Christmas smiles

Nance Elementary student Tezla Barron takes a break from writing her letter to Santa Claus of what she hopes to receive for Christmas to smile for a photo.

NEW YORK (AP) — The promise of selfcheckout was alluring: Customers could avoid long lines by scanning and bagging their own items, workers could be freed of doing those monotonous tasks themselves and retailers could save on labor costs.

(AP) – U.S. authorities temporarily shut down two railroad border crossings in Texas on Monday to shift officers to helping process migrants, drawing warnings from rail operators that the temporary closures would hamper trade ahead of Christmas.

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced Monday, a radical shift in policy that aimed at making the church more inclusive while maintaining its strict ban on gay marriage.

(AP) – U.S. food inspectors found “extremely high” levels of lead in cinnamon at a plant in Ecuador that made applesauce pouches tainted with the metal, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday.

Jalopies of the Mother Road

From left, Sergio Chiqueto, of Brazil, Enyerber Rincon, of Venezuela, and Bruno De Franca, of Brazil, view an exhibit of an old automobile recently at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum.

In 1803, the territory covered by the Louisiana Purchase was formally transferred to the United States from France.

(AP) – The U.S. Justice Department has created a database to track records of misconduct by federal law enforcement officers. The database works to prevent agencies from unknowingly hiring problem officers. Announced on Monday, the federal move is a step toward accountability amid growing calls to close loopholes that allow law enforcement officers to be rehired by other agencies after losing their jobs or resigning after misconduct allegations. Attorney General Merrick Garland says it will give federal agencies “an important new tool for vetting and hiring officers and agents that will help strengthen our efforts” to build and retain the public’s trust.

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