By Allison Peck | North Platte Post

LINCOLN — Thirty people were killed in traffic crashes on Nebraska roadways during the month of November 2025, according to data released by the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Those fatalities occurred in 26 separate fatal crashes statewide. NDOT reported that nine of the 18 vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seatbelts, while eight were restrained and one had seatbelt use listed as unknown. Overall, seatbelt use remains a concern statewide, as only 55 of the 161 vehicle occupants killed so far in 2025 were using seatbelts.

Most of the November fatalities occurred in rural areas. Nineteen of the 30 deaths were reported in rural locations, while the remaining crashes occurred in urban areas, defined by the Federal Highway Administration as areas with populations of 5,000 or more.

By roadway type, two fatalities occurred on interstates, 19 on other highways and nine on local roads. Pedestrians accounted for eight of the deaths in November. Three motorcyclists were killed, along with one person riding a motorized bicycle.

The November toll was significantly higher than the same month last year. NDOT reported 14 traffic fatalities statewide in November 2024.

From January through November 2025, Nebraska has recorded 212 traffic fatalities in 191 fatal crashes. That total is lower than the 235 fatalities reported during the same period in 2024 but higher than totals from some previous years, including 208 fatalities in 2023 and 203 in 2021.

NDOT noted that traffic fatality data included in the report reflects information available through Dec. 14, 2025, from the agency’s Highway Safety Section within the Traffic Engineering Division.

A daily traffic fatality count is available through NDOT’s toll comparison website.

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561812754701.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN — Thirty people were killed in traffic crashes on Nebraska roadways during the month of November 2025, according to data released by the Nebraska Department of Transportation.Those fatalities occurred in 26 separate fatal crashes statewide. NDOT reported that nine of the 18 vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seatbelts, while eight were restrained and one had seatbelt use listed as unknown. Overall, seatbelt use remains a concern statewide, as only 55 of the 161 vehicle occupants killed so far in 2025 were using seatbelts.Most of the November fatalities occurred in rural areas. Nineteen of the 30 deaths were reported in rural locations, while the remaining crashes occurred in urban areas, defined by the Federal Highway Administration as areas with populations of 5,000 or more.By roadway type, two fatalities occurred on interstates, 19 on other highways and nine on local roads. Pedestrians accounted for eight of the deaths in November. Three motorcyclists were killed, along with one person riding a motorized bicycle.The November toll was significantly higher than the same month last year. NDOT reported 14 traffic fatalities statewide in November 2024.From January through November 2025, Nebraska has recorded 212 traffic fatalities in 191 fatal crashes. That total is lower than the 235 fatalities reported during the same period in 2024 but higher than totals from some previous years, including 208 fatalities in 2023 and 203 in 2021.NDOT noted that traffic fatality data included in the report reflects information available through Dec. 14, 2025, from the agency’s Highway Safety Section within the Traffic Engineering Division.A daily traffic fatality count is available through NDOT’s toll comparison website.

30 Killed in Nebraska Traffic Crashes During November

FBI offers $50K reward for information leading to arrest

By:<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/nancy-lavin/">Nancy Lavin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/christopher-shea/">Christopher Shea</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>

Details about the man believed to have fatally shot two Brown University students and injured nine more are coming into focus, with new videos and photos released by public officials in a press conference late Monday afternoon.

The series of five short video clips and photographs captured from neighborhood property cameras include blurred images of the person’s face, partially obscured by what looks like a pandemic-era medical mask, as he walked the streets a few blocks east of the building where the shooting took place, about two hours beforehand on Saturday. Instead of black clothing, as previously described, he wears a two-colored jacket that appears dark gray and green.

As the manhunt continues for the suspect, law enforcement are seeking more tips from the public, with the FBI offering a&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/brown-university-shooting.pdf">$50,000 reward</a>&nbsp;for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual responsible. The suspect is believed to be about 5-foot-8 with a stocky build, described as “armed and dangerous” according to the&nbsp;FBI poster.

The evidence comes more than 48 hours after the shooting at Brown’s Barus and Holley engineering building, but wasn’t collected until Monday, Col. Oscar Perez, Providence Police chief, told Rhode Island Current after the press conference.

Perez remained tight-lipped about the progress of the investigation, including personal connections to the victims or the Ivy League campus.&nbsp;

“It’s a great question and something we are all asking ourselves,” Perez said.

For the first time, Perez publicly confirmed that investigators believe the shooting was a targeted attack against the university.

Indeed, the video clips&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2000701550864326687" target="_blank">posted to X</a>&nbsp;show the suspect walking back and forth across the same small section of the East Side neighborhood, pausing multiple times as he appears to take stock of the surroundings. At one point, he changes direction and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2000701550864326687?s=20" target="_blank">clasps his hands together</a>&nbsp;behind his back as he gazes up.

Perez also confirmed the weapon used as a 9 millimeter firearm, with multiple rounds fired.&nbsp;

Investigators had previously detained a person of interest found in a Coventry hotel early Sunday, but released him at around 12:30 a.m. Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/we-have-not-yet-solved-this-case-officials-say-person-of-interest-to-be-released/">declaring him cleared.</a>&nbsp;But not before his name was publicly circulated via national news reports, prompting a second round of scolding by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

“It’s one of the reasons we use words carefully,” Neronha said, explaining the difference between someone detained for questioning, versus held in custody on suspicion of committing a crime.&nbsp;

And as federal prosecutors descended on the Hampton Inn in Coventry<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/police-withhold-details-on-brown-mass-shooting-suspect-investigators-search-coventry-hotel/">&nbsp;early Sunday</a>, other investigators were working on alternative leads and tips, Neronha said.&nbsp;

“These investigations are like threads that you pull on a garment,” Neronha said. “Some of them you pull, and the garment doesn’t open up. Other ones you pull and the garment comes undone.”

Federal and state investigators were seen combing sidewalks and properties across the East Side Monday afternoon, looking for more evidence of the shooter’s path. The return to the scene of the crime was prompted by additional tips and video and photo evidence, which has increased significantly with footage submitted from business owners and residents that were closed or away for the weekend, Neronha said.

Ted Docks, special agent in charge for the FBI’s Boston field office, which is assisting Providence police and other local and state law enforcement, said the federal agency continues to process evidence from the neighborhood while investigators at its Quantico, Virginia, laboratory work to recreate the scene of the crime, documenting the trajectories of the bullets.

“It’s painstaking work and we are asking the public to be patient as we continue to run down every lead,” Docks said, adding that no amount of information was “too small or irrelevant.”

Perez acknowledged the length of the time that has elapsed since the shooting but reiterated the Providence agency’s dedication and professionalism in finding the suspect.&nbsp;

“There’s no one that wants to put this individual in handcuffs [more] than us,” Perez said.&nbsp;

Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged the fear and grief that has gripped the capital city, evidenced by local residents, workers and students he had spoken with throughout the weekend and into Monday. Yet the city did not renew the lockdown order that was lifted early Sunday, after the previous person of interest was detained because there have been no new “credible” threats, Smiley said.

“It is going to be hard for my city to feel safe going forward,” Smiley said. “This has shaken us. That will be true tomorrow. I suspect that will be true the day after the general convicts someone. This is a process to restore a sense of safety.”

Providence schools opened as usual Monday and will continue with regular schedules Tuesday, with additional security officers on-hand to help reassure students and parents, Smiley said.&nbsp;

Recalling the 200-plus person crowd that gathered in<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/a-community-in-grief-gathers-to-hold-light-in-one-of-providences-darkest-times/">&nbsp;Lippitt Memorial Park</a>&nbsp;on the Providence-Pawtucket line in sub-freezing temperatures Sunday night to honor the victims, Smiley said “This is a tight-knit community that looks out for each other.”

Some neighborhood residents have lamented the lack of emergency notifications from the city during and after the shooting. But Smiley rebuffed criticisms of the city’s alert&nbsp;<a href="https://www.providenceri.gov/pvd311/" target="_blank">system</a>, saying it worked as intended for everyone who signed up, with text messages continuing to be sent out through Monday afternoon.

Smiley’s tone grew sharper when asked about the onus placed on the university. President Donald Trump said earlier today that the tragedy was a “school problem” while defending the FBI’s role in the investigation.

“So far, we’ve done a very good job of doing it,” Trump said of the federal investigation. “With the various times this has happened, they’ve done it in pretty much record time. But you really have to ask the school a little bit more about that, because this was a school problem. They had their own guards, they had their own police, they had their own everything. But you’d have to ask that question, really, to the school, not to the FBI. We came in after the fact, and the FBI will do a good job, but they came in after the fact.”

Smiley’s response: “I do not accept that criticism.”

Unlike prior press conferences, no one representing the university attended Monday afternoon’s event. Smiley said it did not signify their lack of support, instead explaining that because the updates focused on the continued law enforcement efforts to find the suspect, there was no need for the university to have a presence.

However, Smiley said he was unable to directly answer reporters’ questions about why Brown did not activate its sirens when the shooting took place.&nbsp;

Throughout the 30-minute briefing with reporters, public officials repeatedly stressed the need to verify information from official sources, noting the confusion and misinformation that spread in the days since the attack. That included reports of what initially sounded like gunfire reported on Pitman Street in the midst of the university campus Monday morning, but was later confirmed to be a boiler that backfired,&nbsp;<a href="https://turnto10.com/news/local/providence-police-respond-to-shots-fired-call-that-turns-out-to-be-backfiring-boiler-dec-15-2025" target="_blank">according to news reports.</a>

There were no additional updates on the eight victims still in treatment at Rhode Island hospital. One person has already been released. The two students killed were also&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/15/two-brown-university-students-who-lost-their-lives-in-campus-shooting-identified/">publicly identified Monday.</a>

Officials do not expect to provide additional public updates Monday.

<h2>FBI offers $50K reward for information leading to arrest</h2>By:<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/nancy-lavin/">Nancy Lavin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/christopher-shea/">Christopher Shea</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NEW: We are releasing a new image of the person of interest in the Brown University incident and plan to release additional media shortly. Please share widely and contact the official tip line if you have information or an ID: 401-272-3121 <a href="https://t.co/8a1yEMZhnI">https://t.co/8a1yEMZhnI</a> <a href="https://t.co/YvN2ash224">pic.twitter.com/YvN2ash224</a>&mdash; Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2001003360829497665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Details about the man believed to have fatally shot two Brown University students and injured nine more are coming into focus, with new videos and photos released by public officials in a press conference late Monday afternoon.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">4/4 We are requesting the public&#39;s assistance in identifying a person of interest in Saturday&#39;s incident at Brown University. Please share these images and direct all tips to 401-272-3121 or <a href="https://t.co/8a1yEMYJya">https://t.co/8a1yEMYJya</a> <a href="https://t.co/9kyZXBlj7I">pic.twitter.com/9kyZXBlj7I</a>&mdash; Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2000702215904788495?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: The FBI and <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProvidenceRIPD</a> are releasing new images of a person of interest in the mass shooting at Brown University on 12/13/25. The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual.… <a href="https://t.co/OhpnsN9fds">pic.twitter.com/OhpnsN9fds</a>&mdash; FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIBoston/status/2000690371072794682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The series of five short video clips and photographs captured from neighborhood property cameras include blurred images of the person’s face, partially obscured by what looks like a pandemic-era medical mask, as he walked the streets a few blocks east of the building where the shooting took place, about two hours beforehand on Saturday. Instead of black clothing, as previously described, he wears a two-colored jacket that appears dark gray and green.As the manhunt continues for the suspect, law enforcement are seeking more tips from the public, with the FBI offering a&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/brown-university-shooting.pdf">$50,000 reward</a>&nbsp;for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual responsible. The suspect is believed to be about 5-foot-8 with a stocky build, described as “armed and dangerous” according to the&nbsp;FBI poster.The evidence comes more than 48 hours after the shooting at Brown’s Barus and Holley engineering building, but wasn’t collected until Monday, Col. Oscar Perez, Providence Police chief, told Rhode Island Current after the press conference.Perez remained tight-lipped about the progress of the investigation, including personal connections to the victims or the Ivy League campus.&nbsp;“It’s a great question and something we are all asking ourselves,” Perez said.<h2>A targeted attack</h2>For the first time, Perez publicly confirmed that investigators believe the shooting was a targeted attack against the university.Indeed, the video clips&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2000701550864326687" target="_blank">posted to X</a>&nbsp;show the suspect walking back and forth across the same small section of the East Side neighborhood, pausing multiple times as he appears to take stock of the surroundings. At one point, he changes direction and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2000701550864326687?s=20" target="_blank">clasps his hands together</a>&nbsp;behind his back as he gazes up.Perez also confirmed the weapon used as a 9 millimeter firearm, with multiple rounds fired.&nbsp;Investigators had previously detained a person of interest found in a Coventry hotel early Sunday, but released him at around 12:30 a.m. Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/we-have-not-yet-solved-this-case-officials-say-person-of-interest-to-be-released/">declaring him cleared.</a>&nbsp;But not before his name was publicly circulated via national news reports, prompting a second round of scolding by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.“It’s one of the reasons we use words carefully,” Neronha said, explaining the difference between someone detained for questioning, versus held in custody on suspicion of committing a crime.&nbsp;And as federal prosecutors descended on the Hampton Inn in Coventry<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/police-withhold-details-on-brown-mass-shooting-suspect-investigators-search-coventry-hotel/">&nbsp;early Sunday</a>, other investigators were working on alternative leads and tips, Neronha said.&nbsp;“These investigations are like threads that you pull on a garment,” Neronha said. “Some of them you pull, and the garment doesn’t open up. Other ones you pull and the garment comes undone.”Federal and state investigators were seen combing sidewalks and properties across the East Side Monday afternoon, looking for more evidence of the shooter’s path. The return to the scene of the crime was prompted by additional tips and video and photo evidence, which has increased significantly with footage submitted from business owners and residents that were closed or away for the weekend, Neronha said.Ted Docks, special agent in charge for the FBI’s Boston field office, which is assisting Providence police and other local and state law enforcement, said the federal agency continues to process evidence from the neighborhood while investigators at its Quantico, Virginia, laboratory work to recreate the scene of the crime, documenting the trajectories of the bullets.“It’s painstaking work and we are asking the public to be patient as we continue to run down every lead,” Docks said, adding that no amount of information was “too small or irrelevant.”Perez acknowledged the length of the time that has elapsed since the shooting but reiterated the Providence agency’s dedication and professionalism in finding the suspect.&nbsp;“There’s no one that wants to put this individual in handcuffs [more] than us,” Perez said.&nbsp;<h2>A city on edge</h2>Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged the fear and grief that has gripped the capital city, evidenced by local residents, workers and students he had spoken with throughout the weekend and into Monday. Yet the city did not renew the lockdown order that was lifted early Sunday, after the previous person of interest was detained because there have been no new “credible” threats, Smiley said.“It is going to be hard for my city to feel safe going forward,” Smiley said. “This has shaken us. That will be true tomorrow. I suspect that will be true the day after the general convicts someone. This is a process to restore a sense of safety.”Providence schools opened as usual Monday and will continue with regular schedules Tuesday, with additional security officers on-hand to help reassure students and parents, Smiley said.&nbsp;Recalling the 200-plus person crowd that gathered in<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/a-community-in-grief-gathers-to-hold-light-in-one-of-providences-darkest-times/">&nbsp;Lippitt Memorial Park</a>&nbsp;on the Providence-Pawtucket line in sub-freezing temperatures Sunday night to honor the victims, Smiley said “This is a tight-knit community that looks out for each other.”Some neighborhood residents have lamented the lack of emergency notifications from the city during and after the shooting. But Smiley rebuffed criticisms of the city’s alert&nbsp;<a href="https://www.providenceri.gov/pvd311/" target="_blank">system</a>, saying it worked as intended for everyone who signed up, with text messages continuing to be sent out through Monday afternoon.Smiley’s tone grew sharper when asked about the onus placed on the university. President Donald Trump said earlier today that the tragedy was a “school problem” while defending the FBI’s role in the investigation.“So far, we’ve done a very good job of doing it,” Trump said of the federal investigation. “With the various times this has happened, they’ve done it in pretty much record time. But you really have to ask the school a little bit more about that, because this was a school problem. They had their own guards, they had their own police, they had their own everything. But you’d have to ask that question, really, to the school, not to the FBI. We came in after the fact, and the FBI will do a good job, but they came in after the fact.”Smiley’s response: “I do not accept that criticism.”Unlike prior press conferences, no one representing the university attended Monday afternoon’s event. Smiley said it did not signify their lack of support, instead explaining that because the updates focused on the continued law enforcement efforts to find the suspect, there was no need for the university to have a presence.However, Smiley said he was unable to directly answer reporters’ questions about why Brown did not activate its sirens when the shooting took place.&nbsp;Throughout the 30-minute briefing with reporters, public officials repeatedly stressed the need to verify information from official sources, noting the confusion and misinformation that spread in the days since the attack. That included reports of what initially sounded like gunfire reported on Pitman Street in the midst of the university campus Monday morning, but was later confirmed to be a boiler that backfired,&nbsp;<a href="https://turnto10.com/news/local/providence-police-respond-to-shots-fired-call-that-turns-out-to-be-backfiring-boiler-dec-15-2025" target="_blank">according to news reports.</a>There were no additional updates on the eight victims still in treatment at Rhode Island hospital. One person has already been released. The two students killed were also&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/15/two-brown-university-students-who-lost-their-lives-in-campus-shooting-identified/">publicly identified Monday.</a>Officials do not expect to provide additional public updates Monday.

Police release new photo in manhunt for Brown University shooter

On Dec. 15, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters, according to a statement from the U.S. Southern Command.

 Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking. A total of eight male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions—three in the first vessel, two in the second and three in the third.

On Dec. 15, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters, according to a statement from the U.S. Southern Command.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Dec. 15, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known… <a href="https://t.co/IQfCVvUpau">pic.twitter.com/IQfCVvUpau</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2000756230252314901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking. A total of eight male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions—three in the first vessel, two in the second and three in the third.

🎥US military conducts more drug boat strikes killing 8

The Powerball® jackpot has surged to an estimated $1.25 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing, giving players nationwide another chance to dream big this holiday season. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $572.1 million, according to a statement from the Multi-State Lottery Association.

Wednesday’s jackpot is the second-largest Powerball prize this year, behind the $1.787 billion prize won on Sept. 6 in Missouri and Texas. This marks only the second time in Powerball history that the game has generated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots.

“Powerball has only seen back-to-back to billion-dollar jackpots twice, and this one has arrived just in time for the holidays,” said Matt Strawn, Iowa Lottery CEO and Powerball Product Group Chair. “While it’s exciting to see the jackpot climb to this level, please remember to play responsibly. A single $2 ticket gives you a chance to win, while also supporting good causes in your community.”

The jackpot rolled last night after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn – white balls 23, 35, 59, 63, 68 and red Powerball 2. The Power Play® multiplier was 4.

Although there was no jackpot winner, U.S. lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets carefully to see if they have won any cash prizes.

Two tickets, sold in Arizona and California, matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes. The drawing also produced 43 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 14 tickets that won $200,000 prizes.

Note: In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.

Wednesday’s drawing will be the 44th in the current jackpot run – a game record for the most drawings in a jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was last won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.

The only other time the Powerball game generated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots was in 2023, when a $1.08 billion jackpot was won on July 19, followed by a $1.765 billion jackpot won on Oct. 11. Both jackpots were won by players in California.

If a player wins Wednesday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.25 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $572.1 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.

Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $37 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.

Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

<a href="https://www.powerball.com/">Powerball</a>

The Powerball® jackpot has surged to an estimated $1.25 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing, giving players nationwide another chance to dream big this holiday season. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $572.1 million, according to a statement from the Multi-State Lottery Association.Wednesday’s jackpot is the second-largest Powerball prize this year, behind the $1.787 billion prize won on Sept. 6 in Missouri and Texas. This marks only the second time in Powerball history that the game has generated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots.“Powerball has only seen back-to-back to billion-dollar jackpots twice, and this one has arrived just in time for the holidays,” said Matt Strawn, Iowa Lottery CEO and Powerball Product Group Chair. “While it’s exciting to see the jackpot climb to this level, please remember to play responsibly. A single $2 ticket gives you a chance to win, while also supporting good causes in your community.”The jackpot rolled last night after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn – white balls 23, 35, 59, 63, 68 and red Powerball 2. The Power Play® multiplier was 4.Although there was no jackpot winner, U.S. lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets carefully to see if they have won any cash prizes.Two tickets, sold in Arizona and California, matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes. The drawing also produced 43 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 14 tickets that won $200,000 prizes.Note: In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.Wednesday’s drawing will be the 44th in the current jackpot run – a game record for the most drawings in a jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was last won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.The only other time the Powerball game generated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots was in 2023, when a $1.08 billion jackpot was won on July 19, followed by a $1.765 billion jackpot won on Oct. 11. Both jackpots were won by players in California.If a player wins Wednesday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.25 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $572.1 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $37 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>.The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.Top Ten Powerball® Jackpots<ol>
 <li>$2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA</li><li>$1.787 Billion – Sept. 6, 2025 – MO, TX</li><li>$1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA</li><li>$1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN</li><li>$1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR</li><li>$1.25 Billion est. – Dec. 17, 2025</li><li>$1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA</li><li>$842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – MI</li><li>$768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI</li><li>$758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA</li>
 </ol><a href="https://www.powerball.com/">Powerball</a>

Merry Christmas: Powerball jackpot surges to $1.25 billion

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765833966030.png" alt="The president was asked if he stood by his social media post in light of the pushback he was getting, including from those in his own party. Using the third person, Trump said Reiner “was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.” “I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way shape or form,” Trump said. “I thought he was very bad for our country.”- image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>The president was asked if he stood by his social media post in light of the pushback he was getting, including from those in his own party. Using the third person, Trump said Reiner “was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned.” “I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way shape or form,” Trump said. “I thought he was very bad for our country.”- image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/pibzXhB2x9">pic.twitter.com/pibzXhB2x9</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2000579703942344839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump on Rob Reiner: &quot;I wasn&#39;t a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned...I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape or form. I thought he was very bad for our country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/s3Ui8K6Y0a">pic.twitter.com/s3Ui8K6Y0a</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2000670041465827461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump doubles down on criticizing Rob Reiner after his killing

Give back this holiday season by volunteering, donating financially or making an appointment to give blood at redcross.org.

DECEMBER 15, 2025&nbsp;— In 2025, local American Red Cross volunteers&nbsp;became a lifeline&nbsp;for thousands of neighbors&nbsp;reeling from disasters&nbsp;in Nebraska.

&nbsp;In a powerful display of community,&nbsp;local&nbsp;volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by tornadoes, floods and other disasters this year, including hundreds of home fires.

The need for this support shows no sign of slowing down. In the U.S., Red Cross home fire responses spike&nbsp;nearly 20%&nbsp;during the holidays, when families face increased fire risks such as cooking and heating.

“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Jill Orton, Region CEO of the American Red Cross. “Thanks to generous donations, they have the resources to deliver comfort, hope and support to help people recover. Through these simple acts of giving, we come together as a community to bring light to a family’s darkest days — right when it’s needed most.”

This holiday season, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwszL2O6yAQQOGngQ6LwcPPFBRp8hoRZsYJuk58F6xY-_arrLb9jnQ4u1TRBi0ZYvAJwHunH3mhaGuR6v1CwGvCdZ1xSZgiFGFLuuVAaJ33kEpiusFsOS0WwcMcQKEdjeVf-zLP0jbpw4RQ2YdQQzL9jd1Nn6C3_DiO_2q-KHdV7nqe59SFa9_HmPZ-V-6qn8KtmC6blCGmcf6F2x-o-eKstUS6503O7zHV0rf2agqtlPsmvXDbp5ccehxd5Pk5cIwAS0QT4kIGqUZDfg0mRoupohBFp9_Z_QQAAP__56lWAA">redcross.org</a>&nbsp;to make a financial donation or&nbsp;to give back through volunteering.&nbsp;You can also make an appointment to give blood or platelets.&nbsp;The need for blood is constant — and just like disasters, medical emergencies don’t take holidays.

How Local Responders Helped in Nebraska in 2025

Visit the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJw0zEuO6yAQheHVwAyLwjwHDDLxNqIy1HVQsH0bUKzsvpVW9_Q_n06OyictLacIzhoPYIzij7gG6RFREYADkDhrn431yoEMZqWVl2iDlsoY8OhzuMMss1-lBgOzBaZlL5me5UvsWCq1LqxN2VibrBftpZuaPgOv8THG_87mG1MLU8t1XVOjnNrZ-3S2jamlngkrU8tBa8P-xI_CdxfjFPk8cNCfEVt5lWObHmOvfKdcUDSqhJ1EyfEn3H8Dm29KShkCb7HS9e5TwlbLUZiWhFulhrmc00GD99GI9s9Ddg5gdVpYtwahQ3IimH9WOCe1T5pCcIq_ovoOAAD__2dLaNk">Red Cross of Nebraska Year in Review webpage</a>&nbsp;for stories about how people from Nebraska helped in 2025.&nbsp;

About the American Red Cross:The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwszEGOKiEQgOHTwI4ORQNFLVi48RqGpkolD_UNdOzM7SdOZvv9yc_Zpept1JIBY0gAITh9z0ih4hocYoCysTisSa7MpQJLItItR_LWhQCpJKYLrJbTZj0EWCMob2dj-de-zKO0LmOaGCuHGGtMZrz9cMsn6J7v-_5frSflzsqdj-NYhnAdrzmX17jph3ArZkiXMsU0zr9w-QO1npy1lkiP3OX4nksto7dnU95KuXUZhdtrecqu5z5EHp8DIwJs6E3EjYyniobCNRpE61P1QoROv7P7CQAA__8NVFVt">redcross.org</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwszEFuwyAQQNHTmB3WMMAMLFhElXKAXiAiMElo7bjFbqz29FWqbt-Xfk0YigNSkgyTD8Z4j-qWgAUFgFhsvPhsnQ_BMKOvhSyiVy1RdIDem5BDjSdjoYYzOOONJTM4WFuV9_ap59wm6asmKtUTFQq6P1zH8RnUlG7b9jHYw4DHAY_7vo8v_evndXnLh1l6K_mex6Vf1Sy1Zd1lkryKbjX9wekfBntAAIhR9TTJ_r2OJfep3dvgQPJ1kp5rW8a7bGrdusj8PFRmY87sNPE5ahcL6-gvpJnBheIkRkb1SPgbAAD__wT7V1k">CruzRojaAmericana.org</a>, or follow us on social media.

For Immediate Release<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765821282771.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Give back this holiday season by volunteering, donating financially or making an appointment to give blood at redcross.org.</h2>DECEMBER 15, 2025&nbsp;— In 2025, local American Red Cross volunteers&nbsp;became a lifeline&nbsp;for thousands of neighbors&nbsp;reeling from disasters&nbsp;in Nebraska.&nbsp;In a powerful display of community,&nbsp;local&nbsp;volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by tornadoes, floods and other disasters this year, including hundreds of home fires.The need for this support shows no sign of slowing down. In the U.S., Red Cross home fire responses spike&nbsp;nearly 20%&nbsp;during the holidays, when families face increased fire risks such as cooking and heating.“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Jill Orton, Region CEO of the American Red Cross. “Thanks to generous donations, they have the resources to deliver comfort, hope and support to help people recover. Through these simple acts of giving, we come together as a community to bring light to a family’s darkest days — right when it’s needed most.”This holiday season, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwszL2O6yAQQOGngQ6LwcPPFBRp8hoRZsYJuk58F6xY-_arrLb9jnQ4u1TRBi0ZYvAJwHunH3mhaGuR6v1CwGvCdZ1xSZgiFGFLuuVAaJ33kEpiusFsOS0WwcMcQKEdjeVf-zLP0jbpw4RQ2YdQQzL9jd1Nn6C3_DiO_2q-KHdV7nqe59SFa9_HmPZ-V-6qn8KtmC6blCGmcf6F2x-o-eKstUS6503O7zHV0rf2agqtlPsmvXDbp5ccehxd5Pk5cIwAS0QT4kIGqUZDfg0mRoupohBFp9_Z_QQAAP__56lWAA">redcross.org</a>&nbsp;to make a financial donation or&nbsp;to give back through volunteering.&nbsp;You can also make an appointment to give blood or platelets.&nbsp;The need for blood is constant — and just like disasters, medical emergencies don’t take holidays.How Local Responders Helped in Nebraska in 2025<ul>
 <li>Responded to nearly 350 home fires, helping&nbsp;more than 1,150 people&nbsp;with relief and recovery support. The Red Cross assesses and addresses the immediate needs of disaster victims and starts them on the road to recovery.</li><li>Installed more than 2,600 free smoke alarms&nbsp;in homes that needed them. Along with installing new alarms, volunteers check batteries in existing smoke alarms and help families create home fire escape plans, making homes safer.</li><li>&nbsp;Collected nearly 130,000 units of blood&nbsp;through&nbsp;more than 5,000 blood drives,&nbsp;ensuring blood was available for those who needed it,&nbsp;including people facing life-threatening conditions like cancer, sickle cell disease, childbirth complications and traumatic injuries.&nbsp;Patients rely on a consistent blood supply to survive and heal — and it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.</li><li>Provided more than 1,500 services to military members, veterans and their families. This includes support before, during and after deployments, along with helping navigate life as a veteran.</li>
 </ul><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNEIARedCross%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02iBzqP6PTmaBcEhhMoDr2qm7sTiaujELoeXMqCccPQcef3CpMJs6Robp8FKdWatYPl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="615" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Visit the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJw0zEuO6yAQheHVwAyLwjwHDDLxNqIy1HVQsH0bUKzsvpVW9_Q_n06OyictLacIzhoPYIzij7gG6RFREYADkDhrn431yoEMZqWVl2iDlsoY8OhzuMMss1-lBgOzBaZlL5me5UvsWCq1LqxN2VibrBftpZuaPgOv8THG_87mG1MLU8t1XVOjnNrZ-3S2jamlngkrU8tBa8P-xI_CdxfjFPk8cNCfEVt5lWObHmOvfKdcUDSqhJ1EyfEn3H8Dm29KShkCb7HS9e5TwlbLUZiWhFulhrmc00GD99GI9s9Ddg5gdVpYtwahQ3IimH9WOCe1T5pCcIq_ovoOAAD__2dLaNk">Red Cross of Nebraska Year in Review webpage</a>&nbsp;for stories about how people from Nebraska helped in 2025.&nbsp;About the American Red Cross:The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwszEGOKiEQgOHTwI4ORQNFLVi48RqGpkolD_UNdOzM7SdOZvv9yc_Zpept1JIBY0gAITh9z0ih4hocYoCysTisSa7MpQJLItItR_LWhQCpJKYLrJbTZj0EWCMob2dj-de-zKO0LmOaGCuHGGtMZrz9cMsn6J7v-_5frSflzsqdj-NYhnAdrzmX17jph3ArZkiXMsU0zr9w-QO1npy1lkiP3OX4nksto7dnU95KuXUZhdtrecqu5z5EHp8DIwJs6E3EjYyniobCNRpE61P1QoROv7P7CQAA__8NVFVt">redcross.org</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://us.cisionone.cision.com/c/eJwszEFuwyAQQNHTmB3WMMAMLFhElXKAXiAiMElo7bjFbqz29FWqbt-Xfk0YigNSkgyTD8Z4j-qWgAUFgFhsvPhsnQ_BMKOvhSyiVy1RdIDem5BDjSdjoYYzOOONJTM4WFuV9_ap59wm6asmKtUTFQq6P1zH8RnUlG7b9jHYw4DHAY_7vo8v_evndXnLh1l6K_mex6Vf1Sy1Zd1lkryKbjX9wekfBntAAIhR9TTJ_r2OJfep3dvgQPJ1kp5rW8a7bGrdusj8PFRmY87sNPE5ahcL6-gvpJnBheIkRkb1SPgbAAD__wT7V1k">CruzRojaAmericana.org</a>, or follow us on social media.

Local Red Cross volunteers provide lifeline for families strained by 2025 disasters

By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday ordered all flags in Iowa lowered in honor of the two Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria.

The two service members were killed Saturday in Palmyra, Syria, by a lone gunman suspected to be affiliated with ISIS. The two individuals were identified in a news release Monday as Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torrestovar of Grimes. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment.

Reynolds said she and her husband, Kevin Reynolds, offer “offer our prayers and condolences to their families and ask that Iowans stand united in support of them during this difficult time.”

“Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torrestovar served our state and nation with honor, and in doing so, gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Reynolds said. “We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss.”

Reynolds and Iowa National Guard Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn confirmed during a Saturday news conference three other soldiers were injured in the attack — one of the injuries was “superficial,” Osborn said, while two others were “significant,” and both were stable but in critical condition receiving treatment at the Jordan air base. One civilian, an interpreter who was not from Iowa, was also killed in the attack.

In a<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1181943667403597&amp;set=pcb.1181949564069674" target="_blank">&nbsp;social media post</a>&nbsp;late Saturday, Meskwaki Nation Police Chief Jeffrey Bunn wrote that his son, Howard, was one of the soldiers killed in the attack.

“My wife Misty and I had that visit from Army Commanders you never want to have,” Bunn wrote. “Our son Nate was one of the Soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, to keep us all safer. He loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out, no one left behind. Please pray for our Soldiers all around this cruel world.”

The attack, currently under investigation, occurred “as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement,”<a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/1999881329593258126?s=20" target="_blank">&nbsp;according to Sean Parnell</a>, the U.S. assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. The soldiers’ mission was in support of ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the area. Osborn said at the Saturday news conference the Iowa National Guard forces in Syria operate as a part of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, an international union led by the U.S. focused on fighting ISIS in the region.

“Our soldiers were doing their job, serving with courage, dedication and professionalism,” Osborn said. “They carried out their mission to the best of their ability, and we are proud of their incredible service and sacrifice, and we will continue to stand strong as a team united in the purpose and resolve their mission.”

There are currently 1,800 Iowa soldiers in the Middle East, Osborn said, deployed in May 2025. Of that group, between 200 and 250 are National Guard members deployed in Syria.

President Donald Trump pledged a strong U.S. response to the ISIS attack<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115713778827349150" target="_blank">&nbsp;in a Truth Social post Saturday</a>&nbsp;mourning the deaths of the three Americans.

“This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them,” Trump write. “The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation.”

Other Iowa leaders shared their condolences for the fallen soldiers and their families following the news Saturday. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a veteran who served with the Iowa National Guard, asked Iowans to join her “in praying for the families of these American heroes.”

“Our Iowa National Guard family is hurting as we mourn the loss of two of our own and pray for the recovery of the three soldiers wounded,” Ernst said in a statement. “These soldiers were carrying out a critical mission in combatting the threat of ISIS and keeping our homeland safe from the threat of radical Islamic terror. This tragic attack is a reminder that freedom is not free and that every American owes an enormous debt of gratitude to our brave men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day.”

The last death of an Iowa National Guard member in service occurred in 2011 in Afghanistan.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said the deaths of the Iowa National Guard members was “absolutely shocking news” in a statement Saturday.

“The National Guard represents the best of us – citizens always ready to protect and serve their neighbors,” Hart said. “May the families of these brave Iowa soldiers know that the entire state of Iowa grieves for them and send our sincerest sympathies to them for their unbelievable loss.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765830118517.png" alt="&nbsp;Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar-photo Iowa National Guard" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar-photo Iowa National Guard</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday ordered all flags in Iowa lowered in honor of the two Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria.The two service members were killed Saturday in Palmyra, Syria, by a lone gunman suspected to be affiliated with ISIS. The two individuals were identified in a news release Monday as Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torrestovar of Grimes. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765830050753.png" alt="&nbsp;Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard=photo Iowa National Guard" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard=photo Iowa National Guard</figcaption>
 </figure>Reynolds said she and her husband, Kevin Reynolds, offer “offer our prayers and condolences to their families and ask that Iowans stand united in support of them during this difficult time.”“Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torrestovar served our state and nation with honor, and in doing so, gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Reynolds said. “We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss.”Reynolds and Iowa National Guard Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn confirmed during a Saturday news conference three other soldiers were injured in the attack — one of the injuries was “superficial,” Osborn said, while two others were “significant,” and both were stable but in critical condition receiving treatment at the Jordan air base. One civilian, an interpreter who was not from Iowa, was also killed in the attack.In a<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1181943667403597&amp;set=pcb.1181949564069674" target="_blank">&nbsp;social media post</a>&nbsp;late Saturday, Meskwaki Nation Police Chief Jeffrey Bunn wrote that his son, Howard, was one of the soldiers killed in the attack.“My wife Misty and I had that visit from Army Commanders you never want to have,” Bunn wrote. “Our son Nate was one of the Soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, to keep us all safer. He loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out, no one left behind. Please pray for our Soldiers all around this cruel world.”The attack, currently under investigation, occurred “as the soldiers were conducting a key leader engagement,”<a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/1999881329593258126?s=20" target="_blank">&nbsp;according to Sean Parnell</a>, the U.S. assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. The soldiers’ mission was in support of ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the area. Osborn said at the Saturday news conference the Iowa National Guard forces in Syria operate as a part of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, an international union led by the U.S. focused on fighting ISIS in the region.“Our soldiers were doing their job, serving with courage, dedication and professionalism,” Osborn said. “They carried out their mission to the best of their ability, and we are proud of their incredible service and sacrifice, and we will continue to stand strong as a team united in the purpose and resolve their mission.”There are currently 1,800 Iowa soldiers in the Middle East, Osborn said, deployed in May 2025. Of that group, between 200 and 250 are National Guard members deployed in Syria.President Donald Trump pledged a strong U.S. response to the ISIS attack<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115713778827349150" target="_blank">&nbsp;in a Truth Social post Saturday</a>&nbsp;mourning the deaths of the three Americans.“This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them,” Trump write. “The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation.”Other Iowa leaders shared their condolences for the fallen soldiers and their families following the news Saturday. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a veteran who served with the Iowa National Guard, asked Iowans to join her “in praying for the families of these American heroes.”“Our Iowa National Guard family is hurting as we mourn the loss of two of our own and pray for the recovery of the three soldiers wounded,” Ernst said in a statement. “These soldiers were carrying out a critical mission in combatting the threat of ISIS and keeping our homeland safe from the threat of radical Islamic terror. This tragic attack is a reminder that freedom is not free and that every American owes an enormous debt of gratitude to our brave men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day.”The last death of an Iowa National Guard member in service occurred in 2011 in Afghanistan.Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said the deaths of the Iowa National Guard members was “absolutely shocking news” in a statement Saturday.“The National Guard represents the best of us – citizens always ready to protect and serve their neighbors,” Hart said. “May the families of these brave Iowa soldiers know that the entire state of Iowa grieves for them and send our sincerest sympathies to them for their unbelievable loss.”

US Army names National Guard members killed in attack in Syria

Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats across the South if the U.S. Supreme Court guts a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act, a new analysis finds.

The bulk of the gains would be concentrated in 10 GOP-controlled state legislatures in Southern states, according to the analysis, produced by Fair Fight Action, a Georgia-based progressive voting rights group, in partnership with Black Voters Matter Fund, which advocates on behalf of Black voters.

The analysis, featured in a&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/664f769adc5cc1607d32b366/693c85542ed35aaddd503882_REPORT_SCOTUS_VRA_2.0.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;released by the groups on Monday, underscores the alarm among progressives over the potential consequences of the Supreme Court’s looming decision in a case known as Louisiana v. Callais. While the case centers on the constitutionality of Louisiana’s congressional map, the effects of the decision could extend into statehouses across the country.

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority appears likely to severely weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark 1965 civil rights law that bans racial discrimination in voting access. Section 2 restricts racial gerrymandering, and until now has limited the power of lawmakers to draw districts that dilute the voting power of racial minority voters.

A sweeping decision by the court could give state lawmakers a freer hand to draw congressional and state legislative districts that dilute the power of minority voters — as well as districts for local governments, such as county commissions, city councils and school boards. The justices held oral arguments in October; a decision could come at any time.

At the state legislative level, a court ruling that strikes down Section 2 could lead to Democrats losing about 191 seats, according to the analysis, which examined how state legislative districts could be redrawn if Section 2 is no longer in place. Most of those seats are currently held by Black lawmakers in districts where minority voters make up a majority of residents.

“What that is doing is providing a fatal blow to Black representation in the South,” Fair Fight Action CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo said in an interview.

The total number of state legislative districts in 10 Southern states where Black or Hispanic voters comprise a majority could fall from 342 to 202. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Some Republican states argue that courts have interpreted Section 2’s protections too broadly and in the process wrongly restrained the ability of lawmakers to draw favorable maps.

Alabama and 13 other GOP states said in a brief filed with the Supreme Court earlier this year that Section 2 has been turned into “the proverbial golden hammer, wielded by plaintiffs and courts in a never-ending search for a nail.”

If the Supreme Court weakens the Voting Rights Act, it’s unclear whether state legislatures would pursue mid-decade redraws of state legislative districts. Redistricting typically occurs every 10 years following the census.

At the federal level,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000199-c097-dae2-ab9d-ded7d6fb0000" target="_blank">a previous analysis</a>&nbsp;by Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund projected Republicans could draw an additional 19 U.S. House seats if Section 2 protections were removed.

While a few states have passed new congressional maps already this year, those efforts have proven highly controversial. Some states, such as Indiana and Kansas, have abandoned or rejected them for now.

By Jonathan Shorman | Stateline<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762206108092.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats across the South if the U.S. Supreme Court guts a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act, a new analysis finds.The bulk of the gains would be concentrated in 10 GOP-controlled state legislatures in Southern states, according to the analysis, produced by Fair Fight Action, a Georgia-based progressive voting rights group, in partnership with Black Voters Matter Fund, which advocates on behalf of Black voters.The analysis, featured in a&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/664f769adc5cc1607d32b366/693c85542ed35aaddd503882_REPORT_SCOTUS_VRA_2.0.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;released by the groups on Monday, underscores the alarm among progressives over the potential consequences of the Supreme Court’s looming decision in a case known as Louisiana v. Callais. While the case centers on the constitutionality of Louisiana’s congressional map, the effects of the decision could extend into statehouses across the country.The Supreme Court’s conservative majority appears likely to severely weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark 1965 civil rights law that bans racial discrimination in voting access. Section 2 restricts racial gerrymandering, and until now has limited the power of lawmakers to draw districts that dilute the voting power of racial minority voters.A sweeping decision by the court could give state lawmakers a freer hand to draw congressional and state legislative districts that dilute the power of minority voters — as well as districts for local governments, such as county commissions, city councils and school boards. The justices held oral arguments in October; a decision could come at any time.At the state legislative level, a court ruling that strikes down Section 2 could lead to Democrats losing about 191 seats, according to the analysis, which examined how state legislative districts could be redrawn if Section 2 is no longer in place. Most of those seats are currently held by Black lawmakers in districts where minority voters make up a majority of residents.“What that is doing is providing a fatal blow to Black representation in the South,” Fair Fight Action CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo said in an interview.The total number of state legislative districts in 10 Southern states where Black or Hispanic voters comprise a majority could fall from 342 to 202. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.Some Republican states argue that courts have interpreted Section 2’s protections too broadly and in the process wrongly restrained the ability of lawmakers to draw favorable maps.Alabama and 13 other GOP states said in a brief filed with the Supreme Court earlier this year that Section 2 has been turned into “the proverbial golden hammer, wielded by plaintiffs and courts in a never-ending search for a nail.”If the Supreme Court weakens the Voting Rights Act, it’s unclear whether state legislatures would pursue mid-decade redraws of state legislative districts. Redistricting typically occurs every 10 years following the census.At the federal level,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000199-c097-dae2-ab9d-ded7d6fb0000" target="_blank">a previous analysis</a>&nbsp;by Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund projected Republicans could draw an additional 19 U.S. House seats if Section 2 protections were removed.While a few states have passed new congressional maps already this year, those efforts have proven highly controversial. Some states, such as Indiana and Kansas, have abandoned or rejected them for now.

Republicans could gain nearly 200 state legislative seats in voting rights case, report finds

Arrests in the United States have fallen to levels not seen in decades, according to a new&nbsp;<a href="https://counciloncj.org/who-gets-arrested-in-america-trends-across-four-decades-1980-2024/" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;that reconstructs national arrest trends in the absence of federal data.

The Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, on Thursday released the first comprehensive national analysis of arrests since federal authorities stopped publishing detailed arrest statistics in 2020.

Arrests plunged during the first year of the pandemic and have remained low, according to the analysis. The national arrest rate in 2024 was 30% below the 2019 level and 71% lower than the peak in 1994.&nbsp;

Drug arrests have fallen even faster, with adult and juvenile drug-offense arrest rates dropping to about half of what they were in 2019.

In 1980, juveniles made up nearly a fifth of arrests nationwide, but by 2018, their share had fallen to 7%. While adult arrest rates declined 7% between 2020 and 2024, juvenile rates rose 14% over the same period.

Gender patterns have shifted as well. With arrests of men falling more steeply over time, women now account for a larger portion of arrests. Adult women’s share nearly doubled between 1980 and 2020, rising from 14% to about 27%. Girls’ share of juvenile arrests grew from 18% to roughly 31%.

Between 2020 and 2024, arrest rates for Black and Asian juveniles surged 48% and 45%, respectively, compared with an 11% increase among white youth. Rates for American Indian and Alaska Native juveniles fell 4%.&nbsp;

Among adults, arrest rates increased by 12% for Black people and 18% for Asian people, but declined by 10% for white adults and 17% for American Indian and Alaska Native adults.

Stateline reporter Amanda Watford can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ahernandez@stateline.org">ahernandez@stateline.org</a>.

By Amanda Watford | Stateline<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763992271100.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Arrests in the United States have fallen to levels not seen in decades, according to a new&nbsp;<a href="https://counciloncj.org/who-gets-arrested-in-america-trends-across-four-decades-1980-2024/" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;that reconstructs national arrest trends in the absence of federal data.The Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, on Thursday released the first comprehensive national analysis of arrests since federal authorities stopped publishing detailed arrest statistics in 2020.Arrests plunged during the first year of the pandemic and have remained low, according to the analysis. The national arrest rate in 2024 was 30% below the 2019 level and 71% lower than the peak in 1994.&nbsp;Drug arrests have fallen even faster, with adult and juvenile drug-offense arrest rates dropping to about half of what they were in 2019.In 1980, juveniles made up nearly a fifth of arrests nationwide, but by 2018, their share had fallen to 7%. While adult arrest rates declined 7% between 2020 and 2024, juvenile rates rose 14% over the same period.Gender patterns have shifted as well. With arrests of men falling more steeply over time, women now account for a larger portion of arrests. Adult women’s share nearly doubled between 1980 and 2020, rising from 14% to about 27%. Girls’ share of juvenile arrests grew from 18% to roughly 31%.Between 2020 and 2024, arrest rates for Black and Asian juveniles surged 48% and 45%, respectively, compared with an 11% increase among white youth. Rates for American Indian and Alaska Native juveniles fell 4%.&nbsp;Among adults, arrest rates increased by 12% for Black people and 18% for Asian people, but declined by 10% for white adults and 17% for American Indian and Alaska Native adults.Stateline reporter Amanda Watford can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ahernandez@stateline.org">ahernandez@stateline.org</a>.

Arrests nationwide have fallen to historic lows, report finds

By:<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/christopher-shea/">Christopher Shea</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/alexcastro/">Alexander Castro</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/janine-weisman/">Janine L. Weisman</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>

Providence police will release the man apprehended at a Coventry hotel early Sunday morning as part of their investigation of the mass shooting at Brown University’s engineering and physics building.

The surprising news came at a twice delayed press conference that began shortly after 11 p.m. at the Providence Public Safety Complex. The press conference was originally slated to begin at 10:30 p.m. and then 10:45 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction and you have to regroup and go in another and that is what has happened over the last 24 hours or so,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

The press conference came hours after national news outlets had already named a 24-year-old Wisconsin man, citing law enforcement sources speaking on condition of anonymity. The Associated Press had reported that police had seized two handguns and two loaded 30-round magazines when the man was detained at the Hampton Inn in Coventry.

“What is really unfortunate is that this person’s name was leaked to the public,” Neronha went on. “It’s hard to put that back in the bottle.”

Neronha declined to say what eliminated him as a person of interest.

Meanwhile, officials are still not releasing the names of the victims in the shooting, which killed two students and wounded nine others. Eight students remain hospitalized at Rhode Island Hospital.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said that the search will continue for additional video evidence. Residents living near the Brown University campus, particularly along Hope and Waterman streets, who have doorbells that record motion, are asked to upload any videos recorded after the shooting happened Saturday around 4 p.m. to a&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/digitalmedia/614ee3a4a073699" target="_blank">designated page</a>&nbsp;on the FBI website.

Smiley said residents and business owners in the area who have video from that time can also call police at (401) 272-3121.

When a reporter asked Neronha if the person of interest would be exonerated in writing, after having his name nationally broadcasted in relation to a mass shooting, Neronha opted to sketch “a clear picture” of case law and the duration of forensics.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We can detain someone for a reasonable period of time if there is evidence as such that points to that person being involved in criminal activity,” Neronha said. “So you know, evidence doesn’t appear on your doorstep and you have answers to it within the first 15 minutes.”

Evidence, Neronha added, takes time and testing to confirm. Some tests can take an entire day to perform.&nbsp;

“So over the course of the day, while we’re following up leads elsewhere, those initial leads may come back positive or may come back negative,” Neronha said. “Here they came back negative.”

Neronha got testy once more when a reporter asked about the availability of any additional video evidence. Smiley was at the podium, but Neronha’s voice boomed forward in reply.&nbsp;

“If we had that video, you’d have it,” Neronha said. “Obviously, if there was, if there was a piece of video [where] we can show you a face and say, ‘This is our person of interest, or suspect,’ you’d have it.”

Asked about the possibility of additional video — whether from cameras at Brown or in the surrounding area, like homes or businesses — the AG offered a more resigned reply.&nbsp;

“We’re not holding back video,” Neronha said.&nbsp;“We’re not holding back video that we think would be useful, and I don’t think I should even have to say it.”

The Barus and Holley engineering building where the shooting occurred is an older building with few cameras, Neronha said.

Still, Neronha said, officials cannot divulge everything. “We have a murderer out there, frankly,” he said. “And so we’re not going to give away the game plan.”

Smiley said the individual would “shortly be released” from the Providence Police but did not give a specific time.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Smiley pledged to provide additional updates as the investigation continues.

“The community deserves to know the progress we are making in this investigation,” Smiley said. “I imagine that the Providence community feels a little bit more anxious than they did an hour ago, and I understand that.”

At a press conference Sunday morning, Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez was cautious in choosing his words to describe the status of the person of interest as being detained and not in custody. Perez had stopped short of saying the man apprehended in Coventry was the same man wearing all black shown walking on Hope Street and taking a right on Waterman Street in the<a href="https://youtu.be/TfYK8EIcqek?si=wbCXFnosK-Uuy789" target="_blank">&nbsp;video police released Saturday night</a>.

Asked by a reporter if the man detained was the same man in the video, Perez was clear. “We do not have enough evidence to corroborate that,” the chief said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765713698495.png" alt="Image from Providence Police video" />
 <figcaption>Image from Providence Police video</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/christopher-shea/">Christopher Shea</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/alexcastro/">Alexander Castro</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/janine-weisman/">Janine L. Weisman</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>Providence police will release the man apprehended at a Coventry hotel early Sunday morning as part of their investigation of the mass shooting at Brown University’s engineering and physics building.The surprising news came at a twice delayed press conference that began shortly after 11 p.m. at the Providence Public Safety Complex. The press conference was originally slated to begin at 10:30 p.m. and then 10:45 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction and you have to regroup and go in another and that is what has happened over the last 24 hours or so,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.The press conference came hours after national news outlets had already named a 24-year-old Wisconsin man, citing law enforcement sources speaking on condition of anonymity. The Associated Press had reported that police had seized two handguns and two loaded 30-round magazines when the man was detained at the Hampton Inn in Coventry.“What is really unfortunate is that this person’s name was leaked to the public,” Neronha went on. “It’s hard to put that back in the bottle.”Neronha declined to say what eliminated him as a person of interest.Meanwhile, officials are still not releasing the names of the victims in the shooting, which killed two students and wounded nine others. Eight students remain hospitalized at Rhode Island Hospital.Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said that the search will continue for additional video evidence. Residents living near the Brown University campus, particularly along Hope and Waterman streets, who have doorbells that record motion, are asked to upload any videos recorded after the shooting happened Saturday around 4 p.m. to a&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/digitalmedia/614ee3a4a073699" target="_blank">designated page</a>&nbsp;on the FBI website.Smiley said residents and business owners in the area who have video from that time can also call police at (401) 272-3121.When a reporter asked Neronha if the person of interest would be exonerated in writing, after having his name nationally broadcasted in relation to a mass shooting, Neronha opted to sketch “a clear picture” of case law and the duration of forensics.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We can detain someone for a reasonable period of time if there is evidence as such that points to that person being involved in criminal activity,” Neronha said. “So you know, evidence doesn’t appear on your doorstep and you have answers to it within the first 15 minutes.”Evidence, Neronha added, takes time and testing to confirm. Some tests can take an entire day to perform.&nbsp;“So over the course of the day, while we’re following up leads elsewhere, those initial leads may come back positive or may come back negative,” Neronha said. “Here they came back negative.”Neronha got testy once more when a reporter asked about the availability of any additional video evidence. Smiley was at the podium, but Neronha’s voice boomed forward in reply.&nbsp;“If we had that video, you’d have it,” Neronha said. “Obviously, if there was, if there was a piece of video [where] we can show you a face and say, ‘This is our person of interest, or suspect,’ you’d have it.”Asked about the possibility of additional video — whether from cameras at Brown or in the surrounding area, like homes or businesses — the AG offered a more resigned reply.&nbsp;“We’re not holding back video,” Neronha said.&nbsp;“We’re not holding back video that we think would be useful, and I don’t think I should even have to say it.”The Barus and Holley engineering building where the shooting occurred is an older building with few cameras, Neronha said.Still, Neronha said, officials cannot divulge everything. “We have a murderer out there, frankly,” he said. “And so we’re not going to give away the game plan.”Smiley said the individual would “shortly be released” from the Providence Police but did not give a specific time.&nbsp;&nbsp;Smiley pledged to provide additional updates as the investigation continues.“The community deserves to know the progress we are making in this investigation,” Smiley said. “I imagine that the Providence community feels a little bit more anxious than they did an hour ago, and I understand that.”At a press conference Sunday morning, Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez was cautious in choosing his words to describe the status of the person of interest as being detained and not in custody. Perez had stopped short of saying the man apprehended in Coventry was the same man wearing all black shown walking on Hope Street and taking a right on Waterman Street in the<a href="https://youtu.be/TfYK8EIcqek?si=wbCXFnosK-Uuy789" target="_blank">&nbsp;video police released Saturday night</a>.Asked by a reporter if the man detained was the same man in the video, Perez was clear. “We do not have enough evidence to corroborate that,” the chief said.&nbsp;

Brown University shooter still at large; person of interest released

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. - A fugitive wanted nationwide since 2018 was taken into custody in North Platte after deputies confirmed he was the subject of a full extradition warrant, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said they received information Saturday, Dec. 13, that Jorge Fonseca-Dominguez was staying at a residence in North Platte. Further investigation confirmed Fonseca-Dominguez was wanted on a nationwide extradition warrant and was listed on the U.S. Marshals Service most wanted list.

Authorities said Fonseca-Dominguez had been a fugitive from justice since 2018. He was previously sentenced to 10 months in prison for illegal re-entry into the United States.

The sheriff’s office said Fonseca-Dominguez violated the conditions of his supervised release by illegally returning to the United States after being deported and by failing to report to his probation officer.

According to law enforcement, Fonseca-Dominguez has an extensive criminal history that includes disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, driving while intoxicated and multiple drug-related charges.

Fonseca-Dominguez was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center, where he is being held pending extradition.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. - A fugitive wanted nationwide since 2018 was taken into custody in North Platte after deputies confirmed he was the subject of a full extradition warrant, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765721771170.jpeg" alt="Jorge Enrique Fonseca-Dominguez - Fugitive From Justice, wanted by San Antonio, Texas US Marshalls, Probation Violation, Illegal Re-entry" />
 <figcaption>Jorge Enrique Fonseca-Dominguez - Fugitive From Justice, wanted by San Antonio, Texas US Marshalls, Probation Violation, Illegal Re-entry</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies said they received information Saturday, Dec. 13, that Jorge Fonseca-Dominguez was staying at a residence in North Platte. Further investigation confirmed Fonseca-Dominguez was wanted on a nationwide extradition warrant and was listed on the U.S. Marshals Service most wanted list.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLincolnCountySheriffsOfficeNP%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0LhoSoCj9u4E8DPF7cPhuLhWpQbZy9ZVxGKUMGuQQykNEZzrnCrqF6WHENDUB8DvFl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Authorities said Fonseca-Dominguez had been a fugitive from justice since 2018. He was previously sentenced to 10 months in prison for illegal re-entry into the United States.The sheriff’s office said Fonseca-Dominguez violated the conditions of his supervised release by illegally returning to the United States after being deported and by failing to report to his probation officer.According to law enforcement, Fonseca-Dominguez has an extensive criminal history that includes disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, driving while intoxicated and multiple drug-related charges.Fonseca-Dominguez was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center, where he is being held pending extradition.

Nationwide Fugitive Arrested in North Platte, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Says

The billion-dollar Powerball® jackpot is on the rise. The jackpot has reached an estimated $1.1 billion for Monday night’s drawing, with an estimated cash value of $503.4 million, according to a statement from the Multi-State Lottery Association.

Monday’s jackpot ranks as the sixth largest in Powerball history.

“This jackpot streak is bringing people together to dream big during this festive time of year,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “Please play responsibly. Just one $2 Powerball® ticket gives you a chance to win this jackpot while also supporting good causes in your community.”

The Powerball jackpot rolled last night after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn – white balls 1, 28, 31, 57, 58 and red Powerball 16. The Power Play® multiplier was 2X.

Although there was no jackpot winner, U.S. lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets carefully, as many may still have won cash prizes.

Nationwide, seven tickets won cash prizes worth $1 million or more in last night’s Powerball® drawing. Five tickets, sold in California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and Virginia, matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes.

Two tickets, sold in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, matched all five white balls and, because the players added the Power Play® option for $1 more, the $1 million prize increased to $2 million for each ticket.

The drawing also produced 49 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 12 tickets that won $100,000 prizes.

In the Double Play® drawing, two tickets, sold in Colorado and North Carolina, each won a $500,000 prize after matching all five black balls. Double Play is a $1 add-on feature that allows players to player their Powerball numbers, again, in a separate drawing for a chance to win up to $10 million. Double Play drawings are live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>&nbsp;following the main Powerball drawing.

Monday’s Powerball drawing will be the 43rd in the current jackpot run, setting a game record for most consecutive drawings in a single jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was last won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.

If a player wins Monday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.1 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $503.4 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.

The billion-dollar Powerball® jackpot is on the rise. The jackpot has reached an estimated $1.1 billion for Monday night’s drawing, with an estimated cash value of $503.4 million, according to a statement from the Multi-State Lottery Association.Monday’s jackpot ranks as the sixth largest in Powerball history.“This jackpot streak is bringing people together to dream big during this festive time of year,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “Please play responsibly. Just one $2 Powerball® ticket gives you a chance to win this jackpot while also supporting good causes in your community.”The Powerball jackpot rolled last night after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn – white balls 1, 28, 31, 57, 58 and red Powerball 16. The Power Play® multiplier was 2X.Although there was no jackpot winner, U.S. lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets carefully, as many may still have won cash prizes.Nationwide, seven tickets won cash prizes worth $1 million or more in last night’s Powerball® drawing. Five tickets, sold in California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and Virginia, matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes.Two tickets, sold in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, matched all five white balls and, because the players added the Power Play® option for $1 more, the $1 million prize increased to $2 million for each ticket.The drawing also produced 49 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 12 tickets that won $100,000 prizes.Note: In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.In the Double Play® drawing, two tickets, sold in Colorado and North Carolina, each won a $500,000 prize after matching all five black balls. Double Play is a $1 add-on feature that allows players to player their Powerball numbers, again, in a separate drawing for a chance to win up to $10 million. Double Play drawings are live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>&nbsp;following the main Powerball drawing.Monday’s Powerball drawing will be the 43rd in the current jackpot run, setting a game record for most consecutive drawings in a single jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was last won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.If a player wins Monday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.1 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $503.4 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $37 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>.The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.Top Ten Powerball® Jackpots<ol>
 <li>$2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA</li><li>$1.787 Billion – Sept. 6, 2025 – MO, TX</li><li>$1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA</li><li>$1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN</li><li>$1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR</li><li>$1.1 Billion est. – Dec. 15, 2025</li><li>$1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA</li><li>$842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – MI</li><li>$768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI</li><li>$758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA</li>
 </ol>

Powerball jackpot grows to 6th largest in history after Saturday drawing

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A southwestern Kansas county plans to sue the state for more than $2 million after nearly a decade of mistaken payments, mounting concern for democratic processes.

Voters in Morton County, which borders the Oklahoma panhandle and Colorado, approved a countywide sales tax in 2015 that directed funds to their local hospital. But an early administrative error that the county tried to fix resulted in the Kansas Department of Revenue sending checks to the county’s cities, which spent the money.

The hospital was short more than $1.8 million over those nine years, and the county took on new debt as it tried to cover the struggling hospital’s missing costs, according to the commissioners. In addition to the misappropriated payments, the county is suing the revenue department for an additional $295,000 to pay for the interest and legal fees from the new debt.

Morton County’s board of commissioners decided Monday it “will not compromise on recovering the full $2,152,421.36 and ensuring the financial future of our hospital,” the board said in a Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://mtcoks.com/" target="_blank">announcement</a>.

“The liability rests with the state of Kansas,” said the board, which comprises commissioners Ed Anderson, Jim Tucker and chairman J.W. Finn.

The revenue department declined to comment because of the involvement of litigation, said Zach Denney, a department spokesperson.

At a Dec. 2 legislative hearing in Topeka, the department’s chief counsel, Ted Smith, said the department fixed the sales tax revenue’s appropriation earlier this year, following an opinion from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office that underlined the voters’ intent to give funds to the hospital.&nbsp;

The hospital began receiving full checks after ten years of partial funds.&nbsp;

The Morton County attorney, David Thompson, tried at the hearing to make a claim against the state to recover the funds through a legislative process. But lawmakers did not immediately accept. The committee arrived at two options. Legislators said they could forward the issue to a larger group of lawmakers, who would take it up in January, or the county could take legal action.&nbsp;

The county had yet to file a lawsuit as of Thursday.

As passed, Morton County voters approved a general sales tax provision instead of one specifically for health care services because of a clerical error. The question on voters’ ballots cited the wrong subparagraph in state law. As it was voted on, Smith said, the department was bound by statute to formulaically distribute the sales tax revenue to Morton County and its three cities.

The county fixed the error within months, passing ordinances to divert the sales tax revenue to the county, which would then be passed along to the local hospital.

But the department continued to send checks as was dictated by the initial wording. The county gave the money it received to the hospital, but the cities, who have not been involved in the county’s efforts to reclaim the funds, spent their checks.&nbsp;

The board of commissioners emphasized unity over conflict between the county and its cities — Elkhart, Rolla and Richfield — which the board said “were simply the unintended recipients of checks sent monthly by the state agency.”

“The county views our municipalities as essential partners, not as adversaries,” the board said.

The department had known about the mistake a decade ago.&nbsp;

Thompson, the county attorney, said at the legislative hearing that it was staff at the state revenue department who advised the county on how to fix its initial error. But the department said it must abide by the statute to which an issue is tied, as a matter of policy.

“The result of this policy can be classified as nothing less than administrative voter nullification and is repugnant to our democratic processes,” the county commissioners said.

In hindsight, Smith said, the county should have taken the issue to court in 2015.

“If anything unfortunate happened back in 2015, (it) is when Morton County and the Department of Revenue (were) dealing with this issue after the vote,” Smith said. “I think both parties sort of just shrugged their shoulders.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765663630160.png" alt=" Morton County attorney David Thompson, left, and counsel for the Kansas Department of Revenue Ted Smith, right, tell legislators at a Dec. 2, 2025, meeting in Topeka, Kansas, that the state and county knew of a mistake in local sales tax revenue distribution, but it took ten years to correct it. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption> Morton County attorney David Thompson, left, and counsel for the Kansas Department of Revenue Ted Smith, right, tell legislators at a Dec. 2, 2025, meeting in Topeka, Kansas, that the state and county knew of a mistake in local sales tax revenue distribution, but it took ten years to correct it. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A southwestern Kansas county plans to sue the state for more than $2 million after nearly a decade of mistaken payments, mounting concern for democratic processes.Voters in Morton County, which borders the Oklahoma panhandle and Colorado, approved a countywide sales tax in 2015 that directed funds to their local hospital. But an early administrative error that the county tried to fix resulted in the Kansas Department of Revenue sending checks to the county’s cities, which spent the money.The hospital was short more than $1.8 million over those nine years, and the county took on new debt as it tried to cover the struggling hospital’s missing costs, according to the commissioners. In addition to the misappropriated payments, the county is suing the revenue department for an additional $295,000 to pay for the interest and legal fees from the new debt.Morton County’s board of commissioners decided Monday it “will not compromise on recovering the full $2,152,421.36 and ensuring the financial future of our hospital,” the board said in a Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://mtcoks.com/" target="_blank">announcement</a>.The county was emphatic.“The liability rests with the state of Kansas,” said the board, which comprises commissioners Ed Anderson, Jim Tucker and chairman J.W. Finn.The revenue department declined to comment because of the involvement of litigation, said Zach Denney, a department spokesperson.At a Dec. 2 legislative hearing in Topeka, the department’s chief counsel, Ted Smith, said the department fixed the sales tax revenue’s appropriation earlier this year, following an opinion from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office that underlined the voters’ intent to give funds to the hospital.&nbsp;The hospital began receiving full checks after ten years of partial funds.&nbsp;The Morton County attorney, David Thompson, tried at the hearing to make a claim against the state to recover the funds through a legislative process. But lawmakers did not immediately accept. The committee arrived at two options. Legislators said they could forward the issue to a larger group of lawmakers, who would take it up in January, or the county could take legal action.&nbsp;The county had yet to file a lawsuit as of Thursday.<h2>Costly shoulder shrugging</h2>As passed, Morton County voters approved a general sales tax provision instead of one specifically for health care services because of a clerical error. The question on voters’ ballots cited the wrong subparagraph in state law. As it was voted on, Smith said, the department was bound by statute to formulaically distribute the sales tax revenue to Morton County and its three cities.The county fixed the error within months, passing ordinances to divert the sales tax revenue to the county, which would then be passed along to the local hospital.But the department continued to send checks as was dictated by the initial wording. The county gave the money it received to the hospital, but the cities, who have not been involved in the county’s efforts to reclaim the funds, spent their checks.&nbsp;The board of commissioners emphasized unity over conflict between the county and its cities — Elkhart, Rolla and Richfield — which the board said “were simply the unintended recipients of checks sent monthly by the state agency.”“The county views our municipalities as essential partners, not as adversaries,” the board said.The department had known about the mistake a decade ago.&nbsp;Thompson, the county attorney, said at the legislative hearing that it was staff at the state revenue department who advised the county on how to fix its initial error. But the department said it must abide by the statute to which an issue is tied, as a matter of policy.“The result of this policy can be classified as nothing less than administrative voter nullification and is repugnant to our democratic processes,” the county commissioners said.In hindsight, Smith said, the county should have taken the issue to court in 2015.“If anything unfortunate happened back in 2015, (it) is when Morton County and the Department of Revenue (were) dealing with this issue after the vote,” Smith said. “I think both parties sort of just shrugged their shoulders.”

Small Kansas county to sue state for $2M meant for local hospital

<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/alexcastro/">Alexander Castro</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/janine-weisman/">Janine L. Weisman</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>

PROVIDENCE — Two people have died and several others were wounded in a mass shooting in a Brown University engineering building late Saturday afternoon, prompting a shelter in place alert on the Ivy League campus and a massive search for a gunman that continued into the evening.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed at a press conference that began shortly after 6:30 p.m. that at least two people were killed with “a minimum of eight” more injured and in critical condition “but stable at Rhode Island Hospital.”&nbsp;

Smiley could not disclose whether the victims were Brown students.

“These numbers may change,” Smiley said. “We are still in early hours.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765666489718.png" alt="Photo courtesy WJAR TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WJAR TV</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/alexcastro/">Alexander Castro</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/janine-weisman/">Janine L. Weisman</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>PROVIDENCE — Two people have died and several others were wounded in a mass shooting in a Brown University engineering building late Saturday afternoon, prompting a shelter in place alert on the Ivy League campus and a massive search for a gunman that continued into the evening.Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed at a press conference that began shortly after 6:30 p.m. that at least two people were killed with “a minimum of eight” more injured and in critical condition “but stable at Rhode Island Hospital.”&nbsp;Smiley could not disclose whether the victims were Brown students.“These numbers may change,” Smiley said. “We are still in early hours.”&nbsp;The shooting in the Barus and Holley building on Brook Street occurred as final exams were taking place between 2 and 5 p.m. inside Barus &amp; Holley Engineering, Provost Francis J. Doyle III said.Providence Police Cmdr. Tim O’Hara described the suspect as a man who was wearing black. The suspect left the engineering building’s Hope Street side. O’Hara said that police did not know what type of gun was used.Forensic and witness evidence were being used to identify the suspect, and the police were primarily relying on video evidence at the moment, O’Hara said.&nbsp;“All I can give you is a male, all dressed in black, right now,” O’Hara said of the suspect.The suspect walked away from the area, and law enforcement were unsure where he had gone as of 6:50 p.m.&nbsp;Smiley said the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also involved in the investigation.Gov. Dan McKee spoke at the Saturday evening press briefing. “So, the unthinkable has happened,” McKee said.&nbsp;Providence Fire Chief Derek Silva said the fire department was first alerted about the shooting at 4:05 p.m.&nbsp;Brown sent out its first emergency alert at 4:22 p.m.,&nbsp;noting “an active shooter near Barus &amp; Holley Engineering.” The alert cautioned the campus community to lock doors, silence phones and “stay hidden until further notice.” The alert also advised the options of run, hide, or, “FIGHT, as a last resort.”An update at 4:51 p.m. noted a suspect was in custody, only to be redacted in a 5:11 p.m. update that read, “Police do not have a suspect in custody and continue to search for suspect(s).” The post also advised students to continue to shelter in place.&nbsp;Smiley said at the press conference that the individual in the 4:51 p.m. update had been mistakenly connected to the incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;At 5:27 p.m., another emergency alert reported shots fired near Governor Street.&nbsp;That update was also reversed at 6:10 p.m., which added that “a secondary shooting incident near Governor Street is unfounded.”&nbsp;The erroneous update from 4:51 p.m. noting a suspect was in custody made its way to President Donald Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115714676658999589" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;on his TruthSocial site at 5:44 p.m. that he had been briefed on the shooting and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was “on the scene.”“The suspect is in custody,” Trump wrote. “God bless the victims and the families of the victims!”At 6:03 p.m., Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115714751735035903" target="_blank">posted again</a>: “The Brown University Police reversed their previous statement — The suspect is NOT in custody.”“We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition,” the University wrote in a statement issued at 6:05 p.m. “They have been transported to local hospitals.”The Brown emergency updates page first confirmed that there were “multiple shooting victims” at 6:05 p.m. The university could not share their conditions at the time, but noted they were “transported to local hospitals.”Rescues and other apparatus from surrounding municipalities responded to the campus, including Bristol, Barrington, Central Falls, Cranston, Cumberland, Coventry, East Greenwich, North Kingstown, Scituate, Smithfield, Warwick and Woonsocket.At 6:17 p.m., a call cleared rescues to return to their home communities.“Sadly, today is a day that the city of Providence, the state of Rhode Island, prayed would never come,” Smiley said. “We’ve heard about horrific acts of gun violence and active shooter situations in other places, but not here.”Smiley, who lives in the area, told reporters he was at home watching the Providence College Friars when he saw police lights fill the surrounding neighborhood.