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Wednesday, December 9

The US could authorize emergency-use for a vaccine within days or even hours. Questions surround death of Casey Goodson. It's Wednesday's news.

There's only one more hurdle before the nation's first COVID-19 vaccine can be cleared. The FTC won't let Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp be. And we're living in a literal concrete jungle.

It's Ashley. Let's do the news thing, shall we?

But first, money grows on trees: Americans are putting up more Christmas trees this year. What else is going up? Tree prices. 🎄

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!

Everybody! Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots

COVID-19 vaccines aimed at ending this pandemic once and for all are getting the green light around the world. Canada on Wednesday joined Britain in approving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Is the U.S. next? Maybe! The Food and Drug Administration could authorize emergency-use for the vaccine here within days or even hours. A committee crucial for clearing a vaccine is holding an all-day meeting Thursday and depending on how it votes, the nation's first doses could ship as early as Friday.

Britain's vaccine rollout had a hiccup: Two British people with severe allergies reportedly had allergic reactions to the vaccine, raising questions about whether it is safe for people with preexisting allergies. In response, British regulators advised those with severe allergies to avoid the vaccine. U.S., take note.

Another vaccine has entered the game: The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Health and Prevention on Wednesday became the first country to approve a Chinese vaccine candidate, a decision that could provide a lifeline for some developing nations where more costly Western vaccines may prove unworkable on a broad scale.

•	Trading COVID-19 vaccines. Regular deliveries. Tracking doses. What we know about Operation Warp Speed distribution processes.
•	A second dose of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna is needed, but the timing doesn't have to be exact, says government vaccine developer.
•	They have masks and gloves, there's more testing capacity: What nursing homes really need is more help, advocates say.

A tester wears personal protective equipment as she speaks to a patient at a mobile COVID-19 testing site on Tuesday in Auburn, Maine.

Robert F. Bukaty, AP

What everyone's talking about

•	President-elect Joe Biden's transition team announced that his son, Hunter, is being investigated for his taxes by the U.S. attorney's office in Delaware.
•	Crisis averted (for the moment): The House passed a bill allowing the federal government to remain open for one more week.
•	Seattle police who fired pepper spray, blast balls on BLM protesters violated order, judge says.
•	What were people searching on Google in 2020? Election, coronavirus, Kobe Bryant were among the top US trending searches.
•	Gwyneth Paltrow is opening up about her decision to step away from acting.
•	Pantone's 2021 Colors of the Year are ... Ultimate Gray and Illuminating.

If you use Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram, listen up

In what will be one of the most significant legal battles in its 16-year history, the Federal Trade Commission and 48 attorneys general on Wednesday filed an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook. At issue are two megadeals: the $1 billion purchase of Instagram in 2012, and the $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp in 2014, which positioned Facebook to dominate the social media landscape. The lawsuits allege that Facebook used its dominance to take out rivals and, in the process, harmed consumers who've had fewer choices and privacy protections as a result. The looming legal battles carry high stakes for Facebook, which could be forced to unwind the Instagram and WhatsApp deals. Of note: The FTC previously reviewed and cleared those deals. Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly said in the past that he doesn't want a "major lawsuit against our own government," but there's no way he's going down without a fight.

Questions surround death of Casey Goodson, Black man shot by SWAT officer

The shooting of a 23-year-old Black man by an officer in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday is quickly drawing attention and criticism. Casey Goodson Jr. was fatally shot outside his home on Friday following an unsuccessful search for a fugitive involving a U.S. Marshals task force. Authorities and family members tell conflicting stories about the events that led to his death, specifically whether he waved a gun. The incident comes at the end of a year that has seen communities across the nation protest law enforcement in response to several police-related incidents, including the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. On Tuesday, federal authorities announced they were joining Columbus police in the investigation of Goodson's death. Though the investigation is ongoing, here's what we know so far.

Casey Goodson

Family submission

Real quick

•	From my brilliant colleague David Oliver: Why "Brokeback Mountain" still stuns 15 years later as a universal love story and LGBTQ triumph.
•	A 55-year-old Louisiana man who was convicted of killing his toddler in South Texas is set to be executed Friday.
•	An explosion at a West Virginia chemical plant injured four, prompting a stay-inside order.
•	A Michigan girl caught COVID-19 after her high school required her to take the SAT in person.
•	After years of denial under Trump, experts expect Biden to confront domestic extremism.

We really are living in a concrete jungle

Human-made materials now outweigh all living things on Earth. According to a new study, the mass of all the planet's human-produced materials – concrete, steel, asphalt, etc. – has grown to equal the mass of all life on Earth (scientifically speaking, its biomass). In fact, humans are adding new buildings, roads, vehicles and products at a rate that is doubling every 20 years, leading to a "concrete jungle" that is predicted to reach more than 2 million tons – or more than double the mass of living things – by 2040.

A break from the news

•	🏡 The average homeowner's mortgage payment is $1,487. Here's how to pay less.
•	🚘 The all-electric 2021 GMC Hummer sold out in 10 minutes despite its $112K price.
•	🎁 Gift guides: 25 perfect presents that look more expensive than they actually are.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for The Short List newsletter here.