5 things you need to know Friday
The Interview goes wide (or at least wider)
Despite its controversial release, The Interview eventually hit a limited number of U.S. theaters on Christmas Day. Now, it continues to spread. Dish Network recently announced it will make the assassination farce available as a pay-per-view item on Friday, the same day it opens in 27 theaters in various cities in Canada. The Seth Rogen-James Franco flick allegedly sparked a major hack attack by North Korea on Sony Pictures, which in turn revealed internal Sony emails that led to major embarrassment for several of the studio's head honchos.
The search for AirAsia details continues
Investigators from the French BEA, which stands for Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses and is like the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, visit the AirAsia Flight 8501 search area on Friday. They bring hydrophones in the hopes of locating voice and data recorders which should still be pinging (their batteries are certified to last 30 days in the water).
New year brings some new laws
You've had restful New Year's Day and now it's time to get back to reality. And that includes a host of new laws which came into effect Jan. 1, though their effects really aren't felt until Friday. For instance, with drivers' centers closed yesterday, today is the first day an undocumented immigrant in California can apply for a driver's license. Other laws now prohibit New Yorkers from putting old electronics in the trash and Illinois employers from asking about an applicant's criminal history until they are interviewed or have a job offer.
A-hunting they will go...despite lawsuits
The Predator Hunting Contest and Fur Rendezvous, a hunting derby in remote Idaho that awards $1,000 each for whoever kills the most wolves and coyotes, starts at sunrise Friday. Hunters can also make up to $600 for a black wolf pelt. "People love the black ones," says contest organizer Steve Alder. "And the pure white. If you can find a big white pelt, that's beautiful. That's worth quite a bit." The hunt has been fought by environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.
The first day of trading after the holiday – and experts peek at what's to come
The markets re-open today after a New Year's break for the first day of trading in 2015. Wall Street analysts are expecting more gains in 2015 for the economy and U.S. stocks, despite continued threats from weak global growth, an aging bull and expectations for interest rate hikes from the Fed.
And the essentials:
Weather: The national weather forecast for Friday, January 2nd calls for chilly and dry in the West, snow showers in the Southern Rockies and rain showers in the Southeast.
Stocks: Investors drove stock futures higher ahead of the first day of regular trading in 2015, signaling a happy beginning to 2015.
Need a break? Try playing some games.
You can also subscribe to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox or find us on the Yo! app: justyo.co/usatoday.
Contributing: Adam Shell; Associated Press