Five Things to Know — Dec. 24: Epstein Files, Supreme Court Guard Ruling, Nursing Home Explosion, Student Loan Wage Garnishments, Wegovy Pill

Here are five headlines and other notable developments to bring you up to speed for Dec. 24.

Three Inmates Recaptured After Atlanta-Area Jail Escape

Three inmates accused of violent crimes who escaped from an Atlanta-area jail have been taken back into custody. Authorities have not released full details of how they escaped, but recorded jailhouse phone calls helped reveal how the escape was planned, law enforcement officials said.

New Epstein Documents Raise Questions About DOJ Review

The latest release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein included more references to former President Donald Trump than an earlier tranche and prompted renewed questions about the Department of Justice’s handling of the material. Prosecutors appear to have explored investigating and potentially charging additional people; a set of apparent FBI emails from 2019 refer to “10 co-conspirators.” To date, only Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell have been federally charged in the case.

Supreme Court Rejects Request To Deploy National Guard To Chicago

The Supreme Court declined President Trump’s request to permit him to deploy the National Guard to Chicago to protect ICE agents, an outcome described as a significant setback for the administration. The decision drew dissents from Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch and could affect plans for similar deployments in other cities.

Deadly Explosion Tears Through Nursing Home Near Philadelphia

An explosion and fire ripped through a nursing home outside Philadelphia, killing two people and injuring about 20 others, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said. First responders, staff and bystanders evacuated elderly residents. Officials said the blast remains under investigation but that a gas leak is the preliminary suspected cause; a local utility reported it was on site responding to reports of a gas odor when the explosion occurred.

Education Department To Begin Wage Garnishments For Defaulted Student Loans

The U.S. Education Department told CNN it will begin administrative wage garnishment of federal student loan borrowers in default starting in January. Loans enter default after roughly 270 days without payment. Administrative wage garnishment allows the department to require non-federal employers to withhold a portion of an employee’s wages to repay federal loans. As of April, the department reported more than 5 million borrowers in default and nearly 4 million delinquent by 90+ days.

FDA Approves Oral Wegovy Pill

The Food and Drug Administration approved an oral formulation of the weight-loss drug Wegovy this week, giving patients a daily-pill option that uses the same active ingredient (semaglutide) found in the injectable Wegovy and in Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic. The drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone and have transformed obesity treatment; health-policy research indicates a growing share of U.S. adults are using GLP-1 medicines.

Other Notable Items

Researchers this year solved several long-standing scientific mysteries using fossils, well-preserved remains and even a single fingerprint. Denmark’s foreign minister expressed upset over a U.S. special envoy to Greenland who has advocated bringing the island closer to the United States. In aviation news, a twin-engine turboprop reportedly executed an automatic landing after an in-flight emergency near Denver. Separately, one of China’s largest short-video platforms was flooded with pornographic and violent content, triggering public outrage in a tightly controlled online environment. A Texas grocery store temporarily allowed customers to leave unpaid after a computer glitch froze checkout systems.

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