NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-14-2025 12PM EST

Episode Date: December 14, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Authorities in Rhode Island say they've detained a person of interest in a mass shooting at Brown University yesterday. NPR's Joe Hernandez reports the attack left at least two people dead and nine injured. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley announced Sunday morning that a person of interest was in custody, but police didn't share any details about the man. Smiley said the shooting, which occurred at a Brown University building where final exams were taking place came as a shock to the city. I think maybe intellectually, we knew it could happen anywhere, including here, but that's not the same as it happening in our community. Brown University

President Christina Paxon said Saturday evening that at least 10 of the 11 victims were students. The Ivy League School canceled exams after the shooting, and authorities said Sunday morning they had lifted the shelter-in-place order for the campus. Joe Hernandez, NPR News. At least 12 people were killed in a mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach today. Authorities say 29 others were injured during a Jewish holiday event, marking Hanukkah. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the attack was targeted. An act of evil anti-Semitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation. An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.

And every Australian tonight will be like me. devastated. Today's attack is Australia's first deadly mass shooting since 2022 when six people, including two police officers, were killed during a suspected ambush. The UN Secretary General condemned the attack as a deadly assault on Jewish families. The President of Israel is urging the Australian government to act against what he describes as a growing wave of anti-Semitism. The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, says one of its senior military leaders has been killed. The Israeli military says it carried out a strike Saturday on a vehicle west of Gaza's city, killing the man. NPR's Hadeal al-Shalchi reports from Tel Aviv.

Hamas chief Khalil Al-Haya announced that commander Ra'et Saad, who Israel considers the second in command of the group's military arm, was killed by an Israeli strike. He confirmed the news in a speech marking the 38th anniversary of the group's formation. Al-Haya used the speech to outline what he called the account, of the October 7, 23 attacks. He called them a form of resistance that restored the Palestinian cause and said it was a source of hope for Arabs and an example of how to confront occupation. The attacks killed around 1,200 people in Israel, according to the Israeli government.

It triggered a war in Gaza that has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Hadil al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News in Washington. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the federal criminal trial begins Monday for a county judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities when they showed up at our courtroom to arrest him. Myon Silver from member station WUWM reports the case has become a flashpoint in the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts. Judge Hannah Dugan is pleaded not guilty to federal charges of obstructing a proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Former prosecutor and Loyola Law School professor Lori Levinson says, A big issue for the jury will be Dugan's mindset on April 18th when ICE agents showed up at her courtroom.

Whether she was trying to impede an obstructive proceeding or whether she was trying to do what she thought was her job, run her courtroom, deal with her cases, and try to keep from having the Department of Homeland Security interfere with that. Prosecutors will likely argue Dugan tried to impede ICE agents from making a arrest. While the defense is expected to make the case, she was trying to follow court protocol in unchartered waters. For NPR news, I'm Ayan Silver in Milwaukee. Torrential rain from a powerful atmospheric river is causing historic flooding across parts of the Pacific Northwest. The governor of Washington State has declared a state of emergency and the National Guard has been deployed to assist with rescue and response efforts.

Flood waters are now starting to recede, but officials mourn of more rain and the risk of mudslides and infrastructure damage. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.