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Today — 23 December 2024Main stream

Bill Clinton admitted to hospital for ‘testing and observation’ after falling ill

23 December 2024 at 14:34

Former President Bill Clinton was admitted to a hospital Monday afternoon for testing and observation after developing a fever, a spokesperson for Clinton said.

"President Clinton was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center this afternoon for testing and observation after developing a fever. He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving," Angel Urena wrote.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates. 

Raiders' Antonio Pierce slams critics who wanted team to lose vs Jaguars, improve draft position

23 December 2024 at 14:40

The Las Vegas Raiders may have complicated their draft position on Sunday as the team defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, and fans of the team noticed.

The Raiders would have dropped to 2-13 with a loss and would have been in a neck-and-neck race with the New York Giants for the No. 1 overall pick. But the Raiders won and the Giants lost. Las Vegas dropped to No. 6 because of the result.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

As fans got upset with the Raiders on social media, head coach Antonio Pierce addressed critics during his media availability.

"We don’t do this to lose," he said, per Pro Football Talk. "We don’t do this for anybody’s fantasy football team. We don’t do this for anybody’s draft projections. None of that s--- matters to us. Only thing that matters to us is winning, and that’s all we want to do."

TEXANS COACH REVEALS EXTENT OF TANK DELL'S HORRIFIC INJURY

Las Vegas is in the midst of one of the worst seasons in its franchise’s history. Three wins is far from what they hoped for after narrowly missing the playoffs last season when Pierce replaced Josh McDaniels as head coach in the middle of the season.

The Raiders have only made the playoffs twice since losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl in the 2002 season. They haven’t made it out of the wild card round either.

Las Vegas hits the road to play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and finishes the season against the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 5.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Michelle Randolph Defends 'Landman' Character 'Sparking Conversation'

23 December 2024 at 08:20
Michelle Randolph Has Seen the Reactions to Her Landman Character
Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris

Michelle Randolph knows Landman viewers are confused by her character Ainsley’s behavior — but she has no regrets about how she chose to play her.

“It’s hard to not be aware of it,” Randolph, 27, told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, December 22. “But I disassociate and the thing is, I got the script. I read it. I had my moments, my thoughts.”

Randolph, however, doesn’t disagree that Ainsley’s actions can be confusing. “Some of the things that Ainsley has to say are shocking and there were moments where I thought, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to pull this off,'” she admitted. “I want to find the most human version of this character that I can, and I work really hard at doing that.”

Despite the online backlash, Randolph notes that she sticks to what’s on the page.

Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Landman’ Unveils 1st Look and Premiere Date

“My job ended when I finished my last day on set, and then I released it. The show went out,” she continued. “I can’t tell people how to interpret my character, but at least it’s sparking conversation. And I’m really proud of the show that we made.”

Michelle Randolph Has Seen the Reactions to Her Landman Character
Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris and Ali Larter as Angela Norris

In Landman, which premiered on Paramount+ in November, Billy Bob Thornton plays a corporate fixer for an oil titan (Jon Hamm). The West Texas-set drama has life-and-death stakes but its Thornton’s scenes with Randolph, who plays his 17-year-old daughter, have gone viral for moments such as her talking to her father about her sex rules while walking around his house — which he shares with two men of similar age — in bikinis and her underwear.

“I worked with a dialect coach, a movement coach and an acting coach and I just studied like crazy. I had about a year almost to prep for her,” Randolph told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday about her approach to Ainsley. “It was incredibly helpful to kind of sit with that character. I worked really hard to find ways to justify her behavior and make a full human out of something that doesn’t always seem like what a 17-year-old would say, but people like that exist.”

Michelle Randolph Has Seen the Reactions to Her Landman Character
Michelle Randolph as Ainsley Norris

First appearing in Taylor Sheridan‘s 1923 series, Randolph said Landman “required 10 times more prep” for her.

Actors Who Keep Appearing in Taylor Sheridan's Shows: 'Yellowstone' and More

“I wanted to be very careful about the way that Ainsley comes across. There’s only so much that I can control, but you also can control a lot as an actor,” she shared. “And just being around Ali [Larter] and Billy [Bob Thornton] and Jacob [Lofland] and being in Texas really helped create this full person that Ainsley is. She has this free essence about her and she’s wild, and I loved every second of it.”

