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[h=4]5 things you need to know Thursday[/h]The biggest news to start your morning.
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Recording artist Pitbull performs onstage at iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina presented by Sprint at American Airlines Arena on November 7, 2015 in Miami, Florida.(Photo: John Parra, Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Pitbull, patrols and possums<span style="color: Red;">*</span>help to ring in the New Year
10, 9, 8<span style="color: Red;">*</span>… When the clock<span style="color: Red;">*</span>strikes midnight the ball in New York's Times Square<span style="color: Red;">*</span>won’t be the only thing dropping on New Year’s Eve. Everything from a possum in North Carolina, to a hunk of cheese in Wisconsin, will be lowered to ring in 2016. In New York, more than<span style="color: Red;">*</span>6,000 police officers,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>air and water patrols,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>snipers<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and canine units<span style="color: Red;">*</span>will be on hand<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to ensure that more than a million expected revelers will have a safe time. Attacks on New Year’s celebrations around the world, from<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Belgium<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Bangladesh<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Turkey, have already been thwarted. However, if you decide to stay in for the holiday, you can<span style="color: Red;">*</span>party with Pitbull in Miami, or check out a host of other TV specials airing at 8 p.m.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>ET.
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USA TODAY's Nancy Trejos goes behind the scenes of the 2015 New Year's Eve Times Square Ball drop. Henry Morton
How now, Dow? Stock gauge<span style="color: Red;">*</span>may post first down year since 2008
The stock market has<span style="color: Red;">*</span>been on a volatile ride this year, rising to record highs in May and then suffering its first correction — or drop of 10% — since 2011 in August, before recovering and ending up pretty much exactly where we started. And today, on the market’s final day of trading, we will find out whether the Dow and S&P 500<span style="color: Red;">*</span>post a yearly loss for the first time since 2008, during the depths of the Great Recession. <span style="color: Red;">*</span>Either way,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>these eight CEOs have made a total of about $60 billion in stock gains this year.
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Sure it makes sense to vow you’ll shed pounds in the new year. But it makes even more sense to take steps to ensure you don’t lose financially. Adam Shell with America’s Markets.
College Football Playoff Semi-Final games at Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl
Before the confetti falls on 2015, the world of college football takes center stage as the College Football Playoff semifinals kick off. First up is No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Clemson at the Orange Bowl in Miami (4 p.m. ET, ESPN). Clemson will be without three players who were all<span style="color: Red;">*</span>suspended for failed drug tests<span style="color: Red;">*</span>earlier this week. In the second semifinal, No. 3 Michigan State takes on No. 2 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). The winners of these two games will move on to the national championship game on Jan. 11.
Clemson Tigers wide receiver Deon Cain (8) makes a catch during the third quarter in the ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Jim Dedmon, USA TODAY Sports)
Last chance to claim your ‘cramming’ refund
The deadline ends today<span style="color: Red;">*</span>for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Sprint<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Verizon Wireless<span style="color: Red;">*</span>customers to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>claim a refund tied<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to a $158 million<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Federal Communications Commission<span style="color: Red;">*</span>settlement<span style="color: Red;">*</span>over mobile<span style="color: Red;">*</span>“cramming." It seems the wireless carriers were billing customers as much as $14 a month for text-messaging subscription services, including horoscopes and sports scores, without their permission. The refunds apply to customers who have been charged since<span style="color: Red;">*</span>2010.
CORAL GABLES, FL - MAY 12: A Verizon wireless sign is seen on the outside of a store on May 12, 2015 in Coral Gables, Florida. Today, Verizon Communications announced an agreement to buy AOL for $4.4 billion. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 553938589 ORIG FILE ID: 473066264<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Joe Raedle, Getty Images)
Sidecar ride service is shutting down
San Francisco-based company Sidecar started<span style="color: Red;">*</span>nearly four years ago with what they called the first "ridesharing" app. In February, it launched Sidecar Deliveries to broaden its business model. But despite having big-name backers,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Sidecar<span style="color: Red;">*</span>struggled to compete with larger rivals Uber and Lyft, which dominate the market. As of Thursday afternoon, Sidecar<span style="color: Red;">*</span>will be no more.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>It closes its doors at 2 p.m. PT.
And<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the essentials:
Weather:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>There may be some rain in the Southeast, but it should be a clear day for much<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of the U.S.
Stocks:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>U.S. stock futures were<span style="color: Red;">*</span>higher Thursday, ahead of the New Year holiday.
TV Tonight:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Wondering what to watch to ring in the New Year? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Countdown to Downton Abbey and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Live/Bordertown.
If you missed Wednesday's news, we've got you covered with<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The Short List.
Need a break? Try<span style="color: Red;">*</span>playing some of our games.
You can<span style="color: Red;">*</span>subscribe<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to get the day's top news each weekday in your inbox.
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