'Beverly Hillbillies' star Donna Douglas dies at 82

Donna Douglas, the voluptuous Louisiana-born actress who played critter-loving Elly May Clampett on the 1960's CBS series 'The Beverly Hillbillies" died on New Years day. 

Donna Douglas, who played hillbilly bombshell Elly May Clampett on the baby-boomer-beloved 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. She was 82.

Mario Cuomo, former New York governor, dead at 82

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Mario Cuomo, the three-term New York governor and father of the state's current governor, died Thursday at the age of 82, according to multiple media reports.

Cuomo is among the most iconic New York governors of the 20th century, known for his liberal views, soaring speeches and deeply held beliefs that made him among the most prominent Democrats of his time. His death came the same day as his son, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was inaugurated for a second term.

-USA Today

Bruce Wagner takes oath of office

Schodack Town Justice Bruce Wagner was sworn in by Schodack Town Justice Paul Peter during New Year's Day swearing-in ceremonies for Republican elected officials at the Rensselaer County Court House.

'Gilmore Girls' actor Edward Herrmann dies

Edward Herrmann, whose face and voice are familiar from so many roles in TV and film, died Wednesday in New York.

But he was also known for his Emmy-nominated portrayals of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in made-for-TV movies in the 1970s, as well as for numerous roles in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and The Aviator (2004).

More recently, he voiced Roosevelt again for Ken Burns' PBS series, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, in 2014.

More States Than Ever Will Raise Their Minimum Wage On New Year's Day

Dave Jamieson dave.jamieson@huffingtonpost.com

If you're a minimum wage earner and of drinking age, be sure to raise a glass when the ball drops Wednesday night. There's a decent chance you'll be getting a pay raise.

Thanks to a raft of state-level laws and ballot measures this year, 20 states will be hiking their minimum wages on New Year's Day -- evidence of a growing nationwide move toward higher mandatory pay despite congressional inertia on the issue.