The Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah are continuing to trade blows along Lebanon’s border with Israel, leading to concerns that the northern border may become a second front amid the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli citizens are calling for the release of all remaining hostages taken on Oct. 7. Ian Lee has more from Israel. Source

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is facing backlash after she was asked on Wednesday what caused the Civil War and failed to include slavery in her answer, instead saying the conflict was about state’s rights. On Thursday, she attempted to walk back the comments, saying that slavery was an “unquestioned” aspect of the Civil War. Her words come just weeks before the first presidential primary. Christina Ruffini reports from Washington, D.C. Source

A 9-year-old boy from Maine has a sleepover at an animal shelter each Christmas Eve to raise awareness for fostering and adopting pets. A group of students is inspired to become a fleet of Secret Santas to help strangers. Plus, more heartwarming news stories. Source

With Ukraine’s counteroffensive all but stalled, winter setting in and aid for Ukraine from its allies in some doubt, Moscow hit hard from the air. Source

Dr. Shirley Weber made her decision despite a call for her to do so from California’s lieutenant governor. Source

SpaceX launches two rockets less than three hours apart to put a military spaceplane and 23 more Starlink internet satellites into orbit. Source

Don’t miss a single snap, pass or play in today’s Cotton Bowl as the Ohio State Buckeyes face the Missouri Tigers. Source

An initial burglary call led investigators to discover the bodies of two dead children. Their mother is the suspect for their murders, but she is now on the run. Source

MLB has placed Franco on administrative leave under its joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy with the players’ association. Source

A powerful Falcon Heavy rocket carried an unpiloted X-37B spaceplane into space while engineers readied a Falcon 9 for a Starlink flight Source