5 things you need to know this weekend
Mock mass shooting set near University of Texas
A gun rights group will hold a mock mass shooting and march in support of open carry near the University of Texas-Austin on Saturday. The demonstrators, who go by Come And Take It Texas, say on their Facebook page that their Life and Liberty Walk to End Gun-Free Zones aims to combat President Obama's "gun-confiscation agenda" and is designed to show how the outcome of a shooting rampage can be altered if people are armed. The demonstrators will carry cardboard cutout guns and use sound effects that can't be confused with actual gunfire, the group's leader said.
Two Duggars return to TLC
Two former stars of TLC's now-canceled 19 Kids and Counting, sisters Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald (both formerly Duggar), will return to their old network on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.Jill and Jessa: Counting On, a three-part special, will follow Jill's move to Central America to do missionary work with her husband, Derick, and Jessa's first pregnancy. The network spent the better half of 2015 mulling how to continue its relationship with the famous Christian family after canceling 19 Kids and Counting in July following news that the Duggars' eldest son, Josh, molested his sisters, including Jill and Jessa, along with three other underage girls, when he was a teen.
And the 81st Heisman trophy goes to …
The 81st Heisman trophy winner will be named Saturday in New York City. The race has come down to University of Alabama running back Derrick Henry, Stanford University running back Christian McCaffrey and Clemson University quarterback Deshaun Watson. If either Henry or McCaffrey takes the trophy, it will be the first time a running back has won since 2009. For more, check out Paste BN's Football Four podcast that breaks down the finalists.
Geminids meteor shower expected to dazzle
Astronomers predict the Geminids meteor shower, which starts late Sunday night and will continue into Monday morning, will be the year's best. The Geminid shower is famous for producing more meteors per hour than other showers and for so-called fireballs, which are meteors brighter than magnitude -4, the same level of brightness as the planet Venus. An early-setting crescent moon on Sunday will make the viewing experience of these notoriously bright and fast meteors even better.
High stakes in France elections
The stakes in France's second round of regional leadership council elections on Sunday have mainstream politicians on the right and left on edge. Marion Maréchal Le Pen and Marine Le Pen, a niece-aunt duo who represent the far-right National Front Party, are poised to upend France's current political landscape if elected president of their respective regions. Last Sunday, their party gained nearly 30% of the vote and took the lead in six out of 13 regions. The party's policies include protectionism for French-made products, a tough law-and-order stance and opposition to immigration.
The weekend essentials:
Giving those eyes of yours a weekend break? Listen to the top stories:
Which films are worth your popcorn? Here are some suggested new movies for the weekend.
Rather watch the small screen? TV critic Robert Bianco knows what to watch.
Ready for some football? Here Paste BN Sports' picks for Week 14 of the NFL.
Need a break? Try playing some of our games.