TOP HEADLINES provided by UPI©

• Supreme Court agrees to hear 3 cases on President Donald Trump's financial records
  The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear three cases involving investigations seeking President Donald Trump's financial and tax records.
• Democrats threaten to skip LA debate over union dispute
  Several Democratic candidates for president threatened Friday to skip next week's debate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in response to a union dispute at the school.
• NYC police arrest 13-year-old in stabbing death of college student Tessa Majors
  New York City police arrested a 13-year-old suspect in the stabbing death of an 18-year-old college student in a park the day before, law enforcement officials said Friday.
• In photos: Highlights from the week of December 9, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
  The House judiciary committee approved two charges to impeach President Donald Trump; the president of Paraguay visited the White House; and the Department of Justice released a report on the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election among the highlights for the week of December 9, 2019, in Washington, D.C.
• 2 dead in blaze aboard Admiral Kuznetsov in Russia
  Firefighters extinguished a fire aboard Russia's only aircraft carrier Friday and officials confirmed two people died in the blaze.
• Court appeal filed to reconsider net neutrality
  Internet companies and advocacy groups, led by Mozilla, filed a court appeal Friday to rehear a decision on repealing net neutrality rules.
• Wintry storm to unleash snow, ice, rain over 2,000-mile stretch of U.S.
  A parade of storms is expected to sweep across the country throughout the middle of the month, and the next one in line threatens to deliver a dose of wintry weather to tens of millions of Americans.
• Judge rejects delay in lawsuit against AG William Barr, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross
  A federal judge rejected Friday a request to delay a lawsuit against Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross over defiance of congressional subpoenas.
• FBI searching for white van linked to Jersey City kosher grocery store shooting
  The FBI is searching for a white van believed to be linked to this week's shooting at a kosher grocery story in Jersey City, N.J., law enforcement officials said Friday.
• Pew Research Center: U.S. has more children in single-parent homes than any nation
  The United States has more children living in single-parent households than any other country in the world, according to new research -- slightly more than Britain.
• Ford recalls 547,000 Super Duty pickup trucks over carpet fire threat
  Ford announced a recall Friday that involves more than a half-million of its Super Duty pickup trucks, due to the possibility the interior carpet could catch fire during a crash.
• Sandy Hook suit against gunmaker Remington set for trial in 2021
  A Connecticut judge has scheduled a trial date for a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the assault rifle used to kill 20 young children in the Sandy Hook school shooting seven years ago.
• Ride-share giant Lyft enters U.S. rental car market in 3 cities
  Ride-sharing giant Lyft has crossed into the car rental market, and will directly compete with industry staples like Hertz and Avis.
• U.S., China agree to 'phase one' preliminary trade deal
  Seventeen months and a long list of punitive tariffs after the U.S.-China trade conflict began, negotiators announced Friday they have agreed to "phase one" of an agreement that would provide limited relief, if approved.
• U.S. retail sales for November short of expectations
  Retail sales in the United States rose only slightly in November in somewhat of a disappointing start to the holiday season, the Commerce Department said in its monthly report Friday.
• House judiciary committee votes to impeach Trump on two charges
  The House judiciary committee voted along party lines Friday to approve two articles of impeachment, charging President Donald Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
• LAPD officer charged for fondling body of dead woman
  Prosecutors have charged a Los Angeles police officer accused of fondling the body of a dead woman.
• Inspector General: Top Pentagon official sexually harassed 3 female staffers
  A top Defense Department official sexually harassed three women on his staff and resigned from his position amid an investigation into the allegations against him, according to the department's internal watchdog.
• Judge rules American Samoans are U.S. citizens under the Constitution
  A federal judge ruled Thursday that American Samoans in Utah are U.S. citizens under the constitution and should be issued new passports that say so.
• Kentucky restores voting rights for felons who have completed their sentences
  Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order restoring voting rights to more than 140,000 convicted felons who have served their sentences.
