AROUND HERE
A car theft suspect jumped in the river to get away, but it didn't work. (Spokesman)
Five inmates in Idaho are suing beer and wine companies, saying alcohol is to blame for their crimes. (Idaho Statesman)
Snohomish woman wins big on Wheel of Fortune. (Everett Herald)
ELSEWHERE
Violence continues in Syria, including an airstrike on a gas station outside the capital of Damascus. A new UN report says the death toll of the conflict is up to 60,000. The family of an AFP journalist, James Foley, came forward to say he's been missing since Thanksgiving. (BBC, Guardian, Global Post)
FISCAL CLIFF
House passes the fiscal cliff deal, barely. (NYT)
Taxes will rise for most Americans because the deal didn't include extending a payroll tax break we've been getting for the past two years. (Chicago Tribune)
But the markets are so far rallying today in response. (USA Today)
During negotiations, House Speaker Boehner reportedly used the one word The Inlander doesn't publish. (NPR)
