Celebrations begin as the world says farewell to 2023 - Sunday, December 31, 2023 - Top News from WTOP

TOP NEWS | December 31, 2023 [Web version](   [Sydney and Auckland are the first major cities to ring in 2024 as war shadows celebrations elsewhere]( Anticipation builds across the world ahead of 2024's arrival. [READ MORE](   [What's open, what's closed in the DC region today and tomorow?]( Here's what you need to know about closures around the D.C. area on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. [READ MORE](   ADVERTISEMENT [Reach your audience with the right message at the right time]( Is your marketing hitting a dead end? Are you unable to tie business goals to advertising revenue? Not sure if your digital outreach is hitting ROI? Connect with 2060 Digital to discover how you can reach the right audience with the right message.   [Pa. man sought in Stafford homicide]( Stafford County police in Virginia are looking for a Pennsylvania man in connection with an early Saturday morning shooting. [READ MORE](   [Got New Year's Eve plans? ‘Slowing down' might be a better option]( A new trend for people going into 2024 is to stay in and have a “chill” NYE. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by ICF [IT modernization use cases]( Keeping up with technology requires constant evolution. How are agencies employing new technology to better meet their missions and how is it impacting the workforce?   [Countdown to freedom: The significance of New Year's Eve ‘watch night' services for Black Americans]( The Black American tradition of spending New Year's Eve in prayer and fellowship dates all the way back to the Civil War. [READ MORE](   [Planning to pop some New Year's bubbly? A safe ride program is offering discounted Lyfts]( The Washington Regional Alcohol Program is inviting the D.C. area to grab a free ride home if New Year's Eve plans involve drinking. [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [How a high-yield savings account can help you reach your savings goals]( A high-yield savings account is one way to take advantage of today's interest rates and earn from your funds.   [How to keep pets safe while ringing in 2024]( Breaking out the champagne, noise makers and baked goods for New Year's Eve? That may be the recipe for tons of fun with your family and friends, but veterinarians say New Year's Eve gatherings have the potential to be downright terrifying for pets. [READ MORE](   [At the stroke of midnight, the New Year gives a clean slate for long-elusive resolutions]( A clean slate awaits at the stroke of midnight for another round of New Year's resolutions. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by NTT Data [Level up in the cloud]( How can these agencies ramp up migration to the cloud without disrupting the mission?   [24 things to look forward to in 2024]( There are plenty of things to look forward to in 2024. Here are just 24 of them. [READ MORE](   [Is 2024 a good year to buy a home?]( What should homebuyers expect in 2024? [READ MORE](   SPONSORED CONTENT [Telecommunications stability, security and modernization are key for agency productivity]( When it comes to telecommunications security and modernization, the COVID-19 pandemic caused many agencies to pivot quickly from an in-office working environment to almost exclusively remote or hybrid work schedules.   [Powerball jackpot swells to an estimated $810 million after no winners Saturday night]( The Powerball jackpot swelled to an estimated $810 million after the final drawing of 2023 yielded no grand prize winners Saturday night. [READ MORE](   Sponsored by Four Inc. and IBM [Los Alamos looks to the edge of complex data management challenges]( Experts in the High Performance Computing division at Los Alamos National Laboratory are working at the edge of some of the biggest “big data” challenges in the world.   PARTNERSHIP [Listen live for news, traffic and weather from WTOP News on our FREE App!]( Download the app today - sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union - to stay up to date on all the latest news in the DMV.   [Check out the latest weather forecast]( [Click here for the latest traffic updates]( [Visit WTOP's Podcast Center]( Download and listen to podcasts created by WTOP and our partners CONNECT WITH WTOP [facebook]( [twitter]( [linkedin]( [instagram]( EVERYTHING YOU NEED EVERY TIME YOU LISTEN [DOWNLOAD THE WTOP APP]( [Click here to manage your newsletter preferences.]( This email and the accompanying website are not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. [Unsubscribe](  | [Contact us.](