5 Things to Know This Morning

Dec. 20, 2013— -- Your look at the five biggest and most buzz-worthy stories of the morning.

1. White House Allows Mandate Exemption for Canceled Plans
The Obama administration is loosening the terms of the individual mandate and providing frustrated consumers new options to maintain coverage with the "hardship exemption."

2. Report Largely Clears Secret Service of 'Culture' Problem
A long-awaited report on the Secret Service, which was rocked by a prostitution scandal last year, concluded that the agency does not breed a culture of such behavior.

3. Structural Probe After London Theater Collapse
The Society of London Theatre issued a statement about the Apollo Theatre collapse that injured 76 people, saying all their theatres undergo "rigorous safety checks and inspections by independent experts" and that the "exact cause" of the incident is still being investigated.

4. Rodman Holds Tryouts for Pyongyang Exhibition Game
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman held tryouts for a North Korean team to face NBA veterans in an exhibition game for leader Kim Jong-un's birthday next month.

5. 'Whatever' Annoys Americans More Than Any Word
"Whatever" was rated the most annoying word in a public survey by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.