Extra, Extra

All for Naughty: “The dismissal also marks a historic moment. Fifty years after Richard Nixon was forced by lawmakers from both parties to resign the presidency amid allegations of criminal conduct, half of American voters will return Trump to the presidency despite his own serious charges of criminal misconduct in office.” Jack Smith files to drop Jan. 6 charges against Donald Trump.

+ Cease or Ceaseless? There are some positive signs that Israel and Hezbollah could be very close to a ceasefire deal. In the meantime, fighting has intensified.

+ Island Fever: “Vaccine skepticism has ballooned worldwide, and Mr. Kennedy and others who back him have encouraged it. Americans may be well aware that their possible future health leader holds dangerous beliefs about vaccines. The consequences of his views — and those of his orbit — are not merely absurd but tragic.” NYT (Gift Article): I’ll Never Forget What Kennedy Did During Samoa’s Measles Outbreak. (Related: Bird flu detected in raw milk sold in California.)

+ Track Meat: “Today only a handful of meatpackers remain, and they’re preparing to say goodbye to a very different neighborhood, known more for its high-end boutiques and expensive restaurants than the industry that gave it its name.” The last meatpackers in NYC’s Meatpacking District are getting ready to say goodbye.

+ Tap That? “For decades, the ads have been reliably quirky, surprisingly effective and, well, very Vermont. Nowadays, Seven Days has a thriving online personals section to go with the print version. In a recent entry, one man in his 70s boasted of his several hundred maple sugar taps.” NYT: Dating App Fatigue? In Vermont, Personal Ads Still Thrive.

+ House Calls: “A rural doctor travels miles of unforgiving terrain by donkey, enduring cold, rain, wind and exhaustion, to visit several dozen families scattered across the highest mountain in the north of Argentina.” A photo essay from AP: A rural doctor traverses mountainous terrain by donkey to visit far-flung patients.

+ Bean Counters: “Concerns have mounted that supplies from Brazil will slow after a long drought that hurt coffee trees, which may reduce next season’s output.” Coffee Prices Surge to Highest Since 1997 on Supply Fears. (It’s still cheaper than cocaine…)