ELECTORAL COLLEGE // The members of the Electoral College voted in state capitals across the country (and Washington, DC). Only a handful of faithful electors cast ballots for other candidates. Donald Trump and Mike Pence were elected President and Vice-President. A majority of votes (270) were required to win. Story: http://cvote.it/2i9mCvD Final tallies:
Donald Trump: 304
Hillary Clinton: 227
Colin Powell: 3
Bernie Sanders: 1
John Kasich: 1
Ron Paul: 1
Faith Spotted Eagle: 1 (not joking).
TERRORISM // Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was shot dead in Ankara on Monday by a police officer who shouted “Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!” and “Allahu akbar,” Arabic for “God is great” in an attack that will unsettle the sensitive diplomacy around the civil war in neighboring Syria. http://cvote.it/2i9C9vh
TERRORISM // 12 dead, 48 injured after Pakistan-born refugee arrested rammed truck into Berlin Christmas market. http://cvote.it/2i9zLVi
LGBT // The City of Charlotte repealed their radical LGBT ordinance that caused the North Carolina Legislature to pass HB2, the bathroom-protection law. In response to Charlotte’s move, North Carolina’s outgoing Republican governor called for a special session of the Legislature to repeal HB2. http://cvote.it/2i9smFE
ABORTION // The District Attorney in Texas who refused to prosecute Planned Parenthood for selling baby parts was defeated. Her replacement fires her staff. http://cvote.it/2i9iX0D
SOCIAL MEDIA // 28 percent of liberals said they removed someone from their social media circle over a political post, compared with 8 percent of conservatives. http://cvote.it/2i9v3GZ
CATHOLIC // Catholics hoped for a reprieve from assaults on religious freedom following the November elections, but a very serious threat looms with so-called SOGI or “sexual orientation and gender identity” laws. http://cvote.it/2i9pMPK
CATHOLIC // Blood of St. Januarius does not liquefy; Naples residents see bad omen. http://cvote.it/2i9Axli
ON THIS DAY // 1957 – Elvis Presley is drafted. http://cvote.it/2i9iOKS
SAINT // Saint Dominic of Silos – http://cvote.it/2h0CKlh
DAILY READINGS // Today’s readings – http://cvote.it/Daily-Readings
TRUTH //