Today is Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Let’s get caught up.
Here are today’s top stories, celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history:
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Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via AP
Gregg Voreis, 9, of Edina, Minn., wears a Santa hat while in line for a COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.
Omicron variant in at least 5 US states
NEW YORK (AP) — The omicron variant of COVID-19, which had been undetected in the U.S. before the middle of this week, had been discovered in at least five states by the end of Thursday, showing yet again how mutations of the virus can circumnavigate the globe with speed and ease.
World Health Organization officials said Friday that measures used to counter the delta variant should remain the foundation for fighting the coronavirus pandemic, even in the face of the new omicron version of the virus, while acknowledging that the travel restrictions imposed by some countries may buy time.
While about three dozen countries worldwide have reported omicron infections, including India on Thursday, the numbers so far are small outside of South Africa, which is facing a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and where the new variant may be becoming dominant.
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AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Night falls at the the Capitol in Washington on Thursday.
OK of stopgap funding bill avoids government shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a stopgap spending bill that avoids a short-term shutdown and funds the federal government through Feb. 18 after leaders defused a partisan standoff over federal vaccine mandates. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Earlier Thursday, congressional leaders announced they had finally reached an agreement to keep the government running for 11 more weeks, generally at current spending levels, while adding $7 billion to aid Afghanistan evacuees.
Once the House voted to approve the measure, senators soon announced an agreement that would allow them to vote on it quickly.
The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 69-28. The Democratic-led House passed the measure by a 221-212 vote.
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Click on the links below for full versions of today’s top stories. Keep scrolling for a look back at this day in history and today’s celebrity birthdays:
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In 1947, the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened on Broadway.
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In 1964, police arrested some 800 students at the University of California at Berkeley, one day after the students stormed the administration building and staged a massive sit-in.
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In 1979, 11 people were killed in a crush of fans at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum, where the British rock group The Who was performing.
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In 1984, thousands of people died after a cloud of methyl isocyanate gas escaped from a pesticide plant operated by a Union Carbide subsidiary in Bhopal, India.
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In 1992, the Greek tanker Aegean Sea spilled more than 21 million gallons of crude oil when it ran aground off northwestern Spain.
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In 1994, AIDS activist Elizabeth Glaser, who along with her two children were infected with HIV because of a blood transfusion, died in Santa Monica, California, at age 47.
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In 2000, poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African-American to win a Pulitzer Prize, died in Chicago at age 83.
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In 2010, during a surprise holiday-season visit to Afghanistan, President Barack Obama told cheering U.S. troops at Bagram Air Field they were succeeding in their mission to fight terrorism; however, foul weather prevented Obama from meeting with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul to address frayed relations.
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Ten years ago: In Atlanta, a defiant Herman Cain suspended his faltering bid for the Republican presidential nomination amid a series of sexual misconduct allegations that he condemned as “false and unproven.”
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Ten years ago: Oklahoma State defeated Oklahoma 44-10 to win the Big 12 championship. (Exultant Oklahoma State fans stormed the football field, resulting in a dozen injuries.)
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In 2015, defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the armed services to open all military jobs to women, removing the final barriers that had kept women from serving in combat, including the most dangerous and grueling commando posts.
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Five years ago: Some 20,000 people filled a tiny stadium in Chapeco, Brazil, to say goodbye to members of a soccer club who died in a plane crash in Colombia.
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One year ago: Facebook said it would start removing false claims about COVID-19 vaccines.
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1943 — Notre Dame quarterback Angelo Bertelli wins the Heisman Trophy.
Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame quarterback, poses with the Heisman Memorial trophy at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City on Jan. 12, 1944. (AP Photo)
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1946 — Army halfback Glenn Davis is named the Heisman Trophy winner.
Army back Glenn Davis carries the ball in this Nov. 28, 1944 file photo in New York.
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1957 — Texas A&M halfback John David Crow is named the Heisman Trophy winner.
In this Dec. 12, 1957, file photo, John Crow, Texas A&M halfback, center, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Crow of Springhill, La., hold Heisman Memorial Trophy award to Crow as the outstanding college football player of 1957 at dinner at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York. (AP Photo/File)
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1979 — Southern California halfback Charles White is named the Heisman Trophy winner.
Tailback Charles White of the USC Trojans, speaks at a news conference after being named winner of the 1979 Heisman Trophy in Los Angeles, Calif., Dec. 3, 1979. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)
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1982 — Tommy Hearns wins the WBC welterweight title with a 15-round decision over Wilfred Benitez in New Orleans.
