TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Romney prepares aggressive Iowa finish
Mitt Romney will try to sprint to the finish in Iowa, hoping to take advantage of shifting conditions that have put the wind at his back going into Tuesday’s caucuses.
(By Philip Rucker and and Dan Balz)
Tax cut shakes a premise of Social Security
Congress’s extension of the payroll tax cut has many in Washington worried that a foundation of Social Security — its dedicated funding stream — is being undermined.
(By Jia Lynn Yang)
Dan Balz: Among the candidates, Ron Paul worries everyone but Mitt Romney
Republican rivals would like to ignore Paul, but they can’t afford to. They’re attacking him at every turn.
(By Dan Balz)
Across Brazil, plummeting birth rates
Better health care, migration and even soap operas are playing a role in the shrinking birth rates in Brazil and across Latin America.
(By Juan Forero)
U.S. democracy groups raided in Egypt
Egyptian security forces and prosecutors stormed offices of three U.S. organizations and at least three other groups Thursday.
(By Leila Fadel and Joby Warrick)
NATION
Challenging the Navy’s numbers
FINE PRINT | The Navy should face the same changes as other armed services as procurement costs rise.
(, The Washington Post)
U.S. touts Saudi Arabia jet deal as a security, economic boon
Providing F-15 fights could create U.S. jobs while helping deter Iranian aggression, experts say.
( by Joby Warrick and Jason Ukman , The Washington Post)
Chesapeake ‘dead zone’ could broaden
A surge of polluted water from storms and snowmelt might kill more oysters in the bay.
( by Darryl Fears , The Washington Post)
More National: Breaking National News & Headlines - Washington Post
METRO
Foreclosures: ‘End of year uglies’
Lenders often halt evictions for the holidays, but the process never really stops — especially in Va.
( by Annys Shin , The Washington Post)
D.C. police charge man in 2 killings
Authorities say the target of the 2008 daylight shooting was a teen; a man, 61, was accidentally hit too.
( by Paul Duggan , The Washington Post)
Judge: City owes $1.1M in gun case fees
The amount is about a third of what lawyers who fought to overturn the District’s gun laws had requested.
( by Paul Duggan , The Washington Post)
Va. Tech killer Cho’s calculator for sale, renewing debate on ‘murderabilia’
A calculator used by Virginia Tech killer Seung Hui Cho and hundreds of items like it are being peddled to collectors by Web sites as “murderabilia.” The market is hardly a new one, but the practice renews the ethical debate.
( by T. Rees Shapiro , The Washington Post)
John E. Zucker, allergist known for pollen count, dies at 70
Zucker’s daily pollen counts were used by radio and television stations and by Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone for its recorded weather updates.
( by Emily Langer , The Washington Post)
More Post Local: Washington, DC Area News, Traffic, Weather, Sports & More - The Washington Post
POLITICS
Gingrich makes closing argument in Iowa
Newt Gingrich delivered a closing argument to Iowa Republicans this week, saying that he is the most effective conservative in the race for the GOP presidential nomination even as his opponents continued hammering him with negative ads.
( by Amy Gardner , The Washington Post)
Observances planned to mark anniversary of Giffords shooting
( by Amanda Lee Myers , The Washington Post)
Romney prepares aggressive Iowa finish
Mitt Romney will try to sprint to the finish in Iowa, hoping to take advantage of shifting conditions that have put the wind at his back going into Tuesday’s caucuses.
( by Philip Rucker and Dan Balz , The Washington Post)
Michele Bachmann’s campaign flameout
How the Minnesota congresswoman’s once-promising presidential campaign came unglued.
( by Karen Tumulty , The Washington Post)
Among the candidates, Ron Paul worries everyone but Mitt Romney
Republican rivals would like to ignore Paul, but they can’t afford to. They’re attacking him at every turn.
( by Dan Balz , The Washington Post)
More Post Politics: Breaking Politics News, Political Analysis & More - The Washington Post
STYLE
Dead Letters: Our obit poem contest
Style Invitational contest Week 952: Write an obit poem about someone who died in 2011.
(, The Washington Post)
Carolyn Hax: Readers’ wisdom
Readers weigh in with advice on the value of therapy, letters to elderly relatives and a well-timed thank-you note.
(, The Washington Post)
Novel ‘The Tiger’s Wife’ races to acclaim
At least 19 major year-end roundups cite Tea Obreht’s novel as one of 2011’s best, according to Publishers Lunch.
( by Neely Tucker , The Washington Post)
Fox News hasn’t picked a GOP favorite
The network seemed poised to play a kingmaking role in the 2012 GOP presidential primaries but it hasn’t crowned any one candidate.
( by Paul Farhi , The Washington Post)
Subverting strict art patterns
Abstract painters Chip Allen, Katherine Sable and Camilo Sanin follow and subvert strict patterns in “In Line/Out of Line” at Heiner Contemporary.
( by Mark Jenkins , The Washington Post)
More Style: Culture, Arts, Ideas & More - The Washington Post
SPORTS
TV and radio listings: December 30
(, The Washington Post)
No. 5 North Point boys edge Coolidge, 59-57
Marquis Wright leads No. 5 North Point past Coolidge, 59-57, in the Waldorf Holiday Hoops Classic final.
( by Paul Tenorio , The Washington Post)
No. 20 Osbourn boys beat Madison, 59-46
Raphael Edwards scores the first 16 points of the second half for Osbourn as the No. 20 Eagles beat Madison, 59-46.
( by Preston Williams , The Washington Post)
Jones leads top-ranked Riverdale Baptist girls
Jonquel Jones’s dazzling skills were on display against Spring Valley (S.C.), but her story off the court is more interesting.
( by James Wagner , The Washington Post)
Maryland women stay unbeaten
Laurin Mincy and Alyssa Thomas combine for 48 points as the fifth-ranked Terps withstand 32 points from Elena Delle Donne in College Park.
( by Gene Wang , The Washington Post)
More Sports: Sports News, Scores, Analysis, Schedules & More - The Washington Post
WORLD
New fencing doesn't stop illegal crossings
The patchwork of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico divide has mixed success, border agents say.
( by Nick Miroff , The Washington Post)
Across Brazil, plummeting birth rates
Better health care, migration and even soap operas are playing a role in the shrinking birth rates in Brazil and across Latin America.
( by Juan Forero , The Washington Post)
Challenging the Navy’s numbers
FINE PRINT | The Navy should face the same changes as other armed services as procurement costs rise.
(, The Washington Post)
U.S. touts Saudi Arabia jet deal as a security, economic boon
Providing F-15 fights could create U.S. jobs while helping deter Iranian aggression, experts say.
( by Joby Warrick and Jason Ukman , The Washington Post)
Vote delayed on Indian anti-graft bill
After heated debate, the government said it needs more time to study lawmakers’ 187 amendments.
( by Rama Lakshmi , The Washington Post)
More World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Dave Barry's 2011 year in review
Dave Barry discusses all that made up 2011.
(, vForum)
Video: The D.C. Sports-O-Meter with Cindy Boren and Dan Steinberg
See who was up and who was down in D.C. sports last week. Cindy Boren and Dan Steinberg dissected which sports names are hot and cold in D.C. Who's your pick?
(, vForum)
Got Plans? Eater DC editor Amy McKeever joins the gurus to discuss our favorite local dishes.
Got Plans? Discuss great ideas for local entertainment, dates and family fun.
(, vForum)
Washington Post music writers David Malitz and Chris Richards discuss the top artists, albums and concerts of 2011, and what they're looking forward to in 2012.
Got Plans? Discuss great ideas for local entertainment, dates and family fun.
(, vForum)
Real Wheels Live
Live online discussion with Real Wheels columnist Warren Brown about car-buying and the auto industry.
(, vForum)
More Conversations: Discussions, Blogs, Debates, Live Q&A's and More - The Washington Post
TECHNOLOGY
Report: Two new iPads to debut in Jan.
The devices will fill the mid-range and high-end tablet segment for Apple, a report says. The existing iPad 2 will remain unchanged.
( by Devindra Hardawar | VentureBeat.com , VentureBeat.com)
Biggest disappointments of 2011 in tech
HP, Nikon 1, Blackberry and more.
( by The Verge Staff , The Washington Post)
2012: A look ahead at the future of tech
Next year is likely to bring ultracheap ultrabooks, high-definition phones and new phones from Intel and Microsoft.
( by The Verge Staff , theverge.com)
Apple’s iTV may feature channel customization
Reports suggest that Apple is working on a new streaming platform that would allow customers to pick their exact channel lineup.
( by Tom Cheredar | VentureBeat.com , VentureBeat.com)
McAfee: Security threats to mature in 2012
In its cybersecurity predictions for 2012, the firm says hacking group Anonymous will have to disband or reorganize.
( by Meghan Kelly | VentureBeat.com , VentureBeat.com)
More Technology News - The Washington Post
EDITORIAL
Time for a ‘People’s Veto’?
Gingrich echoes old progressive ideas.
( by Thomas Donnelly , The Washington Post)
Our befuddled leaders
2011 saw heads of state unified in confusion.
(, The Washington Post)
No military custody for al-Qaeda
Give the fighters what they hate.
( by Philip Mudd , The Washington Post)
Can a woman win Iowa?
Female politicians are always the bridesmaid.
( by Jeanne Zaino , The Washington Post)
A threat to Egypt’s hopes
The military hijacks the revolution.
( by David J. Kramer , The Washington Post)
More Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials - The Washington Post
BUSINESS
Online retail leads holiday sales
The sector has enjoyed steady double-digit growth over the past two months compared with last year, providing a stable counterpoint to the broader industry’s more volatile season.
( by Ylan Q. Mui , The Washington Post)
Judge accuses SEC of misleading court
Federal judge accuses the agency of misleading appeals court and withholding crucial information.
( by David S. Hilzenrath , The Washington Post)
Tax cut shakes a premise of Social Security
Congress’s extension of the payroll tax cut has many in Washington worried that a foundation of Social Security — its dedicated funding stream — is being undermined.
( by Jia Lynn Yang , The Washington Post)
Virginia’s ballot-access laws turn tables on GOP
The goal of the laws run counter to the efforts Republicans have mounted in dozens of states to make it more difficult for ordinary Americans to participate in the 2012 election.
(, The Washington Post)
Detroit stands out in housing data
An unlikely name has been popping up lately as a rare bright spot in the nation’s still-abysmal housing market: Detroit.
( by Brady Dennis , The Washington Post)