5 things you need to know Thursday
Congress is back and picking its new (old) leaders
A more conservative Congress will convene in January as Republicans take control, and Democrats and Republicans are voting Thursday to pick their new party leaders. No big shake-ups are expected, but the talk will certainly be about Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is in line to get the big promotion he's been wanting for 30 years. Despite suffering the loss of eight seats, outgoing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is seeking re-election as minority leader. In the House, Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi are expected to keep their slots.
MLB picks its MVP ... and we promise no more acronyms
As a season's worth of strikeouts, home runs and royally disappointing World Series losses comes to a close, Major League Baseball prepares to pick its most valuable players on Thursday. After a week of awards, including both manager and rookie of the year, the league's most sought-after prize will given at 6 p.m. ET to a player from both the American and National leagues.
Will famed London Mayor Boris Johnson ever go for prime minister?
Americans may not immediately recognize Johnson's name or background, but abroad, he is known for antics that sometimes upstage his public appearances, like tripping a child during a soccer game. Paste BN's Kim Hjelmgaard sat down with him to discuss his latest book on Winston Churchill. Johnson's response when asked about his political future: "Can I take the Fifth on this one?"
Arctic chills continue toward the East Coast
An unrelenting wall of Arctic air continues its march toward the South and East after as much as 3 feet of record-breaking snow buried portions of the upper Midwest. The East Coast is expected to be hit by Thursday morning, seeing cooler temperatures, but it may be spared from the dramatic lows in the middle of the country.
Alibaba's boutique shop 11 Main opens doors on mobile
Already an e-commerce giant in China, Alibaba is stepping up its first major marketplace play in the USA with new mobile apps to woo shoppers on the go. After today's mobile app launch, all the goods in the site's virtual Main Street-style market – from $28 candles to $800,000 wristwatches – can be bought on smartphones and other devices not only in the USA, but also in China.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Weather more typical of January will be the main story for much of the country on Thursday, with frigid temperatures and snow outbreaks from coast to coast.
Stocks: Stock futures made strong gains Thursday in pre-market trading.
TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Mom, Gracepoint and Elementary.
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