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FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 file photo, Gary Seri, general manager at the Stone River Grille, hangs a sign reading "HUG A TEACHER TODAY" written on a table cloth in honor of the teachers who died along with students a day earlier when a gunman opened fire at the Sandy Hook elementary school in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn. Seri said the teachers were scheduled to have their holiday party at his restaurant. He put up red balloons that were not used when a sweet 16 party was canceled the night before, in lieu of the massacre. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Afghan policemen stand guard outside of Kabul police headquarters, where a an American advisor was killed, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 24, 2014. An Afghan policewoman killed an American adviser at the Kabul police headquarters on Monday, a senior Afghan police official said. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
1. NRA HOLDS FAST ON GUN CONTROL AFTER SHOOTING
The gun-rights group argues that not a single new gun regulation would make children safer.
2. HOW NEWTOWN SHIFTED TALK ON TEACHERS
Students and parents see their instructors as heroes instead of criticizing generous benefits.
3. PREDICTING 'FISCAL CLIFF' TALKS WILL GO TO THE WIRE
Senators say Congress will be in session on New Year's Eve trying to avert a budget crisis.
4. US ADVISER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN
Police say an Afghan policewoman killed the adviser at police headquarters in Kabul.
5. WHY HOLIDAY SHOPPING IS MUTED THIS YEAR
Superstorm Sandy, "fiscal cliff" uncertainty, the school shooting and a delayed economic recovery hurt consumer confidence.
6. WHAT'S NEXT AFTER EGYPT'S CONSTITUTION VOTE
The AP's Hamza Hendawi says the Islamist leadership will move for legislation to create a more religious state.
7. WHERE'S SANTA? ASK NORAD
The U.S.-Canada command began taking calls about Santa Claus' whereabouts back in the 1950s, when a Colorado newspaper inadvertently printed its number.
8. SENATOR CHARGED WITH DRUNK DRIVING
Police say Idaho Republican Michael Crapo had a blood alcohol content of .110 when he was pulled over in Alexandria, Va.
9. 'SKINNYGIRL' SPLITS WITH HUSBAND
Bethenny Frankel, the TV personality who founded the Skinnygirl line cocktail and shapewear line, is separating from husband Jason Hoppy after two years.
10. 'THE HOBBIT' BESTS TOM CRUISE
Peter Jackson's prelude to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy took in $36.7 million in its second weekend. Cruise's "Jack Reacher" debuted a distant second with $15.6 million.