• Jersey City shooting to be investigated as domestic terror
  The FBI is investigating a shooting at a Jewish store that left six people dead as domestic terrorism, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced Thursday.
• Impeachment: House panel strikes down Republican amendments
  The House judiciary committee on Thursday voted against four Republican amendments to the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
• Democrats schedule debates in early primary, caucus states
  Democratic presidential candidates will participate in four debates in early primary and caucus states in the new year to gear up voters as they prepare to head to the polls, the party announced Thursday.
• FCC unanimously approves 988 as new U.S. suicide prevention hotline number
  The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday agreed to move forward with plans to adopt a three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
• Houston-area police arrest man accused of fatally striking officer with vehicle
  Law enforcement officials on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old man accused of killing a police sergeant near Houston after a two-day manhunt.
• Congressional appropriators reach budget deal as funding deadline looms
  Top Congressional appropriators reached a $1.37 trillion agreement on 12 spending bills as a deadline for federal funding looms closer.

CBS©

• Man accused of slapping reporter's bottom is charged
  Tommy Callaway, 43, has since posted bond, authorities said.
• Body found of 6-year-old girl swept away in floodwaters
  The bodies of two other children, Willa's 5-year-old brother Colby and a cousin, 5-year-old Austin, were found on November 30.
• New film calls for action on global plastic crisis
  A new film, "The Story of Plastic," details the growing global plastic crisis and calls for accountability. The director of the film, Deia Schlosberg, joined CBSN to discuss.
• 2 children dead after being swept away in Arizona floodwaters
  The bodies of two children were found about three miles from the crash scene.
• Convicted killers and child rapist pardoned by former Kentucky governor
  In his final days in office, former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin issued more than 600 pardons and commutations. Many were to people convicted off heinous crimes. Ed O'Keefe reports.
• 12/13: CBS Evening News
  Articles of impeachment head to a full House vote; Couple donates restored musical instruments to students
• 12/13/19: CBSN Evening News
  SC to hear plea to block subpoenas for records; A place busier than Santa's workshop
• Articles of impeachment head to a full House vote
  Two articles of impeachment against President Trump are heading for a vote in the full House. The Judiciary Committee cleared the way with a vote after a marathon debate. Nancy Cordes reports.
• The Judiciary Committee voted to impeach. Here's what happens next
  Here are the highlights, analysis and a look ahead after a historic week in the nation's capital.
• Julie Ertz named U.S. Soccer women's player of the year
  "It's emotional to be recognized in this way and it's a cherry on top of a beautiful 2019," she said.
• Baby Yoda: Why you can't get a toy for the holidays
  Official Baby Yoda toys won't be available until next spring, because Disney wanted to keep the character under wraps.
• Megan Rapinoe endorses Elizabeth Warren
  "I've been following very closely ... what your campaign has been doing. And I just think it's amazing," she said.
• CBS News Eye on Trends: The latest from the CBS News Election & Survey Unit
  A recap of latest polls and data-driven studies from the CBS News Election & Survey Unit
• Second person questioned in death of Barnard College student
  A 13-year-old boy is being charged in the death of college student Tessa Majors in New York City. Now, another person is being questioned. Errol Barnett reports.
• Couple gives away hundreds of restored instruments
  Charlie and Dorothy Hale are in their 80s but are still passionate about restoring old instruments to their former glory.
• Convicted killers pardoned by outgoing Kentucky governor
  Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin issued a pardon to a convicted killer whose brother raised money for his campaign. Bevin pardoned 400 individuals after losing his reelection bid on November 5.
• 2020 Daily Trail Markers: Dems react to Boris Johnson's big UK win
  New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg called it "a sort of catastrophic warning to the Democratic party."
• New Orleans city government falls victim to cyber attack
  The city's mayor has declared a state of emergency.
• Democratic candidates vie for endorsements in California
  Doug Sovern, political reporter for KCBS Radio, joined "Red and Blue: for a closer look at how the Democratic primary race is shaping up in California.
