The appropriations package was approved on Friday with only hours to spare before funding lapsed. The legislation, which boosts funding for both domestic programs and the military, keeps the government running through September 30, 2020.

An internal investigation concluded that the symbol, flashed by cadets in the background of an ESPN College Gameday broadcast, was part of the "circle game," not a gesture with racist intent. The "circle game" consists of making a circle with one's thumb and index finger and tricking someone else to look at it. The hand configuration is nearly identical to one made to tacitly endorse white supremacism, which originated as an online trolling joke.

@zizekthottie's father doesn't abide by the names on the box, instead opting for a much more confusing labeling system. Luckily, @Niki7a may be on his same wavelength.

Fans who say Murphy's career has been criminally underrated are discussing the actor's legacy. She died at the age of 32.

An editorial written by Mark Galli, the editor in chief of Christianity Today, argues that President Trump should be removed from office: "None of the president’s positives can balance the moral and political danger we face under a leader of such grossly immoral character." Christianity Today was founded by the influential American evangelist Billy Graham. President Trump dismissed the editorial on Friday, adding that "No President has done more for the Evangelical community."

The defensive tackle was suspended for four games due to violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. Woods' suspension will begin immediately, according to the Seahawks public relations department.

According to documents obtained by The Guardian, commanders of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) — Canada's national police force — were prepared to use "lethal overwatch" during a militarized raid on ancestral lands of the Wet’suwet’en nation in Northern British Columbia. 14 people were arrested in January when Wet’suwet’en people and their supporters erected a gate to block the construction of a natural gas pipeline.

Local reporters out of Austin and Houston, Texas, are awaiting confirmation that a newborn baby found alive, as well as a woman found dead, are Heidi Broussard and her daughter, who have been missing since December 12. A woman has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and tampering with a human corpse in connection with the case.

Add another entry into the history of epic "what could have been" dunks.

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang was asked about the lack of diversity on stage at the sixth Democratic primary debate on Thursday. Yang used the opportunity to tout his plan for a universal income, suggesting that if more people had disposable income, there would be a more diverse set of candidates.

D'Avanzo and her husband were arrested in a raid of their Staten Island home, where cops allegedly found weapons and drugs.

JK Rowling was accused of transphobia after siding with a woman who was fired for her absolutist views on sex and gender. To some, Rowling's remarks did not seem worthy of backlash, so @alicegoldfuss explained how generic or cliche expressions of openmindedness can reveal regressive and judgemental attitudes.

Ben Franklin, a therapy dog at a police department in Massachusetts, was caught on camera hoarding toys donated for a children's charity drive.

The 10-episode series starring Zoë Kravitz, which is an adaptation of the 1995 Nick Hornby novel, drops on Valentine's Day.

The latest Star Wars film, and the last of the Skywalker saga, has officially premiered to audiences. A few highlights: Fans come out in droves for screenings What the Star Wars cast has to say Has Baby Yoda met his match? Some spoiler-free thoughts After watching TROS, a summary in GIFs Star Wars kicks off the holiday break Keep it here for more news, highlights and commentary from the film's opening weekend.

In a letter, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday formally invited President Trump to deliver the annual State of the Union address before both chambers of Congress on February 4, 2020 – one day after the Democratic caucuses in Iowa. The House of Representatives voted on Thursday to impeach President Trump; he will face a trial in the Senate sometime in January.

On Friday, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which allocates part of the $738-billion defense budget to the creation of Space Force, a space warfare branch within the Department of Defense.