Sweat flies as Thomas Hearns, right, and Wilfred Benitez trade punches in their WBC World Super Welterweight Championship fight, December 3, 1982 in New Orleans. Hearns took the title from Benitez on 15-round decision. (AP Photo)
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1994 — Sixth-ranked Florida beats undefeated and third-ranked Alabama 24-23 in the first SEC Championship game played in Atlanta.
In this Dec. 3, 1994, file photo, Florida coach Steve Spurrier, left, shakes hands with Alabama coach Gene Stallings after the Gators 24-23 win in the Southeastern Conference Championship football game in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)
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1999 — Marshall beats Western Michigan 34-30 on the last play of the MAC Championship game. Down 30-27 with four seconds left in the game, Chad Pennington throws his 100th career touchdown pass to Eric Pinkerton as time expires to give the Thundering Herd their third consecutive MAC title.
Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington celebrates after being given a plaque naming him player of the game, Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, in Huntington, West Virginia. Marshall defeated Western Michigan 34-30 to win the Mid American Conference championship. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
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2000 — The 200-yard rushing games by Mike Anderson, Corey Dillon, Warrick Dunn and Curtis Martin mark the first time in NFL history that four runners have 200 yards on the same day. It's never happened three times in a single day. Anderson rushes for an NFL rookie record 251 yards and four touchdowns in Denver’s 38-23 victory over New Orleans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn (28) celebrates with teammate Dexter Jackson after the Buccaneers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 27-7 Sunday afternoon Dec. 3, 2000 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Dunn rushed for 210 yards in the win. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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2004 — Bode Miller wins his fourth race of the season in the downhill at Beaver Creek, Colo., and Daron Rahlves is second to give the United States its first 1-2 finish on the World Cup circuit. The last time U.S. men went 1-2 in any elite international race was 1984, when Phil Mahre won the Olympic slalom in Sarajevo and twin brother Steve took the silver medal.
U.S. ski racer Bode Miller winner of the World Cup Downhill at Beaver Creek, Colo., Friday, Dec. 3, 2004, cheers on teammate Daron Rahlves who finished second. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
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2005 — Southern California wins its 34th consecutive game and 16th straight against a ranked opponent, beating No. 11 UCLA 66-19. The 16 victories against Associated Press ranked teams is one better than Oklahoma, which won 15 from 1973-76.
Southern California's Reggie Bush leaps over UCLA defender Marcus Cassel as he rushes 13 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of their game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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2014 — The Philadelphia 76ers avoid tying the record for the worst start to a season in NBA history, ending their 0-17 skid with an 85-77 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Philadelphia 76ers celebrate on the bench during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in Minneapolis. The 76ers won 85-77. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)
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2015 — Aaron Rodgers throws a 61-yard touchdown pass to Richard Rodgers with no time left to give the Green Bay Packers a 27-23 comeback victory over the Detroit Lions. Detroit went ahead 17-0 after its first three drives and capped the opening possession of the third quarter with a field goal to go ahead 20-0.
In this Dec. 3, 2015, file photo, Green Bay Packers tight end Richard Rodgers, right, catches a 61-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass thrown by Aaron Rodgers with no time remaining to beat the Lions 27-23 in an NFL football game in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
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2017 — Tom Brady continues his career-long dominance of the Buffalo Bills completing 21 of 30 for 258 yards and an interception in New England’s 23-3 victory. He improves to 27-3 against Buffalo and breaks Brett Favre’s record for wins by a quarterback against any one opponent.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) walks on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Patriots won 23-3. (AP Photo/Rich Barnes)
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Actor Amanda Seyfried is 36.
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Pop/rock singer-songwriter Andy Grammer is 38.
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Actor Anna Chlumsky (KLUHM’-skee) is 41.
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Actor Brendan Fraser is 53.
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Actor Daryl Hannah is 61.
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Actor Dascha Polanco is 39.
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Actor Holly Marie Combs is 48.
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Actor Jake T. Austin is 27.
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Actor Julianne Moore is 61.
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Actor Michael Angarano is 34.
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Rock singer Mickey Thomas is 72.
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Singer Montell Jordan is 53.
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Rock singer Ozzy Osbourne is 73.
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Actor Royale Watkins is 52.
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Actor/comedian Tiffany Haddish is 42.
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IMAGE OF THE DAY
Ahn Young-joon
A girl watches a diver clad in a Santa Claus outfit during an event to promote the upcoming Christmas holiday at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays celebrated in South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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TODAY IN HISTORY
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO …
