5 things you need to know Thursday
House to vote on wide-ranging tax bill
The House is expected to vote Thursday on a controversial tax bill as a first step toward passing a long-term spending bill for federal agencies and avoiding a government shutdown. The 233-page Republican-backed bill will extend dozens of expiring tax breaks worth hundreds of billions of dollars to corporations and individuals. Congressional leaders on Wednesday unveiled a massive $1.1 trillion federal spending package that will keep government funded through September. The House is expected to vote on the tax legislation Thursday and the spending bill Friday; the Senate would then take up the bills together.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces class of 2016
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2016 inductees Thursday. N.W.A is joining the 31st class of the Rock Hall. The legendary hip-hop group will be inducted alongside Cheap Trick, Chicago, Steve Miller and Deep Purple. Inductees are determined by more than 800 artists, historians and music-industry professionals, and artists become eligible 25 years after their first single or album (1990, for the newest crop of nominees). The induction ceremony will be in April.
Obama appears on 'Running Wild with Bear Grylls'
President Obama is about to get a little wild: He'll appear Thursday on a special episode of the NBC outdoor adventure show Running Wild with Bear Grylls. In the episode, the president and the host will be trekking through the Alaskan wilderness — and eating (really) wild salmon — in an effort to highlight the effects of climate change in that area. The show was taped in September during Obama's scheduled hike to Exit Glacier in Seward, Alaska.
Deadline looms (again) to sign up for Obamacare
Heads up, procrastinators: Thursday really is the deadline to sign up for health insurance on the federal Healthcare.gov site. Federal officials late Tuesday extended the sign-up deadline on the website until 11:59 p.m. Thursday due to "unprecedented demand." Thursday is the deadline for new customers to sign up for plans that will take effect Jan. 1 and for existing customers to to make changes to coverage so they'll take effect Jan. 1. People without health insurance after Jan. 31 — the final deadline to sign up for 2016 — risk fines when they file their 2016 taxes.
Rams take the field in St. Louis for what could be final time
There's a chance the city of St. Louis may be saying goodbye to its football franchise when the Rams play their home finale Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With just four winning seasons and two Super Bowl appearances to their name after 21 years in The Lou, the Rams under owner Stan Kroenke are weighing a move to Southern California, where the team was based from 1946 to 1994. If the past is any indication, the game will be lightly attended by the once-fervent fan base.
Bonus item: It's a big, BIG night on The Big Bang Theory: Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) have sex for the first time (CBS, 8 p.m. ET).
On the go? Listen to the audio version of 5 Things in the player below:
And, the essentials:
Weather: The nation's two weather trouble spots Thursday will be the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest.
Stocks: Asia markets advanced; U.S. stock futures were flat.
TV tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at The Big Bang Theory, the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball and Luther.
If you missed Wednesday's news, we've got you covered.
Need a break? Try playing some of our games.
You can also subscribe to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox.