NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-14-2025 3PM 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. As 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 Paxson 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. Israeli leaders are condemning a mass shooting at a popular beach in Sydney where a Jewish community was celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. At least 12 people are dead and dozens injured in what Australian authorities are calling a terrorist attack.

NPR's Jerome Sokolovsky reports from Tel Aviv. Hundreds of Jews were at Bondi Beach in Sydney for an event called Hanukkah by the sea. The gunman opened fire from a bridge nearby. Israeli foreign minister Gidonsar drew a link between the attack and protests in Australia against the war in Gaza. He says calls at those protests to, quote, globalize the intifada incited the attack. President Isaac Herzog said Israel has repeatedly called on Australia to take action against what he called an enormous wave of anti-Semitism there. And Yadvashem, the National Holocaust Museum, says the tragedy reflects the growing and very real threat facing Jewish communities not only in Australia, but around the world. Jerome Sokolovsky, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate remain deadlocked on how to move ahead with a health care plan. NPR's Tamara Keith reports current subsidies under the Affordable Health Care Act expire in less than three weeks. There isn't a cohesive Republican plan or position. The party is really divided amongst itself. President Trump isn't engaged in the details and certainly isn't, throwing his weight behind getting something passed. Dueling Republican and Democratic plans failed in the Senate last week. The House heads home for the holidays on Thursday. So the clock is really ticking on a solution.

That's NPR's Tamara Keith reporting. Tarrantial 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. employed to assist with rescue efforts. This is NPR. The Trump administration has offered new support to foster youth and told states to stop taking some of the benefit checks that go to children. NPR's Joseph Shapiro reports. When a parent dies, Social Security pays survivor benefits to dependent children. But for kids in foster care, it's common for states to cash those checks as reimbursement. for foster care. Now in a letter to governors, the Department of Health and Human Services

says that practice is wrong, that the checks belong to the child. An NPR investigation in 2020 showed when a child leaves foster care, that money matters. It can pay for college, a car, or a place to live. Since then, 10 states have started passing the checks to foster youth. The HHS letter says all states should follow. Joseph Shapiro, NPRN. News. Health experts are urging caution this holiday season as the use of candles and fireplaces increases in homes across the country. Researchers at Johns Hopkins say scented candles incense and fireplaces can release chemicals that degrade indoor air quality and trigger allergy-like symptoms or longer-term respiratory problems, especially during colder months

when windows stay closed. They're recommending to improve ventilation, use air purifiers, and choose products with fewer ingredients to reduce exposure, specifically for children and people with lung conditions. This is NPR News.