• Pete Buttigieg says he's "got a lot more work to do to earn" the trust of black voters
  Thursday is the final day for Democratic presidential candidates to qualify for the next debate, which is one week from today in Los Angeles. So far only seven candidates have done so, including Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is surging in recent polling. In Iowa, he's in a tight race with the top candidates, and a poll in New Hampshire has him leading. Buttigieg joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the impeachment hearings, what his record shows in helping minority communities, and how he plans to tackle the student debt crisis. Editor's note: We have updated this video to replace an incorrect graphic in the original.
• Feds bust illegal streaming site bigger than Netflix
  Site called iStreamItAll offered access to a vast trove of pirated movies and TV shows, ripping off copyright owners.
• Can't find a black Santa? There's an app
  A Texas mom wanted her twin sons to see a jolly St. Nick they could relate to, so she developed a way to locate one.
• 13-year-old faces murder charges in death of NYC student
  The Barnard freshman was stabbed to death in Morningside Park, next door to Columbia University.
• How redistricting is shaking up North Carolina politics
  Last week a panel of judges ruled North Carolina's new congressional maps will stand for the 2020 election, after the old ones were found to be the result of partisan gerrymandering. Nick Ochsner, investigative executive producer at WBTV, spoke to CBSN's Reena Ninan about the implications the change will have on politics in the Tar Heel state.
• Americans who know of 737 Max don't want to fly on plane
  Half the public does't know of the craft involved in two deadly crashes; those who do think it's not safe, poll says.
• Hackers target home cameras: "I'm coming for your baby"
  Amazon's Ring service says "malicious actors" have obtained some user passwords and gained access to their accounts.
• Wall Street says "meh" to Trump's "massive" China deal
  U.S. stocks barely budged Friday after President Trump announced a trade deal with China but offered few details.
• Cigna to use AI to track patients' medication intake
  More than a third of patients with diabetes don't take their drugs as prescribed, sometimes because of cost concerns.
• How Pete Buttigieg plans to earn the trust of black voters
  While new polls​ have Buttigieg leading the field in New Hampshire and in a tight race with the top candidates in Iowa, he has polled low among black voters
• "Do the Right Thing" actor Danny Aiello has died at age 86
  Danny Aiello's long career playing tough guys included his Oscar-nominated performance as a pizza man in Spike Lee's film.
• Trump says first phase of trade deal reached with China
  The White House made the announcement days before tariffs would have gone into effect on December 15
• NFL team cuts player after he tweeted "offensive" word
  Jenkins later defended his use of the word, saying it was an acceptable language where he grew up.
• 2020 candidates vow to boycott next debate to support union protests
  Elizabeth Warren was the first to make this pledge, and everyone else followed.
• This week on "Sunday Morning" (December 15)
  A look at the features for this week's broadcast of the #1 Sunday morning news program
• Boy with cerebral palsy joins favorite basketball team
  "They cheer for him and make him feel like he's 1,200 feet tall. Like he's a giant," his mother said.
• Liability of cruise lines in question after deadly volcanic eruption
  Royal Caribbean told CBS News it is now "suspending tours of active volcanoes."
• Five life philosophies from Norman Lear
  Norman Lear keeps it "all in the family" as he shares his tips on aging gracefully on the "CBS This Morning" podcast
• Kehinde Wiley: The art of a presidential portrait
  Kehinde Wiley, known for his painting of President Obama against a wall of flora, tells "CBS This Morning" co-host Anthony Mason about the art of creating a presidential portrait and the process with the Obamas.
• As impeachment vote nears, Dems and GOP use opposite approaches
  The House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach the president on Friday, sending the decision to the full House.
• New York Times: Online games, chats becoming "hunting ground" for child abuse
  A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate are proposing new legislation aimed at protecting children from online sexual abuse. The move follows a recent report from The New York Times showing a record 45 million online photos and videos of abuse just in the last year. Michael Keller, a reporter and developer covering technology on the investigative team at The Times, joined CBSN to discuss what the report found.
