Just because a player was picked near the top of August fantasy drafts does not mean you have to start them in the fantasy championship week four months later.

Exhibit A would be the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson. Might be the NFL’s most talented receiver; might also spend most of Christmas sulking through another Max Brosmer start. No. 18 is more likely to see lumps of coal than his third touchdown catch of this lost season.

Who’s most likely to fail this week? Stars with nagging injuries? All-pros whose teams were eliminated over the past two weeks? Standouts with particularly bad matchups?

Here’s our position-by-position thoughts, including some potential Week 17 gold that might still be available on waivers.

Quarterback — Nagging injuries make both Bills’ Josh Allen and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson dicey, while Detroit’s Jared Goff is facing that tough Vikings defense. Two guys who could have big games Sunday are the Saints’ Tyler Shough versus the Titans and Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett against Cincinnati.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) fumbles as Miami Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones (23) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Running back — It’s been a while since Indy’s Jonathan Taylor or the Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco found much room to run. And they’ll be working less with their teams out of the playoff chase. So, you’d be better off turning to the Cardinals’ Michael Carter against the Bengals or the Rams’ Blake Corum in Atlanta.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) celebrates the team’s win against the Tennessee Titans after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Wide receiver — First of all, Pittsburgh’s D.K. Metcalf is unavailable because he slapped a fan in Detroit. But Lions fans are likely to see diminished versions of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams versus the Vikings. So, better options might be former Viking Adam Thielen against Cleveland, Indy’s Alec Pierce versus the Jaguars, the Jags’ Parker Washington versus the Colts and Denver’s Troy Franklin in Kansas City.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Dk Metcalf (4), right, and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) celebrate during the NFL football game between Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park stadium in Dublin, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.(AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Tight end — Not even Taylor Swift would start Travis Kelce this week. The Chiefs’ soon-to-be-retired icon will not see a lot of passes coming his way. At least not as many as Jacksonville’s Brenton Strange versus Indy, Houston’s Dalton Schultz versus the Chargers or New England’s Hunter Henry against the Jets.

FILE – Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, right, is congratulated by Taylor Swift as they celebrate the Chiefs victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship NFL football game, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Sitting stars

He’s still a must-start, but we’ve got a feeling Atlanta RB Bijan Robinson will lose key market share to teammate Tyler Allgeier against the Rams. … Seattle’s defense will mostly keep Carolina rushers Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard in check. … Quarterback uncertainty is a good reason not to count on Baltimore WR Zay Flowers in Green Bay. … Houston’s top defense will plague Chargers receivers, particularly Ladd McConkey. … Two QBs who will continue to slump are Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins versus the Rams and the Giants’ Jaxson Dart versus Las Vegas. … And the Philip Rivers revival cooled significantly in the second half Monday night, so you can’t count on him this week against red-hot Jacksonville.

Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates a win against the Minnesota Vikings after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Matchup game

Quarterback issues will lead to big days for some of the league’s best running backs: Buffalo’s James Cook against Philly, Baltimore’s Derrick Henry against the Packers and Miami’s De’Von Achane versus Tampa Bay. … Speaking of the Bucs, WR Mike Evans will have a big game in Miami. … But not as big as Denver WR Courtland Sutton against a Chiefs defense that has thrown in the towel. … The Raiders’ Brock Bowers is almost back to full strength, and the tight end will prosper against the Giants. … And two of the top QBs this week will again be Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence against the Colts and Dak Prescott versus Washington.

James Cook #4 runs for a touchdown as Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts during the second quarter in the NFL 2025 game between Buffalo Bills and New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Injury watch

The absence of Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is not very fantasy relevant, but the possible sidelining of Packers’ Jordan Love is. … Cleveland running back Quinshon Judkins is done for the season, which makes Raheim Sanders the Browns’ new No. 1. … Rams WR Davante Adams is likely to give his bad hamstring another week to heal. … The long list of questionables includes eight running backs (Vikings’ Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson, Packers’ Josh Jacobs, Cowboys’ Javonte Williams, Chargers’ Kimani Vidal, Browns’ Dylan Sampson, Texans’ Woody Marks), five receivers (Chiefs’ Rashee Rice, Bears’ Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, Packers’ Romeo Doubs, 49ers’ Ricky Pearsall) and two tight ends (49ers’ George Kittle, VIkings’ T.J. Hockenson).

