A government shutdown was averted at the eleventh hour. Congress approved a hastily revised short-term government funding bill after a previous attempt failed to pass the House this week. The earlier bill was upended by President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. The new bill funds federal operations and disaster aid, but does not address Trump’s demands to raise or abolish the debt ceiling. President Biden is expected to sign the bill today. Source

50 years ago, “The Godfather Part II” was playing in theaters nationwide. The film catapulted Lee Strasberg, whose namesake form of acting preparation was used by some of the film’s leads, to stardom. Dozens of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars have trained at his institute, learning the techniques of method acting. Michelle Miller went behind the scenes to learn more about “The Method Man.” Source

The New York City Ballet has been performing “The Nutcracker” for decades. Each year, young dancers make their mark on the ballet. Source

The New York City Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” began in 1954 and has remained one of the most enduring shows at Lincoln Center. Two young dancers taking the stage this year opened up about living their dream and keeping a holiday classic alive. Source

The stampede occurred in the early morning at a church in Nigeria, prompting evacuations at the church. Source

A North Texas drone company unofficially set a new Guinness World Record by using thousands of drones to create a stunning holiday light show in the sky. Meanwhile, a third-grader in Arizona is a hero after saving a friend from choking in the school cafeteria. All that and all that matters in today’s Eye Opener. Source

A 22-year-old forecasting the weather out of his bedroom is praised for helping people during natural disasters – and gets a big surprise from David Begnaud. And Santa comes early to two U.S. cities to bring Christmas magic to children in need. Plus, more uplifting news. Source

In California, we speak to an anthropologist whose new book offers firsthand accounts from human smugglers helping people cross into the U.S. illegally. And in Nebraska, we hear from experts raising the alarm that road barricades aren’t strong enough against heavier electric vehicles. Watch these stories and more on “Eye on America” with host Michelle Miller. Source

Senators approve a bill to expand Social Security benefits to 2.8 million, with President Biden expected to sign it into law. Source

Senators approve a bill to expand Social Security benefits to millions of Americans, with President Biden expected to sign it into law. Source