• Blue Bottle Coffee to be zero-waste by end of 2020
  "We know some of our guests won't like it—and we're prepared for that," the company's CEO said in the announcement.
• Jersey City victim "heroically" helped customer escape
  Douglas Miguel Rodríguez, 49, was shot by the attackers but still managed to help a customer escape out the back door.
• The 7 candidates who qualified for the December debate
  The next 2020 debate takes place December 19 and with a smaller group.
• This week on "Face the Nation," December 15, 2019
  Senators Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin join us this Sunday on "Face the Nation"
• Fishermen rescue bald eagle trapped in octopus' tentacles
  Fishermen in Canada broke up the potentially deadly battle between the two animals.
• Michael Vick to serve as NFL Pro Bowl captain despite petition
  In 2007, Vick served a year and a half in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring.
• Man from refugee camp develops video game in search of peace
  Lual Mayen, now 25, escaped northern Uganda and developed Salaam, a game that focuses on survival and fleeing violence.
• Barnard College students shocked by Tessa Majors murder: "It could have been anyone"
  New York City police are stepping up patrols near an Ivy League university after the brutal stabbing death of a student. Tessa Majors, 18, was in her first year at Barnard, the women’s college affiliated with Columbia University. Majors was murdered Wednesday in a public park next door to Columbia’s campus. The rattle community held a vigil there Thursday night. Errol Barnett reports.
• House Judiciary Committee approves impeachment and sends to House
  Committee approves charges of abuse of power and obstruction against Trump, making it almost certain he will become third U.S. president in history to be impeached
• Notable deaths in 2019
  A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity

BBC America©

• Key committee passes Trump impeachment charges
  Impeachment moves closer as the charges head for a House of Representatives vote.
• Quadriga: Lawyers for users of bankrupt crypto firm seek exhumation of founder
  Lawyers for Quadriga users say there are "questionable circumstances" behind Gerald Cotten's death.
• Trump halts new tariffs in US China trade war
  The so-called phase one deal will see billions of dollars in tariffs removed or delayed.
• US governor issues 428 pardons during final days in office
  Governor Matt Bevin's pardons included a convicted murderer, whose brother donated to his campaign.
• Octopus and eagle square off at Canadian fish farm
  The duelling animals were found floating in the waters off Quatsino, British Columbia.
• Danny Aiello, Do The Right Thing actor, dies at 86
  The veteran actor, best known as Sal in Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, dies after a short illness.
• Three-digit suicide prevention hotline - 988 - given green light in US
  When operational, the 988 number will replace a 12-digit hotline, making it easier to get help.
• Why women are fighting back against hair oppression
  New legalisation to protect natural hair has brought national attention to this form of discrimination.
• The place where dead eagles are given a new life
  Colorado's National Eagle Repository is the only one of its kind in the world.
• British Columbia man appears to steal Christmas tree
  Surveillance footage shows police in Chilliwack, British Columbia, apprehending the suspect.
• Full university scholarships offered to video gamers in Pennsylvania
  The new game on US university campuses is behind computer screens as esports gets major investment.
• Why this cattle farmer moves his cows every day
  Methane emissions from cattle contribute to climate change - but Will Harris says he has a solution.
• Merriam-Webster: Non-binary pronoun 'they' is word of year
  The dictionary said searches for the non-binary pronoun on its website increased by 313% this year.
• 'Our parents ran a secret gay porn empire'
  Karen and Barry Mason ran a successful gay porn business but tried to hide it from their children.
• US reporter's guilt over live TV backside slap
  Alex Bozarjian said her "power" was taken after a man hit her backside while reporting in Georgia.
• George Laurer, co-inventor of the barcode, dies at 94
  The US engineer helped to perfect the technology to read barcodes, which revolutionised retail.
• Do apostrophes still matter?
  The end of the Apostrophe Society has sparked debate over the modern state of grammar.
