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As the New Year approaches, people worldwide embrace traditional superstitions to bring luck, love and prosperity into their lives. From eating a dozen grapes to smashing plates and holding off on doing laundry, some people are superstitious about good fortune.

Residents across Puerto Rico face the prospect of ending 2024 without electricity, as a major blackout has hit the island. The power outage, caused by technical problems within the island’s aging power grid, is the latest example of Puerto Rico’s aging and fragile infrastructure failing. The situation has renewed frustrations among Puerto Ricans, who were told that privatization and upgrades would improve the island’s energy structure.

A solar storm could add excitement to New Year’s Eve, with the northern lights expected to light up the skies across several northern U.S. states as celebrations unfold nationwide, just in time for the new year.

The northern lights can be seen between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The New York Times reported that, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Americans may have seen the northern lights early Tuesday morning or late night on New Year’s Eve.

If viewers miss the show on Tuesday, they have another chance to see the lights after sundown on New Year’s Day.

Here’s everything you need to know about the northern lights — how they occur and where in the U.S. you can catch the stunning display.

What are the northern lights?

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are bursts of color that occur when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere at increased speeds up to 45 mph, Space.com reported. This phenomenon can only be seen in the Northern Hemisphere, compared to those in the Southern Hemisphere called aurora australis.

“These particles are deflected towards the poles of Earth by our planet’s magnetic field and interact with our atmosphere, depositing energy and causing the atmosphere to fluoresce,” Billy Teets, the director of Dyer Observatory at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, told the outlet in November.

The phenomenon is also due to the sun’s 11-year activity cycle, which triggers solar storms. As a result, the northern lights are at their brightest, making them easier to see in the sky, per Space.com.

This marks the third time the Northern Lights have been visible in the U.S. across the Northern Hemisphere

According to The Associated Press, the NOAA issued a rare geomagnetic storm warning in May; it was the strongest storm in over two decades, and it resulted in a light display across the Northern Hemisphere. Another powerful storm happened along the Arctic Circle in October, with auroras popping up in places like Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.

Where can you see the northern lights?

The auroras can be seen this week in Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa and New York will also be able to see it, per AP.

Akouvi Adjessom, the mother of Randall Adjessom, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against SWAT police for fatally shooting her son. 

According to ABC News, the 16-year-old was shot during a no-knock warrant raid in Mobile, Alabama, after being woken up by forced entry. Just after 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2023, police broke down the front door of his home, where Adjessom’s mother, aunt, grandmother and three sisters — two of whom were minors — were also there.

Police in Alabama shot and killed a 16-year-old boy in his own home during a no-knock raid in the middle of the night.Body camera footage allegedly shows Randall Adjessom raising his hands and backing away just before an officer opened fire. He was left bleeding on the floor… pic.twitter.com/uEVWAmd46Z— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) December 26, 2024

“They’re supposed to be peace officers, aren’t they? How many more young Black boys like Randall have to be buried following police brutality before the MPD’s legendary culture of unchecked excessive force is finally put to rest,” the teen’s mom said in a statement on Monday.

Per the complaint, citing sealed bodycam footage, Adjessom emerged from his bedroom pointing a gun at officers but put up his hands when he realized they were law enforcement.

Police were there to execute a warrant against Adjessom’s older brother, who was suspected of marijuana possession and distribution but did not live at the home.

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According to a report following an investigation into Adjessom’s death, “the officer who shot him complied with the city’s use of force because Adjessom was armed and posed a threat,” ABC News mentioned. While it didn’t specify whether Adjessom retreated when he was shot, the report said officers had a “preconceived notion” that Adjessom’s family was dangerous. However, “there was no indication that any of the occupants had violent histories, and the target’s only felony was for marijuana.”

Per ABC News, an unnamed officer shot Adjessom four times within 11 seconds of entering the home. According to the suit, after he was shot, Adjessom didn’t receive medical attention until 50 minutes after he arrived at an emergency room eight minutes away.

The outlet reported that attorneys for Adjessom’s mother called his death an “unquestionably foreseeable and preventable tragedy.” Unspecified damages are sought in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Mobile against the city and the officers involved.

As 2025 begins, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is gearing up to distribute payments for the new year. Here’s a breakdown of when you can expect your Social Security checks based on your birthdate and other qualifications.

Who receives Social Security payments and when?

Recipients of Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor (RSDI) benefits will see their payments on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month—provided they filed claims after May 1, 1997. Meanwhile, those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for disabilities or low-income status will generally get their checks on the 1st of the month.

However, if the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, payments are sent on the preceding weekday. For January 2025, this means SSI payments will go out on New Year’s Eve since January 1 is a holiday, according to Live Now Fox (via Yahoo News).

January Payment Schedule: Important Dates

If you’re wondering when your check will arrive, here’s the full breakdown for January:

For SSI Beneficiaries: Payments will arrive on Dec. 31, 2024.

For RSDI Beneficiaries Who Filed Before May 1997: Payments will arrive on Jan. 3.

For RSDI Beneficiaries Based on Birthdate:

Born between the 1st and 10th: Jan. 8

Born between the 11th and 20th: Jan. 15

Born between the 21st and 31st: Jan. 22

What about February?

SSI payments for February will arrive early—on Jan. 31—because the 1st of the month lands on a Saturday.

What to do if your payment is delayed

If you don’t receive your electronic payment on the scheduled date, the SSA recommends contacting your bank or financial institution to check for delays. Sometimes, the administration may experience delays in posting payments.

If the issue persists, you can reach out to the Social Security Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office.

“We will review the case, and if the payment is due, we will replace it,” the SSA states on its website.

The new year is kicking off with a serious chill as Arctic air, driven by a polar vortex originating in Siberia, prepares to blanket much of the United States. According to The Washington Post, this frigid air mass is expected to arrive Monday night, spreading to the East Coast by Wednesday.

What is the polar vortex and its impact?

The polar vortex refers to a blast of cold air typically confined to the North Pole. Occasionally, this frigid system shifts southward, bringing bone-chilling temperatures to the U.S. This year, a third surge of Arctic air is predicted to make the vortex especially impactful.

When and where to expect arctic blasts

The first surge of Arctic air is slated to arrive early this week, followed by a second wave over the weekend. By next week, a third blast will hit the Midwest and the Eastern Seaboard, plunging temperatures to subzero levels across at least 30 states.

Three main surges of Arctic air are forecast over the next two weeks, each one being more substantial than the last.The surge around Jan. 10 may come with a lobe of the polar vortex and has the highest potential to send temperatures plummeting.Cold, colder, coldest: pic.twitter.com/GbfHhe0Hay— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) December 30, 2024

Snowfall predictions and affected areas

While widespread snowfall isn’t expected, regions near Lakes Ontario and Erie could face significant snow accumulation. Areas like the Tug Hill Plateau and south of Buffalo are likely to see heavy lake-effect snow due to the frigid air interacting with the lakes’ warmer waters.

How long will the cold spell last?

Prepare to bundle up for an extended period. Meteorologists predict the Arctic chill could linger for the first three weeks of January. While much of the East will bear the brunt of the cold, the West and Alaska are also expected to experience below-average temperatures.

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New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration, with many planning parties and events to welcome the new year. However, on the final night of the year and New Year’s Day, the schedules of businesses, government offices, and other services may be affected.