Randolph urged viewers to give Ainsley the space to evolve, saying, “She’s 17 and she’s growing. I think she gets it more than the audience gets to see. There are moments where your realize that she can be, not manipulative, but she knows how to play her dad, and also her mom. She knows how to get what she wants. She loves her family.”

She concluded: “She is figuring out who she is and meeting different peers and going to school. She’s not just the bratty young daughter; she is a person. We get to see 5 percent of who Ainsley is. Hopefully as the show goes on, we get to see all of who she is.”

New episodes of Landman premiere Sundays on Paramount+

Honey’s deal-hunting browser extension is accused of ripping off customers and YouTubers

By: Wes Davis
23 December 2024 at 14:18

The PayPal Honey browser extension is, in theory, a handy way to find better deals on products while you’re shopping online. But in a video published this weekend, YouTuber MegaLag claims the extension is a “scam” and that Honey has been “stealing money from influencers, including the very ones they paid to promote their product.”

Honey works by popping up an offer to find coupon codes for you while you’re checking out in an online shop. But as MegaLag notes, it frequently fails to find a code, or offers a Honey-branded one, even if a simple internet search will cover something better. The Honey website’s pitch is that it will “find every working promo code on the internet.” But according to MegaLag’s video, ignoring better deals is a feature of Honey’s partnerships with its retail clients.

MegaLag also says Honey will hijack affiliate revenue from influencers. According to MegaLag, if you click on an affiliate link from an influencer, Honey will then swap in its own tracking link when you interact with its deal pop-up at check-out. That’s regardless of whether Honey found you a coupon or not, and it results in Honey getting the credit for the sale, rather than the YouTuber or website whose link led you there.

Paypal VP of corporate communications Josh Criscoe said in an email to The Verge that “Honey follows industry rules and practices, including last-click attribution.”

MegaLag isn’t the first to make such claims. A 2021 Twitter post advises using Honey’s discount codes in a different browser to avoid it taking the affiliate credit. A Linus Media Group employee also explained in a 2022 forum reply that Linus Tech Tips dropped Honey as a sponsor over its affiliate link practices.

Honey’s convenience has resulted in the extension being recommended widely, including in almost 5,000 Honey-sponsored videos across about 1,000 YouTube channels, according to MegaLag. We’ve even recommended it here at The Verge; now we do not.

Here is Criscoe’s full statement:

Honey is free to use and provides millions of shoppers with additional savings on their purchases whenever possible. Honey helps merchants reduce cart abandonment and comparison shopping while increasing sales conversion.

Iran's weakened position could lead it to pursue nuclear weapon, Biden national security adviser warns

23 December 2024 at 14:09

The White House is concerned that Iran’s weakened position will prompt the regime to pursue a nuclear weapon, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan is coordinating with the Trump team on this concern. 

Iran has suffered a year of setbacks amid Israeli assaults on its proxy forces and a pull-out from Syria amid the takeover by Sunni Muslim forces, hostile to Iran's Shiite government. 

Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities, including missile factories and air defenses, have reduced Iran’s conventional military capabilities, Sullivan told CNN on Sunday. 

"What I found over the last four years is that when good things happen, like Iran being weaker than it was before, there are frequently bad things lurking around the corner," Sullivan said.


IRAN EXPANDS WEAPONIZATION CAPABILITIES CRITICAL FOR EMPLOYING NUCLEAR BOMB

"If you’re Iran right now and you’re looking around at the fact that your conventional capability has been reduced, your proxies have been reduced, your main client state has been eliminated, Assad has fallen, it’s no wonder there are voices saying: ‘Hey, maybe we need to go for a nuclear weapon right now,'" the outgoing national security official said. 

"They’re saying it publicly, in fact. They’re saying: Maybe we have to revisit our nuclear doctrine. A doctrine that has said: We’ll have a civilian nuclear program and certain capabilities, but we’re not going for a nuke," he added. "It’s a risk we’re trying to be vigilant about now."

While Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, but it has expanded uranium enrichment since the last Trump administration to 60% purity, a short step away from the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon. 

Last week the United Kingdom, Germany and France publicly called on Iran to "reverse its nuclear escalation," arguing there is no "credible civilian justification" to stockpile 60% uranium.

FALL OF ASSAD, RISE OF TRUMP: WHY 2024 WAS A VERY BAD YEAR FOR IRAN

Sullivan said there was a risk Iran would abandon its promise not to build nuclear weapons.

"It's a risk we are trying to be vigilant about now. It's a risk that I'm personally briefing the incoming team on," Sullivan said, adding that he was consulting with Israel too. 

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, could bring back his "maximum pressure" policy to cripple Iran’s oil financing.

Sullivan held out hope Trump could come in and use Iran’s weakened position to get them to agree to a new nuclear deal. 

"Maybe he can come around this time, with the situation Iran finds itself in, and actually deliver a nuclear deal that curbs Iran's nuclear ambitions for the long term," he said.

Trump's team is currently weighing its options to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, including preventive airstrikes. 

What Christmas looks like in every state

23 December 2024 at 14:08
Runners at the Las Vegas Great Santa Run in 2021.
Some people in Nevada participate in the Las Vegas Great Santa Run.

Bryan Steffy/Contributor/Getty Images

  • People across the US celebrate Christmas differently.
  • Drive-thru light displays are popular in Connecticut, Louisiana, and West Virginia.
  • Meanwhile, Alabama and Idaho are known for having lavish Christmas trees in front of their capitols.

The song goes, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go. " The best part is that Christmas can look a little different as you travel from coast to coast.

Sure, there are traditional symbols like Christmas trees, snowmen, and candy canes, but each state puts its own local twist on the festive celebrations.

Whether you're planning to spend your holiday on the sunny beaches of Hawaii with Shaka Santa and his wife Tutu Mele or ice skating at Rockefeller Center in New York, here's a peek at how each state makes the holidays special.

Alabama
The Alabama state capitol with a Christmas tree lit in front of it.
Alabama lights a Christmas tree in front of its capitol.

Nagel Photography/Shutterstock

It's been widely reported that Alabama became the first state to make Christmas a legal holiday in 1836.

These days, the state celebrates with a tree outside the state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.

Alaska
A general view of Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska. A red sleigh sits in the snow in front of the store.
Santa Claud House is located in North Pole, Alaska.

Kit Leong/Shutterstock

In 1952, Con and Nellie Miller set up a trading post outside Fairbanks, Alaska, and called the town North Pole. The Miller family built Santa Claus House, a general goods store there.

Arizona
A cactus covered with Christmas lights.
Some people in Arizona decorate cacti for Christmas.

Jeff Greenberg/Contributor/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

In the Arizona desert, some people decorate cacti for the Christmas season.

In 2018, the Associated Press reported that a family in Phoenix built their Christmas tree from a cactus skeleton. They called it a "Phoenix Christmas tree."

Arkansas
The "Lights of the Ozarks" in downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The "Lights of the Ozarks" will be on display through January 1, 2025.

Gunnar Rathbun/Shutterstock

Every year, Fayetteville, Arkansas, hosts the "Lights of the Ozarks" Christmas light display.

This year, the display will be up from November 22 to January 1, and according to ExperienceFayetteville.com, it's free to visit every night until 1 a.m.

California
A view of Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland at night, lit up and decorated for the holiday season.
Disneyland is transformed into a winter wonderland for the holiday season.

AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Contributor/GC Images/Getty Images

California is home to the original Disneyland, which hosts several Christmas-themed events during the holiday season.

This year, through January 6, the park will be transformed into a winter wonderland. Even Sleeping Beauty's Castle gets the holiday treatment with wreaths and lights of its own.

Colorado
Denver City Hall lit up with red, blue, green, and gold Christmas lights.
Denver lights up city hall for the holidays.

Sean Xu/Shutterstock

Every year, Denver turns into a holiday wonderland for an event known as "Mile High Holidays."

Throughout November and December, the city is decorated with a 110-foot-tall LED light tree, while the botanical garden and zoo are transformed with lights.

Connecticut
The Setti family home in Norwalk, Connecticut, decorated with lights for Christmas with a large crowd out front.
The Setti family decorated their home into a Christmas village for 26 years.

Brownie Harris/Contributor/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

In 2021, software company Porch conducted a study that found that people in Connecticut spend the most time decorating the exteriors of their homes, using an average of seven hours and 36 minutes to do so.

One of the most popular houses to visit was that of the Setti family in Norwalk, who decorated their home into a Christmas village for 26 years before retiring in 2014.

Delaware
Two large Christmas trees decorated with ornaments with Nemours Estate in the background.
Nemours Estate is decorated for Christmas annually.

BigDaveBo/Shutterstock

Nemours Estate is typically decked with elaborate Christmas decorations in Wilmington, Delaware.

