Daily Briefing: The longest-living former president
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States who dedicated much of his life to humanitarian causes, died in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, his family announced Sunday. South Korea begins a period of national mourning following a deadly plane crash. Americans are nauseated as an outbreak of the stomach flu hits the country.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. It's almost the end of the year. Take a look at Paste BN's favorite 2024 stories from all corners of America.
America readies to grieve former President Jimmy Carter
Family members of former President Jimmy Carter are preparing for a memorial journey from Plains, Georgia, to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., before returning for burial in his home in south Georgia. In a statement honoring Carter, President Joe Biden said he'd order an official state funeral in the nation's capital. Carter's burial site in Plains will be part of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. Read more about viewing arrangements and planning underway.
If you'd like to express your support: Members of the public are also encouraged to visit the official Jimmy Carter tribute website, which includes an online condolence book and other materials commemorating the former president's life.
A period of national mourning grips South Korea
President Joe Biden said Sunday he and first lady Jill Biden were “deeply saddened” by the commercial plane crash in South Korea that killed 179 people. The flight, operated by Jeju Air, was en route from Bangkok Sunday morning when it veered off a runway and crashed into a wall at the Muan International Airport in South Korea, the country’s Transport Ministry said. South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok, in an emergency meeting on Sunday evening, declared a national mourning period until Jan. 4. Read more
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If you're bedridden with a bad stomach this morning, you're not alone
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported double the cases of norovirus compared to previous years in early December after outbreaks were reported across the country. Norovirus is more commonly known as the stomach flu, and is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from inflammation of the stomach and intestines, or gastroenteritis, according to the CDC. What are norovirus symptoms and when do they appear?
Raw food for pets is all the rage. But it could kill them.
Well-heeled pet owners nationwide are taking up the fad of feeding pets on raw foods. The trend is growing in the United States, fueled by claims of health benefits, but experts warn raw pet food can potentially contain diseases. In recent weeks, at least three house cats died after eating raw foods contaminated with bird flu: one in Oregon fed raw turkey and two in California given raw milk. Companies tout benefits of raw pet food — here's how to be skeptical of what they're saying.
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Small business distress has suddenly turned to optimism
Since President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, small business’ confidence has soared along with their intentions to ramp up hiring and investment, surveys show. If the blueprints come to fruition, it could bolster a U.S. economy that faces headwinds from Trump’s plans to impose sweeping tariffs on imports and deport millions of immigrants lacking permanent legal status. However, economists expect Trump’s plans for new tariffs and an immigration crackdown to boost labor costs and reignite inflation. The details of those policies are unclear — so business owners haven’t been rattled by them.
Photo of the day: A tribute lights up the sky
The Empire State Building was illuminated in red, white and blue in honor of former President Jimmy Carter in New York City on Sunday night.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.