1. Senate begins Obamacare repeal

2. Senate Republicans launched their effort to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare law early Thursday morning (the whole process began Wednesday evening and stretched into wee hours of Thursday), approving a budget blueprint that they've dubbed the Obamacare "repeal resolution." The final vote wrapped up a little before 1:30 a.m. The Senate voted along party lines. Some have criticized voting on a repeal bill before coming up with a replacement package. Republicans do not yet have a plan for replacing Obamacare, and are considering a series of possible legislative paths to replace what they vote to repeal. The House is expected take a swift vote on the resolution, possibly as early as Friday, which will trigger congressional committees to begin crafting a second bill that would roll back major parts of Obamacare. Though it will be weeks before Congress votes on that bill, Thursday still marked a victory for the Republican Party as it moves toward achieving its goal of overhauling the country's healthcare system. At times, the evening did show that Republicans and Democrats share some common goals -- even if the two political parties are bitterly divided on the merits of Obamacare.

3. In Other News
United Airlines announced Wednesday the 747 airliner will leave its fleet for good a year sooner than first planned. United will retire the jetliner by October -- an announcement that follows Delta Air Lines' plans to send its 747 fleet to retirement this year as well. The 'Queen of the Skies,' the 747's royal moniker, has been in United's fleet in some iteration for nearly a half century, first flying with the airline in 1970 between California and Hawaii. Its cutting edge capabilities have dulled and its fuel-guzzling ways, expensive maintenance and low marks from United's passengers sealed its fate. While the 747 will officially leave scheduled U.S. airline fleets this year, a few 747s will still be operated by U.S. charter airlines and will continue to be a staple of cargo carriers like UPS for decades to come. And the most recognizable 747 of them all, Air Force One, continues on for U.S. presidents.
Donald Trump held his first news conference since he was elected. Some of the things he said: He bashed the media over reports that the Russians have compromising info on him, then slammed intelligence agencies for leaking it. He said the Russians are behind the election hacks. He wants Obamacare repealed. He still plans to build the wall along the Mexican border. He'll name a Supreme Court justice pick in two weeks.
Dylann Roof has been sentenced to death for killing nine people at a black church in South Carolina. But before the sentence was handed down, relatives of his victims faced him, and they didn't hold back. They called him "among the worst kind of evil." One man gave Roof an ominous warning: "Whoever your creator is, he's coming for you." It will probably be years before Roof is executed, as his case works its way through the appeals process.
It's the first time in five months we've heard anything about two teachers kidnapped in Afghanistan. The Taliban put out a proof of life video of Kevin King and Timothy Weeks. They were kidnapped together last year near the American University in Kabul where they worked. The men look haggard and appear emotional in the 13-minute long video. They plead with President-elect Trump to make a deal so they can be freed.