According to the estate's website, visitors can tour the 77-room 20th-century mansion, the Chauffeur's garage, and the gardens, complete with their holiday displays through December 29.

Florida
A large Christmas tree in Universal Studio Park in Orlando. People in the park are walking in the foreground.
Universal Studios is decorated for the holidays.

pauloalberto82/Shutterstock

Universal Studios in Orlando transforms for the holidays every year with holiday lights, Christmas trees, and other festive decor.

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section, guests can sip hot butterbeer while the Grinch hangs around Seuss Landing.

Georgia
An aerial view of people ice skating at Atlantic Station near downtown Atlanta.
"Skate the Station" is open until January 15.

dgdigital/Shutterstock

Every year, Atlanta hosts "Skate the Station," where a large, temporary ice skating rink is installed at Atlantic Station.

This year's rink is in operation through January 15.

Hawaii
Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele statues in Hawaii.
Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele are holiday staples in Honolulu.

Yi-Chen Chiang/Shutterstock

Shaka Santa and his wife, Tutu Mele, are fixtures of the holiday season in Honolulu.

Every year, the pair of 21-foot statues are placed in front of city hall or Honolulu Hale. The city is also known for the "Honolulu City Lights" celebration.

Idaho
A Christmas tree lit with purple lights in front of Idaho's statehouse.
Every year, a Christmas tree is lit in front of Idaho's statehouse.

Charles Knowles/Shutterstock

Every year, Idaho's state Christmas tree is lit in front of the statehouse in Boise.

According to a local news station, this year's tree is a 36-foot-tall blue spruce that weighs about 3,750 pounds.

Illinois
People shopping at the Christkindlmarket in Chicago.
Christkindlmarket is popular in Chicago.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Chicago and Aurora, Illinois, will host the Christkindlmarket this year.

It's the 28th year the market has been held in Chicago, and over those years, it's become a popular attraction for residents looking to buy gifts, ornaments, and food from around the world.

Indiana
An aerial view of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument decorated with Christmas lights.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument will be decorated until January 12.

TheMann00/Shutterstock

Indianapolis decorates the Soldiers and Sailors Monument with 4,784 Christmas lights to make it look like a giant Christmas tree in an event known as the "Circle of Lights."

Iowa
A view of Rand Park covered in snow. Rand Park is where the City of the Christmas Display of Lights is located.
The City of Christmas Display of Lights is located at Rand Park in Keokuk, Iowa.

Richard K. Gates/Shutterstock

Keokuk, Iowa, hosts the "City of Christmas Display of Lights", a light display in Rand Park that visitors can drive through.

About 20,000 cars drive through the park annually to see more than 150 light displays, including the nativity scene, Santa's workshop, reindeer, and elves.

Kansas
The carousel at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, pictured here in October.
The carousel at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, is a popular attraction.

photojohn830/Shutterstock

Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, is a public garden that hosts the holiday light show "Illuminations."

"Illuminations" features up to two million lights and has music, carousel rides, treats, and an opportunity to see Santa Claus. This year's display will be available through January 4.

Kentucky
A blurred photo of people ice skating at Triangle Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
Ice skating is available at Triangle Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Irina Mos/Shutterstock

Visitors of Lexington, Kentucky's Triangle Park, can enjoy an ice skating rink through January 20, 2025.

Louisiana
Light up displays at City Park's Celebration in the Oaks in New Orleans.
The Celebration in the Oaks is a Christmas light display in New Orleans.

Elliott Cowand Jr/Shutterstock

"Celebration in the Oaks" is an annual tradition where the city of New Orleans covers 25 acres of New Orleans City Park in Christmas lights.

The display spans the Park, Botanical Garden, Storyland, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.

Maine
A Christmas tree made from lobster traps and lit up in Rockland, Maine.
Rockland, Maine, is known for building a Christmas tree from lobster traps.

Robert F. Bukaty/AP

Since Maine is known for its lobster, it's fitting that residents build special Christmas trees focused on the sea creature.

In 2018, Rockland, Maine, residents built the world's largest tree out of lobster traps, reaching 40.5 feet. The tree included 155 lobster traps, 180 lobster buoys, and 2,500 lights, News Center Maine reported.

Maryland
Houses in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood lit up with Christmas lights and decorations.
Houses in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood participate in "Miracle on 34th Street."

Patrick Semansky/AP

The Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore attracts visitors every year thanks to its elaborate Christmas decorations, which are displayed in a display called "Miracle on 34th Street."

