIT – As you probably know, an annual NBC tradition is airing “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve -- and this year, more than any other year, we need that movie. There is a way cool science angle to the movie that nobody knows about: Near the beginning, remember the scene where the angels in heaven choose an angel named Clarence to head to Earth to save George Bailey? Well, there’s an ultra-cool science angle to that scene. Check out my explanation in the short video above -- it’ll make your Christmas even more special! RELATED: Best Christmas movie?

We had a record high of 64 degrees (17.5 degrees Celsius), and there was even a sailboat seen on Lake St. Clair! Tonight’s sunset is at 5:06 p.m.Christmas DayMostly cloudy skies will start our Christmas Day, and then snow showers should increase during the afternoon…particularly later in the day into Christmas night. Mostly cloudy Friday night, with lows again in the upper teens (-7 degrees Celsius). Weekend UpdateMostly cloudy on Saturday, with highs in the low 30s (0 degrees Celsius). Becoming partly cloudy Saturday night, with lows in the low 20s (-6 to -5 degrees Celsius).

Nothing is going to stop Santa Claus from coming to town. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks everything in the skies of the United States and Canada -- and that includes Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer this Christmas Eve. You can follow his journey around the globe through one of the livestreams included in this article, or by clicking here. You can call 660-557-2682 to hear a message from Santa.

Nothing is going to stop Santa Claus from coming to town. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) tracks everything in the skies of the United States and Canada -- and that includes Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer this Christmas Eve. You can follow his journey around the globe through one of the livestreams included in this article, or by clicking here. You can call 660-557-2682 to hear a message from Santa.

Christmas Day remains snowy. Snow showers return Thursday evening, to prep Santa and his sleigh for a good landing overnight. Christmas Day is a White Christmas in my book. Despite the lack of an inch of snow on the ground in many neighborhoods, snowflakes will be falling with scattered snow showers. · Track the live Michigan Weather Radar here· Track severe weather alerts here· Submit storm photos here· Find more weather forecast articles at Weather Center

In this photo provided by Maitrise Notre-Dame de Paris soprani singer Julie Fuchs and the Notre Dame Cathedral choir recording a Christmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, inside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The concert will be broadcasted on French television on Christmas. (MSNDP/Musique Sacree Notre-Dame de Paris via AP)PARIS – Wearing hard hats and protective suits, members of the choir of Notre Dame Cathedral sang inside the medieval Paris landmark for the first time since last year’s devastating fire for a special Christmas Eve concert. The public was not allowed and isn’t expected to see the insides of Notre Dame until at least 2024. The Notre Dame choir used to give 60 concerts a year inside the cathedral but has been itinerant ever since, moving among other Paris churches.

Few people were there to greet them as the coronavirus pandemic and a strict lockdown dampened Christmas Eve celebrations. The Philippines prohibited mass gatherings and barred extended families from holding traditional Christmas Eve dinners. On Christmas Eve in Italy, church bells rang earlier than usual. In Athens, Christmas Eve was eerily silent. The schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas day included Masses in English and Spanish, and a bilingual jazz vespers service.

Snow showers return Thursday evening, to prep Santa and his sleigh for a good landing overnight. Christmas Day is a White Christmas in my book. Despite the lack of an inch of snow on the ground in many neighborhoods, snowflakes will be falling with scattered snow showers. The holiday’s first day, Umoja - Community, will be partly sunny with morning snow showers. Monday has another chance of rain and snow showers.

(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)BEIJING — Authorities in China’s northeastern port city of Dalian are testing millions of residents after seven new coronavirus cases were reported there in the last 24 hours. It has a deal to secure up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine produced by AstraZeneca. Koca said the first shipment of three million doses of CoronaVac would be shipped to Turkey on Sunday and arrive Monday. He said Turkey could get 4.5 million doses until the end of March and would have the option buy up to 30 million doses. Indonesia has reported nearly 700,000 COVID-19 cases, the largest caseload in Southeast Asia and second in Asia only to India’s 10.1 million confirmed cases.

It took more than three years of wrangling before Britain left the bloc’s political structures last January. If Britain were to quit the EU with no agreement governing trade, the two sides would reinstate tariffs on each other's goods. Even with a trade deal, goods and people will no longer be able to move freely between the U.K. and its continental neighbors without border restrictions. ”“And the difference that a trade deal makes is not going to be obvious to most people from that,” he said. ___Follow all AP stories on the Brexit trade talks at https://apnews.com/Brexit

Stocks are ticking higher on Wall Street Wednesday, Dec. 23, following a mixed set of reports on the economy. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)Stocks closed slightly higher on Christmas Eve, as investors went into the holiday weekend not bothered by President Donald Trump’s threat not to sign a major economic stimulus package approved by Congress this week. Relatively safe investments like utilities and real estate were among the biggest gainers, while energy stocks fell. Trump has asked for higher individual payments to Americans, something Democrats support but which is unlikely to get a vote in the Republican-held Senate. Consumers pulled back on their spending by more last month than economists expected, mainly because of a drop in income.

Airports also recorded around 1 million travelers on each of the five days between last Friday and Tuesday. Fauci, who turned 80 on Thursday, said he and his wife would be celebrating his birthday and the holidays with their children on Zoom. It took 292 days to reach 1 million cases on Nov. 11. Nurses are exhausted, terrified of what’s next and angry at those who ignore pleas to stay home and stay safe. Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, and Shelley Adler in Fairfax, Virginia, contributed to this story.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials will not release the number of daily COVID-19 cases or deaths on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, the state announced. On Wednesday (Dec. 23), Michigan announced 3,443 new COVID-19 cases and 70 additional deaths, bringing the state totals to 469,928 cases and 11,775 deaths. The next update won’t come until Saturday (Dec. 26), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced. “We wanted to give MDHHS staff some time off during the holidays,” MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said. The same will be true after New Year’s Day, with new numbers being posted Jan. 2 and Jan. 4.

After resolving a few remaining fair-competition issues, negotiators tussled over EU fishing rights in U.K. waters as they worked right into Christmas Eve to secure a provisional deal for a post-Brexit relationship after nine months of talks. A trade deal would avert the imposition of tariffs and duties that could cost both sides billions in trade and hundreds of thousands of jobs. Johnson has always insisted the U.K. will “prosper mightily” even if no deal is reached and the U.K. has to trade with the EU on World Trade Organization terms from Jan. 1. Rumors of a pre-Christmas trade deal surfaced in recent days based on progress on the main outstanding issues, other than fishing. On Wednesday, brokering on quotas and transition times for EU vessels to continue fishing in U.K. waters was in full swing, with progress reported from several sides.

All most people wanted for Christmas after this year of pandemic was some cheer and togetherness. Instead many are heading into a season of isolation, grieving lost loved ones, worried about their jobs or confronting the fear of a new potentially more contagious virus variant. Peruvians won't be allowed to drive their cars over Christmas and New Year to discourage visits even with nearby family and friends. South Africans won’t be able to go to the beach on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. The four nations of the U.K. — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — have all ditched their original Christmas relaxation plans.

SEOUL – South Korea will prohibit private social gatherings of five or more people and shut down ski resorts and major tourist spots nationwide starting from Christmas Eve as it contends with surging coronavirus infections. The capital area has been at the center of a viral resurgence in past weeks that has overwhelmed hospitals and increased death tolls and raised questions to how the government is handling the outbreak. Forty-eight COVID-19 patients have died in the past 48 hours, the deadliest two days since the emergence of the pandemic. The viral resurgence has put pressure on the government to raise social distancing restrictions to maximum levels, something policymakers have resisted for weeks out of economic concerns. The mass outbreak in Samut Sakhon was revealed over the weekend when authorities reported more than 500 new cases, the country’s biggest single-day increase by far.

A quick shot of rain and snow remains in the forecast for the first official day of winter on Monday. More rain of snow are possible Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Afternoon highs will be near 40°F on Tuesday and near 45°F on Wednesday. Christmas Eve Thursday becomes cloudy again with rain and snow showers. Enough cold air wraps around an area of low pressure to give us snow flurries and light snow showers as Santa arrives early Christmas morning, and when families wake up on Christmas Day.

