100-plus cities in the U.S. banned homeless camping this year. But will it work? The burst of new laws follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling, and reflects public frustration with record-high homelessness. But advocates say fines and jail time will only make the problem worse. Read more on NPR

Remembering the actors, musicians, writers and artists we lost in 2024 Every year, we remember some of the writers, actors, musicians, filmmakers and performers who died over the past year, and whose lifetime of creative work helped shape our world. Read more on NPR

Giving up alcohol for Dry January? Our newsletter can help you reach your goal If your New Year’s resolution is to drink less alcohol, Life Kit is here to help. Sign up for our Dry January newsletter series, and get tips and strategies to help you stay alcohol-free for a month. Read more on NPR

Snowboarder’s death in Swiss Alps avalanche is a reminder that even pros face risk The death of an Olympic snowboarding athlete is a reminder that even the most skilled and experienced athletes are not immune to the threat of avalanches, and that knowledge is key to staying safe. Read more on NPR

Scientists await signal from spacecraft after historic close encounter with the sun To get so close, the Parker Solar Probe had to withstand the sun’s extreme heat and radiation like no spacecraft before it. Read more on NPR

Mega Millions jackpot surges past $1 billion The Mega Millions prize has now grown to an estimated $1.15 billion, which could be the fifth-largest jackpot in the game’s history. Read more on NPR

Pope urges ‘all people of all nations’ to silence arms in Christmas address Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message urged “all people of all nations” to find courage “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions” plaguing the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine, Africa to Asia. Read more on NPR

A gang attack on a Haitian hospital reopening kills 2 reporters and a police officer Street gangs forced the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince to close earlier this year. As journalists gathered to cover its reopening, suspected gang members opened fire. Read more on NPR

Far from the front lines, Ukrainians fight a war to preserve their culture In the Transcarpathia region, some locals embrace a traditional lifestyle and cultural identity. After surviving Soviet threats, now they fear President Vladimir Putin seeks to erase their culture. Read more on NPR

Russia targets Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Christmas Day Russia’s massive missile and drone barrage struck a thermal power plant and prompted Ukrainians to shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning. Read more on NPR