• OPINION: Evidence for impeachment thin
  The charges unveiled by Democrats suggest haste being put before justice, says legal expert Jonathan Turley.
• WATCH: 'The president is not above the law'
  Democrat Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler announces the two articles of impeachment.
• EXPLAINER: A beginner's guide to impeachment
  Three BBC reporters break down the key points as the impeachment inquiry goes public.
• THE DEBATE: Legal case for and against impeachment
  Experts are debating what the Constitution says about impeachment, in light of the inquiry into President Trump.
• Chicago government van de-icing the road slides into lake
  The Chicago local government vehicle was de-icing the road when it lost control.
• ‘How texts to my dead brother brought us together’
  A Minneapolis woman started messaging her brother's old phone but she didn't expect what happened next.
• Jersey City shootings: Sounds of gunfire fill streets
  Police confirm a Jewish supermarket was the target of a gun attack which left six people dead on Tuesday.
• Chilled jogger calmly dodges avalanche in Canada
  Watch how Bryon Howard reacts as a huge wall of snow heads towards him on a run in Lake Louise, Alberta.
• Stockton's universal basic income scheme
  Stockton in California is providing poor residents with a universal basic income, but could it work nationally?
• Joe Biden's campaign trail across Iowa
  The Democrat candidate and former vice-president has been travelling across Iowa to rally support.
• David Datuna: Artist eats $120,000 banana art at gallery
  Performance artist David Datuna caused a stir at Art Basel in Miami after he ate the banana used in an art work by Maurizio Cattelan.
• How US law professors teach impeachment
  We visit a constitution law class a few miles from where the US president faces an impeachment inquiry.

NPR©

• American Samoans' Citizenship Status Still In Limbo After Judge Issues Stay
  After ruling on Thursday that anyone born in American Samoa should be recognized as a U.S. citizen, the same judge on Friday decided to put the order on hold until the issue is resolved on appeal.
• This Grieving Family Wants The U.S. To Designate Mexican Cartels As Terrorists
  Relatives of nine American women and children who were brutally killed in Mexico last month were in Washington this week to tell their story. They want the U.S. to go after drug cartels.
• How Boise's Fight Over Homelessness Is Rippling Across The West Coast
  Cities in the West that are dealing with an explosion of homelessness are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that limits camping bans in public parks and right of ways.
• Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Trump Subpoena Cases
  The decision sets the stage for a battle over whether a president can defy congressional and grand jury subpoena power.
• Algeria Elects A New President In Controversial Election
  Amid huge protests and a boycott, five candidates with links to the Bouteflika regime squared off and former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune came out ahead.
• 7 Democrats Qualify For December Primary Debate
  Democrats had one of the most diverse fields of candidates ever to run for president, but that won't be fully represented onstage this month.
• All 7 Democratic Candidates Scheduled To Debate Threaten To Skip Over Labor Dispute
  Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and others say they won't attend next week's debate at Loyola Marymount University unless a subcontractor negotiates with striking culinary workers.
• FCC Approves Plan For 3-Digit Suicide Prevention Number Similar To 911
  The Federal Communications Commission unanimously OK'd the proposal, which would allow callers in crisis to reach a national mental health support network simply by dialing 988.
• On His Way Out, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin Pardons Murderers, Rapists, Hundreds More
  In one case that has drawn particular attention, he pardoned a murderer whose family raised big money to pay off Bevin's campaign debt.
• The U.S. Concealed Carry Association Woos NRA Members With A Focus On Family
  The U.S. Concealed Carry Association is trying to reach 1 million members by using a different message from that of the NRA. Instead of "from my cold, dead hands," USCCA uses "protect the family."
• U.S.-China Trade Deal Phase 1 Is Here; December Tariffs Are Scrapped
  China says the deal would cover intellectual property protections and currency manipulation, but no details have been released.
• In Sri Lanka, China's Building Spree Is Raising Questions About Sovereignty
  A Chinese state-owned operator took control of a port on a 99-year lease after Sri Lanka defaulted on its loans. An adviser to Sri Lanka's president said the government wants China to "give it back."