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) on the field before an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Deepest sleeper

He has touched the ball only 63 times this season, but New Orleans’ Taysom Hill is just hitting his stride. The tight end and occasional quarterback threw his first touchdown pass in more than two years last Sunday, and he tallied 16 touches for 78 yards against the lowly Jets. This week’s foe, Tennessee, is almost as motley. Getting a touchdown from this veteran would be something less than a Christmas miracle. It would almost be predictable.

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill runs during the first half an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

The Christmas/Saturday picks

Cowboys at Commanders (+6½)
Pick: Cowboys by 7

Lions at Vikings (+5½)
Pick: Lions by 7

Broncos at Chiefs (+12½)
Pick: Broncos by 20

Texans at Chargers (-2½)
Pick: Texans by 3

Ravens at Packers (-2½)
Pick: Ravens by 3

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) changes direction as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) chases defends in the fourth quarter of an NFL game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. The Ravens beat the Vikings, 27-19. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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A fire at Grace Slavic Church in Eagan destroyed the building’s main sanctuary but left something prominent standing: a wooden cross.

“That is a miracle,” Diana Afanasyev, Deacon Andrey Afanasyev’s wife, said. “They said that the fire actually started right there.”

On Friday evening, a fire erupted on the main level of the church’s sanctuary, Afanasyev said. Two people were in the sanctuary when the fire occurred and were able to leave unharmed. The fire was caused by Christmas decorations, according to the Eagan Fire Department. The church will now be hosting its candlelight Christmas Eve service at a nearby Lutheran church.

“The whole sanctuary, the whole main area, is completely destroyed,” Afanasyev said.

A tight-knit community

The congregation was understandably saddened by the fire, and many still are. The building has served the Russian-speaking community for 20 years, Afanasyev said, and a lot of time has been spent remodeling it. It has become a very cozy space, she said, and now they’ll have to work to rebuild it again.

“A lot of things were lost that we can’t restore, like an old Bible we had in there, lots of decorations, and everything is gone,” Afanasyev said. “But, you know, we remain hopeful. We hope we can rebuild and make it even nicer.”

Matthew Afanasiev, a son of the church’s pastor, said he was out of town when he received word that the church was on fire.

“I grew up going there,” Afanasiev said. “I was essentially born into the church, so I grew up there my whole life. And my dad FaceTimed me standing outside, as a firefighter was trying to put it out, and it was just really shocking. I was in disbelief that it was a massive raging fire.”

Afanasiev said it was difficult to see a church he has such fond memories of going up in flames.

Community and  faith-led values

An exterior view of Grace Slavic Church in Eagan. The church’s building has served Minnesota’s Russian-speaking community for 20 years. (Courtesy of Grace Slavic Church)

The community of Grace Slavic Church is not theatrical or showy, Afanasyev said. According to Afanasiev, the church is all volunteer-run and doesn’t participate in tithing or ask for financial donations from its members.

Their church services are grounded in following the word of the Bible, Afanasyev said, and churchgoers can expect a good musical worship service, too. They’re a calm, but strongly rooted and connected community, she said.

“We have a very close-knit community,” Afanasyev said. “Just to give an example, if somebody gets sick, you’re getting meals from all members; 24/7, they’ll visit you.”

Minnesota has a large Russian-speaking community, she said, and Grace Slavic Church is just one of the churches that serves them. The services are often led in Russian, and most people in the church know one another; many have been members for years, she said. The community ranges in age from children to seniors, and every now and then, there are new faces, she said.

Something the church prioritizes is caring for those around them.

For the past 15 years, the church has been a drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child, a donation initiative that provides gifts to underprivileged children, she said. The church hosts things like community picnics to bring people together, and during the war between Russia and Ukraine, Afanasyev said the church has welcomed many Ukrainian refugees, helping them with social, housing and resource needs.

“We try to help as much as we can and work with, you know, people around us,” Afanasyev said.

Assistance from other churches

The fire in their beloved church has been disheartening, Afanasyev said. Seeing the photos of the space compared to how it looked before the fire was like night and day, but she couldn’t help but notice the church’s wooden cross still standing.

