5 things you need to know Thursday

Family to remember Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds

A private memorial service will take place Thursday in Beverly Hills for mother-daughter duo Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, according to reports. Fisher, 60, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movie series, died Dec. 27. Reynolds, 84, died after an apparent stroke a day later. Todd Fisher, Reynolds' son and Fisher's brother, told ABC News he believes his mother died because she could not bear to lose Carrie. He said the burial for both women will be Friday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.

First female infantry Marines to join battalion

The Marine Corps will make history Thursday when the first three female infantry Marines join their unit at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The women are headed to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, where they will serve in the following infantry military occupational specialties: rifleman, machine gunner and mortar Marine. In March, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter approved the Marine Corps’ plan to allow women to join military occupational specialties that had previously been restricted to men.

It's peak time in the rush to return online gifts

How long does it take to get it together to send back that online holiday gift? For most, according to UPS, it takes until Thursday, known as National Returns Day. That's when the giant shipping company expects returns to online sellers to hit their peak,with some 1.3 million packages in a single day. Overall during the week, UPS says a record 5.8 million packages are expected to be sent back, topping last year's 5 million, which also was a record.

Fallen trooper to receive full honors at his funeral

The Pennsylvania State Police trooper who was fatally shot last month will be laid to rest with honors Thursday. Trooper Landon E. Weaver, 23, was killed in the line of duty while investigating a protection-from-abuse violation, authorities say. The suspect, Jason Robison, 32, of Hesston, Pa., was killed Saturday morning after threatening officers during an encounter at a vacant mobile home not far from where Weaver was killed. Weaver was the 97th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to be killed in the line of duty since the department was established in 1905.

The end of the busiest air travel period

Let's face it, the holiday travel season is almost over. Thursday is the last of the peak travel days during what's expected to be the busiest year ever for air travel in the U.S.  Despite the end of the peak season — the trade group Airlines for America expects a record 45.2 million passengers from Dec. 16 through Jan. 5. — airports will continue to see a steady rush. This comes after Monday night’s temporary computer shutdown of U.S. Customs and Border Protection systems at airports across the country  that resulted in long lines, short tempers and major headaches.

And the essentials:

Weather: Thursday's forecast calls for light snow from Denver to St. Louis, while the storm winds down along the California coast.

Stocks: Global stocks traded in a tight range.

TV Tonight: Wondering what to watch tonight? TV critic Robert Bianco looks at Good Place (NBC) and Mom (CBS).

Be inspired: Born without limbs, this football coach motivates and inspires his team.

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Contributing: Associated Press.