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Good afternoon and welcome to your afternoon news update from AP. Today, a new report on Medicaid programs that made payments to health care providers for people who had already died; the U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly strong rate in the third quarter, according to a new report; and a glimpse into the secret world of animal sleep.

UP FIRST

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services building as seen in 2009 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Medicaid paid more than $207 million for dead people. A new law could help fix that

Medicaid programs made more than $200 million in improper payments to health care providers between 2021 and 2022 for people who had already died, according to a new report from the independent watchdog for the Department of Health and Human Services. The office recommends that the federal government share more information including a Social Security database known as the Full Death Master File, which has been tightly restricted due to privacy laws. Read more.

TOP STORIES

Resilient US consumers drive strongest economic expansion in 2 years

The U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter. It's the most rapid expansion in two years, driven by consumers who continue to spend in the face of ongoing inflation. Economists surveyed by the data firm FactSet had forecast growth of just 3%. Read more.

The secret world of animal sleep

Animals that navigate extreme conditions and environments have evolved to sleep in extreme ways. In recent years, tiny trackers and helmets that measure brain waves have allowed researchers to glimpse the varied and sometimes spectacular ways that wild animals snooze. Scientists have observed that chin-strap penguins in Antarctica sleep for seconds at a time to guard newborns. Frigatebirds that soar for weeks at a time get their winks on the wing. Elephant seals spend time sleeping while diving. Read more.

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IN OTHER NEWS

An elderly man looks out of his broken window as an apartment building was hit by a Russian drone during an aerial attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukraine: Major Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 3 people

Second mass shooting in three weeks: Death toll in South Africa’s latest pub shooting rises to 10

At least 5 killed: Mexican Navy medical flight lost communication for several minutes before Texas crash

Pakistan: Suspected militants ambush police vehicle and kill 5 officers

DeKalb County Jail: 3 inmates captured in Florida after escape from jail near Atlanta

Self-driving cars: Waymos blocked roads and caused chaos during San Francisco power outage

WATCH: Santa Claus navigates through Brazil’s Amazon delivering gifts

TRENDING

People take photos while walking through the San Francisco Botanical Garden's Winter Cathedral exhibit for Lightscape at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden Gate Park’s dazzling holiday light display brings joy to the season

A new night-time holiday display featuring music, colors and more than a million twinkling lights in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is delighting children and adults. "Some of my favorite comments have been from kids: Just hearing how it makes them feel, and the happiness and joy," said Sarah Marsh with Gardens of Golden Gate Park, which operates the Botanical Garden.