“Occasions” on The Daily Caller

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer confidence hit an eight-month high in January. The increase suggests the rising spirits that fueled a holiday shopping boom are carrying over into the new year as people feel better about the job market. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday by joining a painting project at a school on Capitol Hill. (more)

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) — Tornadoes fueled by unusually warm air pummeled the U.S. South and Midwest on Friday and early Saturday, killing at least six people and injuring dozens. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — Turns out there wasn’t room for Snooki in Times Square this New Year’s Eve. MTV’s plan to put “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi inside a ball to drop from the network’s Times Square headquarters has been dropped after an objection by the group that oversees the world-famous celebration. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s the biggest public party in the country. Nearly a million revelers will cram into the streets of Times Square to watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A band of frigid weather snaking its way up the East Coast on Sunday threatened to bring blizzards and a foot of snow to New York City and New England, while several states to the South made emergency declarations as the storm caused crashes on slick roads. (more)

HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama has Hawaiian vacation plans for plenty of private time with his family, walks on the beach, rounds of golf and leisure reading. (more)

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Royal Mint has released a commemorative coin featuring supposedly lifelike portraits of Prince William and his bride-to-be — but critics say Kate Middleton has a right to be horrified. (more)

HONOLULU (AP) — A politically rejuvenated President Barack Obama arrived here late Wednesday for a 10-day family vacation in his home state. (more)

CHICAGO — Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel can run for Chicago mayor although he spent much of the last two years living in Washington while working for President Barack Obama, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners ruled Thursday. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — Skywatchers got an early holiday present this year: A total eclipse of the moon. (more)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Craig McTavish — a.k.a. Santa — has the beard. He has the belly. He even has a few tricks up his sleeve, like pulling up to parties on his Harley-Davidson in full Kris Kringle garb. (more)

CELEBRATION, Fla. (AP) — Celebration, Disney’s master-planned, picture-perfect central Florida community, has never reported a homicide in its 14-year existence — until this week. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of U.S. shoppers braved rain and cold to crowd stores while others grabbed online bargains on what could be the busiest Black Friday ever. (more)

CHICAGO (AP) — The lines moved smoothly at airports around the country Wednesday afternoon despite an Internet campaign to get Thanksgiving travelers to gum up the works on one of the busiest days of the year by refusing full-body scans. (more)

CHICAGO (AP) — An airport traveler who famously resisted a full-body scan and groin check with the words “If you touch my junk, I’ll have you arrested” has become an Internet sensation, tapping into rising frustration over increasingly invasive searches. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — Hoping to drum up support for independent merchants, American Express’ CEO said Monday that his company will promote “Small Business Saturday” on the weekend after Thanksgiving. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — After two frugal holiday seasons, many small business owners are planning, well, another frugal holiday season. (more)

GREAT FALLS, Montana (AP) — A Montana resident believed to be the world’s oldest man celebrated his 114th birthday Tuesday at a retirement home in Great Falls. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says preparing for her daughter’s wedding was the most wonderful, difficult and stressful task she’s taken on in the last few months. (more)