Grace Slavic Church in Eagan decorated for Christmas shortly before a fire on Dec. 19, 2025 destroyed the main sanctuary. (Courtesy of Grace Slavic Church)

“When I received the picture of the damage, I was shocked to say the least,” Afanasyev said. “I first noticed something far, because it was a farther picture. I saw the cross then, and my first comment was, ‘Wow, God is good, the cross is still standing.’ I can’t believe it. That is a miracle.”

The cross has been with the church since it was first formed, she said. It will be restored and will stand again in the rebuilt church when the time comes.

As Christmas nears, the church has had to figure out where it will host its Christmas service, now that the main sanctuary is no longer available, and the entire building is closed due to the damage.

Local churches in the area, like Christ Lutheran Church, 1930 Diffley Road, offered to host a church service for the congregation. And a candlelight service will be held on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. at Living Word Lutheran Church, 4300 Nicols Road.

“It’s really heartwarming,” Afanasiev said. “A lot of people are coming together, so it’s nice to see some community, trying to give you some hope for people these days.”

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The church has also received donations through its GoFundMe page (gofund.me/fc35a99ab), which is still available to receive donations to help restore the sanctuary.

Members of the church have already asked if they can help with cleanup and restoration, Afanasyev said. The church will post about when something like that will take place on their Facebook page, along with service location announcements and other updates, she said.

Afanasyev and Afanasiev said they are grateful for the support people and churches around them have offered, and are hopeful for what’s to come for their church community.

I’m always looking to give you the easiest ways to make great dinners, recipes with a good ratio of effort to deliciousness. But as I sat down to write this week’s article, I noticed that the five I selected below are all really, truly, exceptionally simple and great — standouts that are satisfying, too. They’re perfect for a busy time of year (now) when you need fortification at home at the end of the day. That’s especially true if you, like me, live in a place where there’s already snow on the ground and in the trees.

1. Beef Biryani With Cumin Raita

Beef biryani with cumin raita. This shortcut recipe from Kay Chun transforms biryani from an hourlong engagement into something you can make quickly. Food styled by Monica Pierini. (Linda Xiao/The New York Times)

This cheater version of biryani allows you to enjoy the wonderfully fragrant and complex dish on a busy weeknight. The shortcut method here gives the rice a head start in a Dutch oven, while a ground beef mixture comes together quickly in a skillet. Don’t be deterred by the long ingredient list, as most of the ingredients are dried spices that don’t require any prep work. Aromatic garlic, ginger and spices are bloomed in ghee to extract as much flavor as possible, and there’s a nice hit of heat from the chile powder (so use half the amount if a milder dish is desired). A tangy cumin raita is a lovely finishing drizzle that brightens the meal.

By Kay Chun

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
5 cardamom pods
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
2 whole cloves
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Kosher salt and pepper
3 tablespoons ghee
1/2 large white onion, thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 teaspoons garam masala
1/2 teaspoon ground Kashmiri chile powder or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 star anise
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, divided
1 pound ground beef (preferably 20% fat)
3/4 cup Greek-style plain yogurt, divided
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, divided

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large Dutch oven, combine rice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, broth and 1/2 teaspoon of salt over medium-high heat; cover and bring to a boil. Once it boils, reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of the ghee in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium. Add onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant and well blended, 2 minutes.

3. Push onion mixture to one side of the skillet and melt the remaining 1 tablespoon ghee in the empty side. To the melted ghee, add garlic, ginger, garam masala, chile powder, fennel, turmeric, star anise and 1/4 teaspoon of the cumin; stir until well blended, 30 seconds.

4. Mix the spices into the onion mixture until well combined, then add beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat into small pieces, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes (it will finish cooking with the rice). Turn off heat and stir in 1/4 cup of the yogurt until well incorporated.

5. Drizzle milk evenly over the rice, then add the beef mixture on top in an even layer. Scatter over half of the cilantro, cover and cook until the beef is tender and rice is cooked through, 8 minutes longer.

6. Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/4 teaspoon cumin and 2 tablespoons of water and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

7. Gently fluff the rice with a fork and discard star anise and any other visible whole spices. Divide biryani among 4 bowls and garnish with the remaining cilantro. Serve warm, with the cumin raita on the side.

