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On This Day, Dec. 29, 1985: Billy Joel becomes a first-time father

On This Day, Dec. 29, 1985 …Billy Joel became a father when he and his wife, model Christie Brinkley, welcomed their only child together, daughter Alexa Ray Joel.Their daughter's middle name was a tribute to legendary musician Ray Charles, with whom Billy collaborated on the 1987 song “Baby Grand." Joel later wrote the 1993 song “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)” for Alexa.Alexa followed in her father's footsteps as a musician and released the EP Sketches in 2006, along with several other […]

December 29, 2025

Entertainment

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ smokes contenders at the holiday box office to hold #1 spot

Zoe Saldaña stars as Neytiri in 'Avatar: Fire and Ash.' (20th Century Studios)Avatar: Fire and Ash has burned up the box office again.The third film in James Cameron's epic sci-fi series retained its #1 spot over the Christmas holiday weekend, taking in an additional $64 million, according to Box Office Mojo. So far, the film has earned $760 million worldwide. Disney's animated sequel Zootopia 2 returned to the #2 spot with $20 million.Of the new films making their debuts in wide release […]

December 29, 2025 1

Entertainment

Robin Roberts says viewers should watch ‘The Year: 2025’ because ‘ABC News is the best’

'The Year: 2025' poster (ABC)Robin Roberts returns to recap the biggest moments of the past 12 months in The Year: 2025. This marks the 15th year of the ABC News special, which Robin says has become a meaningful way for many families to reflect on the year that was.“It’s really become a tradition for a lot of families," she tells ABC Audio. "They sit down with their kids, and they’re like, ‘It is the holidays ... Let's remember all that happened […]

December 29, 2025 2

Music

The Year in Music 2025: Brian Wilson, Sly Stone among the music greats we lost this year

It’s always sad to say goodbye to our favorite musicians when they pass away, and 2025 was certainly a tough year.The music world lost a true legend on June 11 when Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson died in his sleep at the age of 82. He was living with dementia at the time and had been placed under a conservatorship in early 2024 following the death of his wife, Melinda Wilson.Another influential artist we lost in 2025 was Sly Stone, of Sly and the Family Stone, who passed […]

December 29, 2025 8

Entertainment

Brigitte Bardot, French film icon, dead at 91

Brigitte Bardot in 1963. (John Kisch Archive/Getty Images)Brigitte Bardot, the French movie icon and sex symbol and animal rights activist, has died. She was 91.The news was announced on the website of her Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals, with a banner reading, "Thank you Brigitte. A lifetime and a foundation dedicated to serving animals.""The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its Founder and President, Mrs. Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to […]

December 28, 2025

Health

Telemedicine On The Front Lines: The App That’s Saving Lives In Ukraine

Three years into the war in Ukraine, hospitals are facing a critical shortage of medical specialists as doctors flee the fighting. In some cases, patients with life-threatening conditions are being treated by physicians without the training they need. Now, a mobile app is connecting Ukrainian doctors to specialists around the world to deliver second opinions when they matter most. Guest Information: Dr. Olga Maihutiak, chief operating officer, Global Medical Knowledge Alliance Dr. Olha Kostenchak, oncology hematologist in Ukraine Dr. Darya […]

December 28, 2025 2

Viewpoints

Locked Out Of Work: Women, Criminal Records & The Fight To Rebuild

Coral reefs are home to 25 percent of all marine life – approximately 800,000 species. But these vibrant, colorful landscapes are more than just a home for aquatic life. Coral reefs are animals themselves. Two ocean experts join us this week to share some interesting facts about these unique creatures and why people should care about their declining existence. Helen Fox, conservation science director, Coral Reef Alliance; Juli Berwald, ocean expert, author, Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for […]

December 28, 2025 2

Health

Bodies For Sale: The Unregulated Afterlife Of Bodies Donated To Research

Though organ donation is a tightly regulated process, many of those protections disappear when a person’s whole body is donated to science. Each year, thousands of bodies enter a system with minimal oversight, where past cases have revealed misuse, profit-driven practices, and violations of consent. Now, experts are pushing for ethical standards in an industry that’s long operated in the shadows. Guest Information: Joy Balta, professor of anatomy, founding director, Anatomy Learning Institute, Point Loma Nazarene University, member, American Association […]

December 28, 2025 2

Viewpoints

The Hidden Labor Gap In Modern Families

Even as dual-income households become more of the norm across America, women often still shoulder more of the work at home. We explore why this imbalance persists and what real equity moving forward could look like. Kate Mangino, gender expert, author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home. Links for more info: How Gender Equity Begins at Home – Harvard Business Review Kate Mangino – Instagram Kate Mangino Website Why Women Do the Household Worrying – The New York Times […]

December 28, 2025 3