A new Congress meets, big NFL and college football games on tap: 5 things to know this weekend

Editors, USA TODAY
·3 min read

Stimulus-check amount a key topic as new Congress begins work

The new Congress gets underway Sunday with a leftover matter to discuss — the question of whether everyone should get a heftier stimulus check amid the coronavirus pandemic. Senators adjourned Friday night without taking up a House-approved plan that would boost proposed stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600 — a move President Trump says he supports. Congress will reconvene Sunday to end the 116th Congress, and usher in the 117th.

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One last day for a college football binge

College football is wrapping up as Saturday gives fans one last day for binge viewing ahead of the Jan. 11 championship game (Alabama vs. Ohio State). The Gator Bowl (North Carolina State vs. Kentucky) kicks off the day at noon ET, followed by the Outback Bowl (Indiana vs. Mississippi) at 12:30 p.m. Oregon and Iowa State meet at 4 p.m. in the Fiesta Bowl, followed by North Carolina and Texas A&M at 8 p.m. in the Orange Bowl. Need to narrow it down? USA TODAY Sports picks the Orange Bowl as the most exciting to watch in Saturday's lineup.

North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) passes the ball in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium.
North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell (7) passes the ball in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium.

Tensions between US, Iran on anniversary of strike against general

As Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of a U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian general, Iran's plan to enrich uranium is heightening tensions between the two countries. The strike against Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani prompted a ballistic missile attack from Iran that injured dozens of U.S. troops. Tehran also accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet, killing all 176 aboard. Now, Iran's move to enrich uranium up to 20% comes in the waning days of President Donald Trump's administration.

A boy carries a portrait of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Iraq, prior to the Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, on January 3, 2020. Hundreds of thousands of mourners took to the streets across Iran to pay their respects to a figure who was widely hailed as a war hero in Iran.
A boy carries a portrait of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Iraq, prior to the Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, on January 3, 2020. Hundreds of thousands of mourners took to the streets across Iran to pay their respects to a figure who was widely hailed as a war hero in Iran.

NFL wraps up its regular season

The No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC and seven playoff spots in all are up for grabs when the NFL concludes its regular season Sunday. In the AFC, there are five teams sporting identical 10-5 records who are vying for the conference's four remaining playoff spots. While the Titans, Dolphins, Ravens and Browns have win-and-in clinching scenarios, the Colts need to win and get help elsewhere. In the NFC, the Packers are playing for home-field advantage in the playoffs, but play their ancient rivals, the Bears, who need a win to clinch a wild-card berth.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams dives for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams dives for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field.

Eyes to the sky for the first meteor shower of the year

Folks who brave the cold early Sunday morning will have the chance to see the first meteor shower of the year, the Quadrantids. The shower features up to 100 meteors per hour during a good year, but viewers this year may see only around 25 per hour due to a nearly full moon, according to AccuWeather. The Quadrantids are brief, only lasting around six hours. The peak of the shower is centered around 9:30 a.m. ET or 6:30 a.m. PT, which means the West Coast will have the best chance of seeing the show. Where to look? The shower's radiant point is below the Big Dipper. The Quadrantids are unusual because they come from an asteroid, not a comet, as do most meteor showers, NASA said.

The Associated Press contributed.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Congress, NFL and college football: 5 things to know this weekend