2. Sheet-Pan Lemon Turmeric Chicken

Sheet-pan lemon turmeric chicken. Simple and sunny, this recipe from Zaynab Issa cooks in fewer than 25 minutes under the broiler. Food styled by Simon Andrews. (Christopher Testani/The New York Times)

While a broiler is often used to add a final kiss of color to a dish, here, it functions more like a grill — using high, direct heat to cook the chicken. This speedy, mess-free method yields tender, juicy meat with a browned, slightly crisp exterior in just 20 minutes. The sunny marinade features yogurt to gently tenderize the meat, along with garlic, turmeric and lemon zest for a bright, earthy flavor. The leftover lemon gets broiled alongside the chicken, and the juice gets squeezed over the top for a final zingy touch.

By Zaynab Issa

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 40 min

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup plain yogurt, plus more if desired for serving
1 lemon, zested then halved and seeded
4 garlic cloves, finely grated
3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 large yellow onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
White rice or pita, for serving
Hummus, for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, lemon zest, garlic, turmeric, 2 teaspoons salt and lots of black pepper and mix well to combine. Add chicken and turn to coat; let marinate while you prep the tomatoes and onion. (Chicken can be marinated up to 24 hours in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.)

2. Set oven to high broil and arrange a rack 6 inches from the heat source.

3. Transfer tomatoes and onion wedges to a sheet pan. Drizzle with oil, season with salt, and toss to coat. Nestle chicken thighs among the vegetables and drizzle their marinade on top. Place lemon halves, cut-side down, in the pan.

4. Transfer the pan to the oven and broil until the chicken, tomatoes and onion wedges are charred in spots, 18 to 22 minutes. (Watch carefully in the final minutes of cooking to make sure nothing gets too scorched.)

5. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Once the lemons are cool enough to handle, squeeze out any juice over the chicken. Serve the chicken, tomatoes and onion wedges over rice or stuffed into pita pockets alongside hummus or more yogurt seasoned with salt.

3. Pasta With Spicy Sausages, Tomatoes, Rosemary and Olives

This rich, tangy and spicy 30-minute dinner recipe was originally developed for whole wheat pasta, which begs for bold flavors to stand up to its earthy nuttiness. But it really works beautifully with any pasta. If the fresh tomatoes at your market aren’t delighting you, substitute a 15-ounce can of whole tomatoes.

By Melissa Clark

Yield: 2 to 3 servings

Total time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed
1 large sprig fresh rosemary
1 fat garlic clove, finely chopped
1 1/2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, trimmed and diced
1/4 cup green pitted olives, slivered
Salt to taste
1/2 pound pasta, like penne
Finely chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and rosemary; cook, breaking up the meat with a fork, until browned and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, cook 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and stir occasionally until they have broken down and turned into a sauce, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the olives for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Add salt to taste, cover and keep warm.

2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain well and toss with the sauce. Finish with parsley, if you like.

4. Tomato and Ginger Braised Tofu

Tomato and ginger braised tofu. Hetty Lui McKinnon makes a jammy, zingy sauce for tofu using burst cherry tomatoes, ginger and soy sauce. Food styled by Cyd Raftus McDowell. (Armando Rafael/The New York Times)

Tomatoes and tofu may not be an obvious pairing, but they belong together in this speedy braise. A brave amount of ginger provides a robust flavor foundation for this sauce, imparting verve. (If you’d like to increase the heat, you could add some crushed red pepper, too.) Halving the cherry tomatoes helps them break down faster, transforming them into a rich sweet, savory and tangy sauce in minutes. This recipe works any time of year: If fresh cherry tomatoes are unavailable, 28 ounces of canned cherry tomatoes will also work. Pan-frying the tofu first makes the slices sturdier and locks in moisture, creating the perfect texture to carry and soak up the braising sauce.

By Hetty McKinnon

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 50 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Extra-virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 (2- to 3-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 pounds cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt and pepper
2 (14- to 16-ounce) blocks extra-firm tofu, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick pieces
2 tablespoons soy sauce
4 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Cooked rice, for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat a wide pot or deep skillet on medium-high. When hot, add a generous drizzle of olive oil, along with the garlic and ginger. Toss for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant, then add the tomatoes and 1/2 cup water. Season well with salt and pepper. Cover with lid (or use a sheet pan), adjust heat to medium-low and cook until the tomatoes have broken down and look jammy, 10 to 12 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large 12-inch skillet on medium-high for 2 minutes, until very hot. Drizzle with olive oil and, working in batches, add as many tofu slices as can comfortably fit in the pan. Season the tofu generously with salt and pepper and drizzle the top of the tofu with a little more oil. Cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining tofu.

