Despite the government shutdown,  NORAD will still be tracking Santa Claus on his flight around the world on Christmas Eve!

The program, run by the same government agency that keeps US and Canada airspace safe, uses its superior technology to track the progress of Santa around the world, as he delivers toys to all good children.

In addition to the tracker itself, there are also games and real questions that have been sent in by kids and answered by Santa’s reindeer and elves.

The Christmas part of NORAD is staffed by 1,500 volunteers. NORAD Captain Cameron Hillier says they have no trouble getting people to sign up.

Listen to his full interview.

Dr. Ralph May from the Community Guidance Center talks about the pressure of the holidays.

Roads are going to be busy for the holiday weekend. From now until Christmas, AAA is expecting 112 million Americans to travel for the holidays, which is up 4 percent from last year.

Beth Moser from AAA says more than 100 million of those people are traveling by car, fueled by cheaper gas prices. When gas prices are lower, people might decide to take an impromptu trip somewhere. For those who have already planned to travel, the lower gas prices could mean they can afford to spend an extra day somewhere, go out to dinner, or buy another present.

The biggest travel destinations: people are really looking to take in Disney, Orlando and Anaheim are top three destinations. New York City is the only cold weather destination. Beyond that people are traveling to warm weather destinations. With Hawaii, parts of Mexico and Jamaica all in the mix.

Doug Shupe from AAA has some holiday travel/safety advice.

Pediatrician, educator, author, and health communicator, Dr. Laura Jana finds connections across disciplines and crystallizes big ideas into far-reaching, real world applications.

Currently an Associate Research Professor at Penn State’s Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, Dr. Jana was most recently Director of Innovation in Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and continues to serve as a strategic consultant to numerous government, nonprofit, and corporate clients, she has navigated the traditionally siloed worlds of academia, medicine, publishing, and commerce. Currently focused on innovation in parenting, pediatrics, public health, health system transformation and community development, what she sees is a bevy of great minds circling the same topics from different angles. As a translator of ideas and facilitator of dialogue, she’s on a mission to unite these worlds in order to change the public conversation about the skills needed for success in the Digital Age.

Roads are going to be busy for the holiday weekend. From now until Christmas, AAA is expecting 112 million Americans to travel for the holidays, which is up 4 percent from last year.

Beth Moser from AAA says more than 100 million of those people are traveling by car, fueled by cheaper gas prices. When gas prices are lower, people might decide to take an impromptu trip somewhere. For those who have already planned to travel, the lower gas prices could mean they can afford to spend an extra day somewhere, go out to dinner, or buy another present.

The biggest travel destinations: people are really looking to take in Disney, Orlando and Anaheim are top three destinations. New York City is the only cold weather destination. Beyond that people are traveling to warm weather destinations. With Hawaii, parts of Mexico and Jamaica all in the mix.

Listen to the full comments from Beth Mosher from AAA.

For kids with sensory issues, especially those with autism, it can be a little intimidating to walk up to the big man in the red suit. Now there's a free chance for kids to visit Santa without the added distractions!

Merakey along with DAFEAT, DuBois Area Families for Effective Autism Treatment, is providing a free way for kids to meet Santa and do some Christmas crafts in a stress-free environment.

The event is geared towards kids with autism.

All you have to do is show up at the Parkside Community Center in DuBois to see Santa this Sunday from 9 until 11.

Everything is free, and you can even make some crafts.

Don’t forget to bring your camera to take photos and capture these new memories!

Listen to the full interview with Thomas Woodrow from Merakey.

A veteran from DuBois is in desperate need of your support after some severe complications after his appendix burst.

44-year-old Bryan Huseby is best known in our area for his healing yoga classes and his wide smile, but now his family says that Bryan has been confined to a hospital bed for the past few weeks.

Back in late summer, Bryan’s appendix burst and, after going to the local hospital and being sent home in even more pain, his family and friends rushed him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

They brought him back from death’s doorstep, but since then he has returned to Johns Hopkins after his drainage tubes became infected.

Because he’s been in the hospital for so long, Bryan has lost his home and his pets.

A lifelong friend, Kimberly Markavitch, says it’s hard to see Bryan’s life get turned upside down.

Listen to Kimberly talk about Bryan.

Most of the people working in the Brookville Borough office are getting a 2-percent cost-of-living raise at work.

The raise is for all full-time administrative staff and department heads in the office. All other full-time employees are covered under union contracts.

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Brookville Council also agreed to amend its permit application for any work involving the closing of a borough street. The amendment requires all residents on the street to be notified in advance of the work.

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Also approved was the hiring of a part-time janitor at $11 an hour, and the reappointment of six board members to new terms, they include the following: Tom Dinger on the municipal authority; Dr. Ed Richards and Rick Park on the planning commission; Scott Sealy on the zoning hearing board; Eric Zents on the police civil service commission; and Judi Anthony to the council vacancy board.

The start of the new year is just 12 days away. WalletHub financial analyst Jill Gonzales suggests that one of your New Year’s Resolutions should be to know your credit score and, if it’s on the low side, aim to improve it in 2019.

WalletHub says aim for a 20-point improvement, which should be attainable no matter where you start.

Pay off credit card debt.

If you don’t have a credit card, get one and use it responsibly to build your score. Just make sure you’re paying it on time, every month, no excuses.

In this special holiday episode of Now Hear This with Dr. Peg Armanini, Dr. Peg and Kevin Brown talk about the magic of how we hear! It truly is magical when you think about it. They focus mostly on the outer and middle ear and its functions. Enjoy some holiday surprises along the way!