1. Thousands of people are stranded this morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where more than 1,000 flights were grounded just days before the start of the Christmas travel rush. A sudden power outage caused by a fire in an underground electrical facility brought the airport to a standstill Sunday about 1 p.m. (PH)
2. Maine’s Republican governor says he plans to bring up his proposal to prevent the use of food stamps for junk food during a visit to Washington, D.C. LePage told The Associated Press that even though Maine children and adults are dealing with obesity and type 2 diabetes, the federal government won’t allow him to take soft drinks, chocolate bars and candy off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s list of allowed foods. (WCSH6)
3. The Thomas Fire is the largest of several wildfires that have ravaged California this month, scorching 400 square miles, destroying more than 1,000 buildings and leaving two people dead, including a firefighter. According to live updates from Buzzfeed, the Thomas Fire grew by 10,000 acres between Saturday and Sunday, fueled by intense winds and low humidity. Firefighters managed to save hundreds of homes in Montecito as the fire raged in Santa Barbara. (BF)
4. Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted in the end zone with 5 seconds remaining, securing New England’s 27-24 comeback victory Sunday built on Brady and Gronkowski magic. The victory gave the Patriots a record ninth AFC East title in a row and another shot at home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. (PH)
5. AIM is now away permanently. AOL announced back in October that their beloved Instant Messenger service would be discontinued. Sadly, Friday was the day. To cope, Twitter users are sharing their first screen names, memorable statuses, sadness, and thanks. (Mashable)