• House Judiciary Committee Approves 2 Articles Of Impeachment Against Trump
  After an abrupt end to a contentious day of debate, the panel reconvened Friday morning to pass the articles on party-line votes. The full House of Representatives is expected to vote next week.
• Giuliani: The Lawyer At The Center Of The Ukraine Affair, And The Path That Led There
  A look back at the career of a central figure in the Ukraine affair: Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
• A Father's Advice: The Choice To Start A Family Is 'An Act Of Hope'
  Jessica Kibblewhite wonders whether it makes sense to bring a child into a world that seems broken and scary. At StoryCorps, her dad helps her find clarity with advice about humanity.

CNN©

• The ex-concierge who killed these Boston doctors gets life in prison
• Jersey City attack survivor came face-to-face with shooter, reports say
  When two shooters opened fire on a kosher supermarket in Jersey City on Tuesday, one person was able to escape.
• Crews have finished removing 320,000 gallons of oil and water from overturned cargo ship
  Crews have completed removing fuel from the Golden Ray, a cargo ship that has been overturned in St. Simons Sound off Georgia since early September, the St. Simons Sound Unified Command said Thursday.
• Police release 911 calls from shootout with men who stole UPS truck
  After a police chase in Florida ended in a shooting at a crowded intersection last week, leaving four people dead, authorities released audio of several 911 phone calls that depict the chaos and fear prevalent among the bystanders.
• Analysis: Impeachment hearing proves to be more surreal than somber
  The House Judiciary Committee, on a sprint to approve articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump as early as Thursday, is a perfect metaphor for America's estranged political moment.
• Michelle Obama's message for Greta Thunberg
  Michelle Obama offered a message of support to teen climate crisis activist Greta Thunberg, after the 16-year-old was mocked on Twitter by President Donald Trump.
• Tulsi Gabbard makes fans of NH Trump backers
  Voters asking questions at Democratic presidential campaign events don't often profess their love for Donald Trump or privately weigh whether to support a Democrat or the President in 2020.
• Governor restores former felons' voting rights
  Newly sworn-in Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear restored voting rights for over 140,000 former felons in the state through an executive order, his office announced Thursday.
• Trump and China confirm 'phase one' trade deal
  President Donald Trump says he's agreed to a "Phase One" deal with China that includes "many structural changes and massive purchases of Agricultural Product, Energy, and Manufactured Goods, plus much more" -- effectively calling a truce in a war that has roiled financial markets and the US and Chinese economies.
• The articles of impeachment, annotated
• Why Netflix may need to cut prices and run ads
  Netflix executives have repeatedly said the company will not run ads to generate more revenue. But with competition getting more intense, one Wall Street analyst thinks Netflix should offer a cheaper ad-supported service.
• IHOP is trying out a new restaurant concept
  IHOP, known for booth seating, table service and, of course, pancakes, is trying something a little different — a new restaurant concept called Flip'd by IHOP.
• Using machine learning to make work 'suck a little less'
  Technology is a blessing and a curse for the modern office worker. Lightning-fast computers make the impossible possible. But constant distraction and friction slows work down.
• Florida men arrested for climbing 35 ft. Christmas tree
• Potentially breakthrough drugs for breast cancer
• Attorney charged for smuggling drug-soaked paper
• Failures in background checks for school bus drivers
• Police trooper stabbed during highway altercation
• Man slashes son's face with knife during dispute
• Mother, 5-yo daughter found dead in murder-suicide
• Player honored for helping girl during shooting
• Driver believes he was racially profiled during stop
• Kids with cancer get custom blankets
• Students donate blankets with notes of hope to homeless shelters
• 'Grandma' in need of family for Christmas
• Bird seen eating from supermarket salad bar
• Sergeant at center of $20 million verdict promoted
• Vigilant teachers save student suffering a stroke
• Woman gets $8,000 water bill for vacant home