The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, will once again be tracking Santa Claus this year, as he travels around the world, bringing gifts to kids across the globe. What started 70 years ago as a mistaken phone call from a child to the former Continental Air Defense Command, is now a beloved holiday tradition for families everywhere. More than a thousand volunteers will be staffing NORAD’s Santa Operations Center, to answer the hundreds of thousands of phone calls that come in from around the world.
In Southern California, powerful winter storms are threatening holiday plans. Millions in California are expected to hit the road for Christmas, but are likely to meet hazardous travel conditions. Officials are warning residents about potentially deadly flash flooding and mudslides, and to reconsider their holiday travel plans. Local and state officials are gearing up to respond to emergencies through the week. The state has also deployed resources and first responders to a number of counties along the coast and in Southern California, with the California National Guard on standby to assist….