Almost all the homes on the block are covered in Christmas lights, candy canes, Santa dolls, and other holiday displays.

Massachusetts
Blurred ice skaters with decoratively lit trees in the background.
Boston is decorated in Christmas lights.

Charles Krupa/AP

Boston transforms during the holiday season, with hundreds of Christmas lights covering the trees in the Public Garden, Copley Square, the Prudential Center, and the Common.

Michigan
A lion made of lights at the Detroit Zoo.
The Detroit Zoo hosts "Wild Lights" throughout the holiday season.

Davslens - davslens.com/Shutterstock

Millions of lights become the focal point at the Detroit Zoo's "Wild Lights" event. According to its website, the zoo features more than 500 immersive displays. Some of the massive light displays include a lion, whale, fox, and snake.

Minnesota
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train lit up with decorations.
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train visits towns in Minnesota.

Debra Anderson/Shutterstock

Decorated in various Christmas lights, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stops in more than 20 towns throughout Minnesota to raise money, awareness, and food donations for local food banks and pantries.

Though visitors can't actually ride the train, they're treated to a concert of holiday songs and popular originals. Some of this year's performers include Alana Springsteen, American Authors, Clerel, and Tiera Kennedy.

Mississippi
Christmas lights depict Santa Claus fishing from a boat.
Biloxi, Mississippi, residents are known to decorate their boats for Christmas.

Carmen K. Sisson/Shutterstock

While most of the country decorates houses for Christmas, some residents in Mississippi decorate their boats with Christmas lights and other holiday decor.

The boaters show off their festive vessels at the Biloxi Beach Water Boat Parade, culminating in a fireworks show over the water.

Missouri
Christmas decorations at the historic Union Station of Kansas City.
Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, is decorated for Christmas.

Logan Bush/Shutterstock

Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, is decorated with Christmas lights, falling snowflakes, a Christmas tree, and toy trains for the holiday season.

People also come to the station to take in the holiday-themed shows, which include piano recitals, pageants, and caroling.

Montana
The snowcapped Swan Range Mountains in Bigfork, Montana.
Volunteers in Bigfork, Montana, decorate the town for the holidays.

Scott Wilson Photography/Shutterstock

Volunteers in Bigfork, Montana, called the Bigfork Elves, are known for decorating the town yearly.

According to Bigfork.com, the volunteers "deck the town with over 10,000 feet of garland and lights" and have been active in the area for over 40 years.

Residents also gather for a tree-lighting ceremony and host other festive events.

Nebraska
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park; the house is white with green trim.
"Christmas at the Cody's" is an annual celebration at the mansion of "Buffalo Bill" and Louisa Cody.

Kevin Kipper/Shutterstock

"Christmas at the Cody's" is an annual celebration at the mansion of "Buffalo Bill" and Louisa Cody in North Platte, Nebraska.

The property is part of the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, and guests can enjoy Christmas lights, carols, and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Nevada
Runners at the Las Vegas Great Santa Run in 2021.
The Las Vegas Great Santa Run is held annually.

Bryan Steffy/Contributor/Getty Images

In 2019, Business Insider named Las Vegas one of the most festive places to spend the holidays, and the annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run might be part of the reason.

The event draws thousands of people dressed in Old Saint Nick costumes to the city's downtown area to run or walk the course.

New Hampshire
A house in New Hampshire with extravagant Christmas decorations.
People in New Hampshire spend the most time decorating for Christmas.

Andrew Matthews - PA Images/Getty Images

Though residents in Connecticut win for most time spent on exterior decorations, New Hampshire residents spend the most time decorating overall, with an average of 17 hours dedicated to the activity, according to Porch.

Loudon, New Hampshire, is also home to the Gift of Lights, a 2.5-mile drive with hundreds of light displays.

New Jersey
People re-enacting George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River.
Some people in New Jersey participated in a re-enactment of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River.

Mel Evans/AP

Christmas Day looks a bit different for some in New Jersey because they re-enact George Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River.

The event starts at the Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania and ends in Trenton, New Jersey, just as the former president did in 1776.

New Mexico
The town plaza of Mesilla, New Mexico, decorated with Christmas lights and a Christmas tree.
Mesilla, New Mexico, hosts an annual Christmas Eve celebration.

TopGum Photography/Shutterstock

Every Christmas Eve, the streets leading to the Mesilla town square are lined with paper lanterns.