3. To the tomatoes, add the soy sauce, rice vinegar and sugar, stirring to break up the tomatoes. Taste the sauce — it should be tangy and savory — and if needed, season with more salt and pepper, or sugar if it’s too tart.

4. Add the tofu slices to the tomatoes, carefully turning them in the sauce to coat. Cook on medium heat until the tofu is heated through, about 2 minutes.

5. Top with scallions and serve with rice.

5. Cheesy Green Chile Bean Bake

Cheesy green chile bean bake. This Ali Slagle bean bake is the kind of utterly easy, incredibly flexible dinner you need if you’re feeding kids. Food styled by Barrett Washburne. (Kerri Brewer/The New York Times)

This quick and easy skillet dinner is somewhere between an easy take on enchiladas verdes (no rolling required) and a complete-meal rendition of chile con queso. The base is a mixture of charred green chiles, pinto beans and store-bought or homemade salsa verde, which delivers the brightness of tomatillos, chiles, cilantro and lime. Blanket the bean-and-chile mixture with Monterey Jack cheese, then broil until molten. Serve with tortillas, tortilla chips, rice, a baked sweet potato or fried eggs. You could also add Mexican chorizo, bacon or spinach with the chiles, or leftover pulled chicken with the beans.

By Ali Slagle

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon neutral oil (such as grapeseed)
2 poblano chiles or green bell peppers, seeds and stem removed, coarsely chopped
Salt and pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed
1 (16-ounce) jar salsa verde, or 1 3/4 cups homemade salsa verde
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves, stems reserved and finely chopped
1 1/2 cups/6 ounces grated Monterey Jack cheese
Lime wedges, for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. Arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven and heat the broiler to high. (If you don’t have a broiler, see Tip.)

2. In a large, ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the poblanos and cook, undisturbed, until browned underneath, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Stir in the beans, salsa verde and cilantro stems, and simmer until thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Turn off the heat, sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top, then broil until melted and browned in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve right away topped with cilantro leaves and a squeeze of lime.

Tip: You can also melt the cheese on the stovetop. Set the heat under the skillet to low, cover the skillet, and cook until the cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.

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Today is Wednesday, Dec. 24, the 358th day of 2025. There are seven days left in the year. This is Christmas Eve.

Today in history:

On Dec. 24, 2013, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II granted a posthumous pardon to code-breaker Alan Turing, who was criminally convicted of homosexual behavior in the 1950s.

Also on this date:

In 1814, the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent, which would end the War of 1812 following ratification by both the British Parliament and the U.S. Senate.

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In 1851, fire devastated the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., destroying about 35,000 volumes (about two-thirds of the library’s collection).

In 1865, several veterans of the Confederate Army formed a private social club in Pulaski, Tennessee, that was the original version of the Ku Klux Klan.

In 1913, 73 people, most of them children, died in a crush of panic after a false cry of “Fire!” during a Christmas party for striking miners and their families at the Italian Hall in Calumet, Michigan.

In 1914, during World War I, impromptu Christmas truces began to take hold along parts of the Western Front, principally between British and German soldiers but also involving French troops.

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe.

In 1992, President George H.W. Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in the Iran-Contra scandal.

In 2018, a series of explosions ripped through fireworks workshops in Tultepec, a town just north of Mexico City, leaving at least 24 people dead and dozens injured.

In 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe survived its record-breaking closest approach to the sun, hurtling 3.8 million miles above its fiery surface. Since its 2018 launch, the probe has completed numerous other close fly-bys to observe solar wind and other events.

Today’s Birthdays:

Immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci is 85.
Filmmaker Lee Daniels is 66.
Basketball Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright is 64.
Singer Ricky Martin is 54.
Novelist and film producer Stephenie Meyer is 52.
TV host Ryan Seacrest is 51.
Rock singer Louis Tomlinson (One Direction) is 34.
NFL wide receiver Davante Adams is 33.