“It’s going to be a good Christmas and New Year here in Georgia.”

Jill Sidebottom, a spokesperson for the National Christmas Tree Association, regarding the national tightening of the Christmas tree market. The decadelong growing period means that long-ago events, such as the recession in 2007-2009, can still affect the industry today. A survey also found that 20 percent of Americans plan to buy a real tree for the first time this year. (VTDigger — Dec. 12, 2023)

Robert Earl Council, a prisoner at the Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest, Ala., and one of the founders of the Free Alabama Movement. A lawsuit has been filed against the state, claiming that its prison practices amount to a “modern-day form of slavery.” The prisoners who brought the case are joined by three labor unions and a nonprofit that monitors prison conditions in the state. (NPR — Dec. 14, 2023)

John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, regarding a critical structural failure in the Washington Bridge that resulted in a closure of Interstate 195 from Providence to East Providence. The roadway normally carries close to 100,000 vehicles a day, but repair could take months. (Associated Press — Dec. 13, 2023)

Peter Park, after passing the California Bar exam at the age of 17, making him possibly the youngest person to do so. (Associated Press — Dec. 8, 2023)