The square is also decorated in lights, as local choirs sing Christmas tunes, visitors enjoy holiday treats, and a vigil is held for fallen service members of the local fire department.

New York
The Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center lit in 2024.
The Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is a popular tourist attraction.

Selcuk Acar/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images

Rockefeller Center was completed in 1939 and has since become one of New York City's most popular tourist destinations. Millions of people visit the Christmas tree every year.

According to NBC, the tree is completed with a 900-pound Swarovski star with 70 spikes, 3 million crystals, and plenty of lights.

North Carolina
A Christmas tree farm in North Carolina.
North Carolina produces the second-most Christmas trees in the country.

Chuck Burton/AP

According to a 2022 report by the USDA, North Carolina produces the second-most Christmas trees of any state in the US, with more than 3 million trees.

North Dakota
Williston, North Dakota, decorated for Christmas with lights that read "Williston."
Williston, North Dakota, celebrated its 10th Christmas tree lighting.

Eric Gay/AP

This year, Williston, North Dakota, celebrated its 10th annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony with a 41-foot-tall Colorado Blue Spruce.

In addition to the tree lighting, guests enjoyed a bonfire, music, and fireworks.

Ohio
The front of the house from "A Christmas Story."
The house from "A Christmas Story" is still standing in Cleveland.

Jason Miller/AP

"A Christmas Story" was released in 1983 and quickly became a cult classic during the holidays.

The house seen in the movie is still standing in Cleveland, and across the street, there's a museum that houses props, costumes, and other artifacts from the film.

Oklahoma
A red truck drives in Purcell's Christmas Parade in Oklahoma. People lined the streets and a Christmas tree stands in the background.
The Purcell Christmas Parade is held annually.

Kit Leong/Shutterstock

Every year, the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce hosts the Purcell Christmas Parade in Purcell, Oklahoma.

One key detail for parade participants: No one can dress up as Santa Claus — that responsibility belongs to the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce.

Oregon
A Christmas tree farm covered in snow in Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Oregon is the top producer of Christmas trees in the US.

Jacquie Klose/Shutterstock

Beating out North Carolina for Christmas tree production is Oregon.

According to the USDA, the "Beaver State" produced more than 4.5 million Christmas trees in 2022 to earn the top spot in the country.

Pennsylvania
People gathered at the Christmas Village at LOVE Park in Philadelphia.
LOVE Park hosts Philadelphia's annual Christmas Village.

Bo Shen/Shutterstock

In Philadelphia's Love Park, you'll find the Christmas Village, an open-air market with small business owners' booths, a Ferris wheel, treats, and the second-annual Festival of Trees fundraiser for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Rhode Island
An interior room in The Elms mansion in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Elms mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, is decorated for Christmas.

Dan Hanscom/Shutterstock

Newport is known for its famous mansions like The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House.

The Preservation Society of Newport County welcomes visitors every year inside these homes to tour the Christmas decorations. You will find wreaths, poinsettias, white candles, and elaborate Christmas trees inside.

South Carolina
A panned-up view of the Greenville County Courthouse. The top of a Christmas tree is in the frame, too.
Greenville, South Carolina, hosts the annual Poinsettia Christmas Parade.

Carrie A Hanrahan/Shutterstock

The Poinsettia Christmas Parade has been a Greenville, South Carolina, tradition for over 75 years.

This year, the best walking group award was given to the Bike Walk Greenville "Poinsettia Pedalers and Pedestrians."

South Dakota
The South Dakota state capitol was decorated in 2011 with a variety of Christmas trees and snowflakes hanging from the ceiling.
The South Dakota state capitol decorated in 2011.

Amber Hunt/AP

According to Travel South Dakota, the state's "Christmas at the Capitol" tradition started in 1981 with 12 Christmas trees and now features almost 100 trees decorated by different organizations, cities, and businesses.

Tennessee
The exterior of the Gaylord Opryland Resort decorated with Christmas lights.
The Gaylord Opryland Resort has hosted "A Country Christmas" for 41 years.

rylansamazingphotography/Shutterstock

Business Insider's Priyanka Rajput reported that the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville has hosted "A Country Christmas" for 41 years.

To celebrate the holidays, the hotel prepares for six weeks to decorate the space with everything from life-size ice sculptures and hand-tied ribbons to elaborate Christmas trees.

