| Federal authorities get tougher on the gun vetting system |
| A USA TODAY review found that federal authorities sought to retrieve guns from thousands of people who should have been blocked by background checks from buying the weapons. Who are these prohibited buyers? People with criminal records, mental health issues or other problems that would block them from buying weapons. Or someone like Devin Kelley, who had a domestic violence record but still purchased a rifle used in the Texas church massacre in November that killed 25 people, including a pregnant woman whose unborn baby also died. The more than 4,000 requests last year by the FBI to retrieve weapons represent the largest number of such requests in 10 years. But the government has a mixed record in retrieving these guns. |
| It's Colin Kaepernick week |
| The free-agent QB Colin Kaepernick is stepping out in a series of rare high-profile appearances and is on the short list for Time magazine's Person of the Year. He got a standing ovation Sunday night when he accepted an award from the ACLU. "We all have an obligation no matter the risk, and regardless of reward, to stand up for our fellow men and women who are being oppressed," he said. He knows the risk well: He started kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games to draw attention to police brutality and racial inequality. And he last played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. Despite still being unsigned, he's recognized for his efforts: Time unveiled Monday that Kaepernick joins President Trump, special counsel Robert Mueller and the #MeToo movement, among others, as finalists for the magazine's cover. And he'll be feted by Sports Illustrated on Tuesday night. |
| Trump makes historic rollback to Obama, Clinton national monuments |
| President Trump is becoming the downsizer in chief when it comes to the federal government. It looks likely he'll soon be signing a tax cut bill, and he's also making historic cuts to lands under federal protection. Trump traveled Monday to Utah to announce drastically reducing the size of two nationals monuments in the state: one designated by President Barack Obama last year and another designated by President Bill Clinton in 1996. Trump also used the occasion to urge the Republican tax plan across the congressional finish line. The federal government could run out of money if Congress can't avoid a shutdown before Friday's deadline — and Trump may have to negotiate with the Democrats to make that happen. |
| In a word: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr |
| The coldest air of the season is poised to invade most of the central and eastern USA this week. All together now: How cold is it? Well, even portions of Florida will be seeing nighttime temperatures in the 30s. And, unlike previous cold snaps this fall, this one looks to stay around for a while, potentially until the first day of winter. (Hint: Dec. 21.) Areas that can expect snow include the eastern Dakotas, northwest Minnesota and the upper Great Lakes. Yes, it's beginning to look feel a lot like Christmas. |
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| CVS may be your one-stop shop for basic medical services |
| Watch out Amazon. CVS, the nation's No. 1 drugstore chain, is buying insurer Aetna in a $69 billion deal that could reshape basic health care. Forget getting candy bars, toothpaste or makeup at CVS. With the Aetna deal, the drug store is hoping to remake itself as a health care provider first and a retailer second. It recently announced plans to offer next-day delivery in a move widely viewed as a pre-emptive strike at Amazon. It also plans to bolster its MinuteClinic, which provides nurse-practitioner treatment for minor conditions. The two companies have pledged to lower health care costs. There is still uncertainty on how the deal will play out for consumers. |
| The Short List is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY. |
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