The Christmas holiday will be no different with many family gatherings either not happening or kept very small. If you’re looking for something a bit more lowkey and a lot less fussy, let these Ann Arbor eateries cook up Christmas Dinner so you don’t have to. LALA’SLaLa’s is offering a Christmas menu ranging from creamed corn to roasted vegetables and French Silk Pie. Place Christmas orders by 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve for pickup no later than 5 p.m. Here’s the menu. Plan ahead for Christmas Eve and Christmas meals!

Tomorrow will be cloudy, chilly but dry. After a bit of sunshine the middle of next week, slippery weather, including snow, returns for Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day. Monday afternoon will be mostly cloudy and chilly with light snow and rain returning. Wednesday will be the “mildest” day of Christmas week under mostly cloudy skies. · Track the live Michigan Weather Radar here· Track severe weather alerts here· Submit storm photos here· Find more weather forecast articles at Weather Center

Saturday evening will have chilly rain and snow showers in Detroit and other areas south of Eight Mile Road. A cold front brings rain and snow showers Wednesday night. Christmas Eve, Thursday, will have a chance of rain and snow showers. This will end with scattered snow showers as Santa Claus arrives Friday, Christmas Day. Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation.

Saturday afternoon will have snow showers mix with rain showers as temperatures climb. Sunset is at 5:04 p.m.Saturday evening will have chilly rain in Detroit and other areas south of 8 Mile. A cold front brings rain and snow showers Wednesday night. This will end with scattered snow showers as Santa Claus arrives, Friday, Christmas Day. · Track the live Michigan Weather Radar here· Track severe weather alerts here· Submit storm photos here· Find more weather forecast articles at Weather Center

Sunrise is at 7:58 a.m.Saturday afternoon will have snow showers mix with rain showers as temperatures climb. Saturday evening will have chilly rain in Detroit and other areas south of 8 Mile. A cold front brings rain and snow showers, Wednesday night. With a west-northwesterly wind, lake effect snow flurries or snow showers are possible Christmas Day, Thursday. · Track the live Michigan Weather Radar here· Track severe weather alerts here· Submit storm photos here· Find more weather forecast articles at Weather Center

ANN ARBOR – University of Michigan student and music volunteer at Arbor Hospice, Sherwin Navaz, will be performing a virtual piano concert on Christmas Eve at 7 p.m. “As an Arbor Hospice music volunteer, Navaz brings comfort and peace to patients with serious and terminal illnesses,” read a news release. “Often, the sounds of his piano stir emotions and memories that otherwise feel like a lifetime away.”U-M student Sherwin Navaz will be putting on a free virtual concert on Christmas Eve. Viewers on Christmas Eve can expect to hear a diverse selection of music, from Beethoven to Chopin and The Sound of Music to The Beatles. To learn more about Arbor Hospice, visit www.arborhospice.org.

The best Christmas gift my wife ever gave me is so far and above anything else it’s a no-brainer. I’d always wanted one because, like any dude, I think I take photos worthy of Esquire or Sports Illustrated. So Christmas morning comes and we’re at my in-laws house. My mother-in-law is maybe trying to distract me with offers of leftover sausage and peppers from Christmas Eve. But, I know his reaction to my reaction was a perplexed, “it’s a chair.”Anyway.

ANN ARBOR – The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority announced it will not operate its services on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, 2021 in observance of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Fixed-route bus service will end early on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31). The shared-ride FlexRide Holiday Service is $5 per person on holidays and operates within designated areas of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Reservations can be made Monday through Friday and stop at 5:15 a.m. or 5 a.m. for trips outside of Ann Arbor. On Saturday and Sunday, reservations can be made until 6:15 a.m. or 6 a.m. for trips outside of Ann Arbor.

NEW YORK – Christmas is still a few weeks away, but Mariah Carey is already orchestrating her dinner menu. 1 hits really going to sweat over a hot stove? “Magical Christmas Special” is another example of diverse, family-friendly holiday programming that hasn’t always been allotted by Hollywood. “As a kid, if I had to select one holiday, of course I’m going with Christmas. And while the pandemic has halted a number of projects, 2020 has been busy for Carey: In September she released her candid memoir “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” which debuted at No.