Texas
A crowd of people watched a firework show at the AT&T Performing Arts Center's "Reliant Lights Your Holiday" festival.
The AT&T Performing Arts Center hosts the "Reliant Lights Your Holiday" festival.

Brandon Wade/AP

The AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas hosted the "Reliant Lights Your Holiday" festival earlier this month. The free event included live music, local vendors, a drone show, fireworks, cookie decorating, and more.

Utah
The interior of the Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square.
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performs an annual Christmas concert.

JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock

Founded in 1847, the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (previously known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) tours the world for most of the year but returns to Salt Lake City for its annual Christmas concert.

This year's guest artist is Tony Award winner Ruthie Ann Miles.

Vermont
A decorated street with shops in downtown Woodstock, Vermont.
Woodstock, Vermont, was named one of House Beautiful's "most charming Christmas towns."

James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

House Beautiful named Woodstock, Vermont, one of 2024's "most charming Christmas towns" in the US.

One of its attractions is Wassail Weekend, a festival with a parade, Christmas tree lighting, caroling, ice skating, and more.

Virginia
The Williamsburg Inn decorated in Christmas lights; the building is reflected in an outdoor fountain.
The Williamsburg Inn decorated for Christmas.

Christopher W Becke/Shutterstock

Williamsburg, Virginia, is known for having a variety of festive activities, including markets, fireworks shows, performances, and Busch Gardens Christmas Town.

Washington
The Seattle Christmas Market with a Christmas tree in the foreground and the Space Needle in the background.
The Seattle Christmas Market is held annually.

Wolfgang Kaehler/Contributor/LightRocket via Getty Images

Like other major cities, Seattle hosts an annual Christmas market with artisans, food, drinks, and more. The city also participates in SantaCon, a bar crawl where people dress up as Santa.

West Virginia
A view of the Ohio River with Wheeling Suspension and Fort Henry Bridges in the background in Wheeling, West Virginia.
The "Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights" features over 100 light displays.

Marianne Campolongo/Shutterstock

The "Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights" dates back to 1985 and takes place in Wheeling, West Virginia. Today, it includes more than 100 light displays across 300 acres, WBOY-TV reported, and this year's display also features lights choreographed to music.

Wisconsin
A vintage steam engine at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin.
At the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, visitors can ride two festive trains.

Helene Woodbine/Shutterstock

At the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin, visitors can ride two holiday-themed trains: the Santa Express and the Holiday Flyer.

According to the museum's website, passengers aboard the Santa Express will take a 55-minute ride and receive a visit from Santa and a small gift, while passengers on the Holiday Flyer will receive hot chocolate and treats.

Wyoming
The antler arch in Jackson Hole Town Square lit at night.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is known for its antler arch.

Felix Lipov/Shutterstock

The Jackson Hole Town Square is famous for its arch made of antlers.

After Thanksgiving, the city holds an event — with Santa, cookies, candies, and carols — to watch the antlers light up with Christmas lights for the first time in the season.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I left NYC after 20 years so I could live near Disney World. Florida's been great despite some big drawbacks.

23 December 2024 at 13:57
Writer Jenna Clark hugs a Rapunzel character in a room with wooden detailing and red and gold curtains
I moved from New York to Florida to be closer to Disney World.

Jenna Clark

  • I relocated from New York City to Florida to be closer to one of my favorite places, Disney World.
  • I visit the parks at least three times a week and love spending time with my friends there.
  • I'm still adjusting to the severe storms and dealing with a little homesickness.

As someone who lived in New York City for over 20 years, moving to Florida was a significant change.

I live about 15 minutes away from Disney World, and though I love visiting the parks, I definitely miss some things about NYC.

Here are a few of the best and worst parts of my move.

I can visit the Disney parks multiple times a week.
The writer wears a shirt with Minnie Mouse on it, a black skirt, and mouse ears next to a cutout of a Muppet with a sign that says "Muppet 3D Vision"
I absolutely love visiting Disney World.

Jenna Clark

One great thing about living so close to Disney World is that I can go to the parks whenever I want, as long as reservations are available for annual passholders.

I usually visit three or four times a week because the parks bring me so much happiness.

I enjoy meeting the characters, so if I'm having a hard day and want to see Mickey Mouse or a princess, I don't have to commute very far.

