Five Things To Know for Dec. 31: NYE Security, ACA Subsidies, SNAP Limits, Stock Rally, MetroCard Retires

It’s been a whirlwind year. Here are five key developments to bring you up to speed as countries around the world ring in 2026.

1. New Year’s Eve Security Heightened

Officials worldwide have stepped up security for New Year’s celebrations. In New York City, the NYPD has deployed thousands of officers across Times Square ahead of the iconic ball drop, supported by helicopters and drones for broad-area monitoring. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “New Year’s Eve in Times Square is one of the largest and most complex public safety operations in the world, and one the NYPD has secured successfully for decades.” On the West Coast, Californians face the possibility of more stormy weather after a destructive Christmas-week storm brought intense flooding and debris flows.

2. Enhanced ACA Premium Subsidies Expire

Enhanced premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act are scheduled to expire after today, a change that could raise health insurance costs for millions of Americans in 2026. House Democrats plan a January vote on a proposal to extend the subsidies for three years, but the measure faces steep obstacles in the Senate. The dispute over these subsidies contributed to a record-long government shutdown this fall; both Democratic and Republican health-care bills failed to pass the Senate in mid-December.

3. SNAP Purchase Restrictions Begin in Five States

Starting Thursday, recipients of federal food assistance in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia will face new limits on buying certain sugary drinks, candy and other items deemed unhealthy under state SNAP waivers. These five states are the first of at least 18 seeking waivers to restrict some SNAP purchases; the program serves roughly 42 million people. Officials say the measures support efforts to reduce chronic diseases linked to sugary and highly processed foods.

4. Stock Market Nears Rare Three-Year Double-Digit Run

The U.S. stock market is on track for an uncommon milestone: three consecutive years of double-digit returns. The S&P 500 is set to rise roughly 17% in 2025, following gains of about 23% in 2024 and 24% in 2023 — a streak that has occurred only a handful of times since the 1940s. Analysts point to robust corporate earnings, excitement over artificial intelligence and hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts as the main drivers, despite lingering worries about tariffs, geopolitics and the long government shutdown earlier this year.

5. MetroCard Phased Out; OMNY Takes Over

After more than 30 years, New York City is retiring the MetroCard. Beginning January 1, the MTA will stop selling MetroCards and require riders to use OMNY (One Metro New York), a contactless payment system that accepts smartphones, smartwatches, credit cards and dedicated OMNY cards. The MTA says the transition will save about $20 million annually in production, distribution, vending-machine repairs and cash-handling costs. Many riders regard MetroCards as nostalgic keepsakes and some are already collecting them.

Other Brief Items

• Artemis II: NASA’s Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch as soon as February and would mark the first crewed trip beyond low-Earth orbit since 1972.
• Travel & Culture: CNN Travel highlights top places to visit in 2026, from Japan and Spain to Australia and the Caribbean.
• Seafood Heist: Authorities reported the theft of thousands of oysters, a cache of crab and roughly $400,000 worth of lobster meat in a brazen seafood heist.
• Federal Probe: The administration says it has frozen child-care payments to Minnesota amid a federal fraud investigation.
• Channel Tunnel Disruption: A power failure paralysed Channel Tunnel rail traffic, causing travel chaos for thousands of passengers between the U.K. and mainland Europe.

🌤️ Check your local forecast for weather updates. If you observe personal traditions for good luck, many people believe they help set a positive tone for the year ahead.

Today’s edition of 5 Things AM was edited and produced by CNN’s Andrew Torgan.

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