I frequently get to spend time with my friends at the parks.
Three girls, including the writer, wear mouse ears and smile for the camera. The girl on the left wears a pink and blue sweatshirt with a castle on it, the girl in the middle wears a green jacket and red sweatshirt, and the writer, on the right, wears a pink fleece hoodie with Chip and Dale on it
My Florida friends and I hang out in the parks a lot.

Jenna Clark

Most of the friends I made during my time in the Disney College Program in 2018 now live in Florida.

Since moving, I've met with them to watch the parades, visit characters, and eat snacks in the parks.

It's nice to go to the parks, enjoy each other's company, and not feel rushed during every experience.

I can easily try the new, creative snacks Disney rolls out.
The writer wears purple mouse ears and a purple shirt and holds a purple-and-orange cupcake for Halloween
Disney World has plenty of adorable, themed snacks.

Jenna Clark

The creative snacks are one of my favorite parts of visiting Disney World.

I love trying the different cupcakes, brownies, and Mickey crisped-rice treats that celebrate holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Father's Day.

I often enjoy the Mickey ice-cream sandwiches and bars, especially when the heat is unbearable.

Most of the people I've met in Florida have been friendly.
A girl wearing a blue dress with tea cups on it, Peter Pan character at Disney World, and the writer wearing a purple shirt and mouse ears
I love meeting Disney characters and interacting with staff members.

Jenna Clark

I was born and raised in New York City, so I was taught not to make eye contact or say hello to most people when walking on the street.

One of the first things I noticed when I moved to Florida was how friendly many people were, especially the staff at Disney World.

Whenever I pass by people at my apartment complex or in the parks, a wave or a "hello" is often involved.

Though this initially felt strange, I've become more comfortable interacting with strangers.

I can see glimpses of Magic Kingdom's fireworks from my apartment.
Purple and yellow fireworks at Disney World
When I moved to Florida, I was excited to learn I could see Disney's fireworks from my apartment.

Jenna Clark

I never thought I'd be able to see Magic Kingdom's fireworks from my apartment, but now I can.

Though I don't have a complete view of the shows, I see at least a couple of magical fireworks each night.

On the other hand, Florida has more intense storms than New York.
Wilderness lodge, with several balconies and log details, at Disney World. Trees and bushes a side walk with fallen branches and leaves are in the foreground
I sheltered Disney World's Wilderness Lodge during Hurricane Ian.

Jenna Clark

I thought I knew what heavy rain was like living in New York, but I didn't realize how extreme tropical storms and hurricanes could be until I moved to Florida.

Although New York has been hit directly by a handful of hurricanes in the past few years, Florida is the most hurricane-prone state in the US.

The storms in Florida can get pretty extreme. When I had to evacuate my apartment complex and ride out Hurricane Ian, my first big Florida storm, I chose to stay at Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

It was a frightening experience, but I thought the park employees did a great job ensuring guests were as comfortable as possible.

Still, I try to stay on top of extreme weather warnings and upcoming storms more than ever now that I'm in Florida.

The heat can be brutal, especially when waiting for outdoor attractions.
The writer stands in front of a ride at Disney World with tea cups. The writer wears a white skirt, purple shirt, mouse ears, and a purple backpack
I wear sunscreen more often now that I live in Florida.

Jenna Clark

Florida is known for its high temperatures and strong sun rays, so I apply sunscreen much more often than I did in New York.

Many of the attractions and shows at the theme parks are outdoors, so if I forget my sunscreen, I get a harsh sunburn that lasts for several days.

The tap water doesn't taste as good as it did in NYC.
A hand with pink nails holds a red Coca-Cola cup in front of a wooden door
I don't think the Florida tap water tastes as good as the water in NYC.

Jenna Clark

After living in New York for about 20 years, I grew accustomed to the taste of tap water.

Since I made drinking tap water a habit, I usually bring my reusable water bottles with me when I visit the theme parks.

However, I find that Florida's tap water doesn't taste as great.

I miss my family and often experience homesickness.
Selfie of the writer and family in front of a sign that says "Disney's Yacht Club Resort Welcome Clark Family." The writer wears a headband with Mickey Mouse hands, another girl with pink hair wears pink mouse ears, and the mother wears green mouse ears
My parents have visited Florida a few times, but I miss them when they're not here.

Jenna Clark

I moved to Florida with my sister but often miss my parents and family back in New York.

It's hard knowing I can't take a 40-minute train ride to see my parents on the weekends like I did in college.

It's nice when my parents do come to visit, though.

This story was originally published on January 16, 2024, and most recently updated on December 23, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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