NPR News: 09-28-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now – 09-28-2025 4AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Date: September 28, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes

---

Episode Overview

This morning's NPR News Now episode delivers concise updates on major national and international headlines. The coverage touches on a deadly shooting in North Carolina, political tensions over federal troops in Portland, catastrophic flooding in Arizona, escalating U.S.-Colombia relations, a deadly Russian attack in Ukraine, inequitable suspension rates for students with disabilities, and college football highlights.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shooting at Southport, North Carolina Riverside Bar (00:13–00:47)

• Incident Details:
  • Three people killed, eight injured after a man fired on a riverside bar from a boat then fled by water.
  • Coast Guard detained a man ~30 minutes later, but his involvement remains unclear.
  • No motive released by police as of the broadcast.
• No quotes given, but straightforward reporting by Dale Willman.

2. Oregon Pushback Against Federal Troop Deployment in Portland (00:47–01:34)

• Federal Announcement:
  • President Trump announced via social media the deployment of troops to "protect war-ravaged Portland" and ICE facilities, threatening further expansions to more cities.
• Local Response (Reporter: Matt Bloom):
  • Oregon officials: Recent protests/arrests outside Portland’s ICE facility don't warrant a federal response.
  • Mayor Keith Wilson (01:17):

    "President Trump has directed all necessary troops to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero." (01:17–01:24)

  • State Governor: Legal action will be taken if troops are deployed, referencing earlier deployment to Los Angeles.

3. Deadly Arizona Flooding & Local Impact (01:34–02:08)

• Situation:
  • At least four dead, two missing after intense flooding.
  • Globe, Arizona declared a state of emergency; 1,000 propane tanks washed away, creating major hazards.
• On-the-Ground Perspective:
  • Paul Kempton, Local Business Owner (01:57):

    "It's about 3 inches full of mud and water about halfway up the wall and all the equipment has been under." (01:57–02:04)

  • Reporter (reacting): "Oh my goodness." (02:04)
  • Kempton: "So just it looks like a complete loss." (02:05–02:08)

4. U.S.-Colombia Diplomatic Rift (02:08–03:13)

• Backdrop:
  • U.S. revoked Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa after he told U.S. troops to disobey President Trump at a New York rally.
  • President Petro: Publicly mocked the visa revocation; escalated criticism of Trump’s support for Israel.
• Key Quote (by John Otis):

  "On social media, Petro told Trump, do not surround yourself with the perpetrators of genocide." (02:25–03:13)

• Context: Years of alliance between the two nations strained by disagreements over tariffs and recent U.S. airstrikes.

5. Russian Attack on Kyiv, Ukraine (03:13–03:49)

• Update:
  • Major overnight drone and missile attack; four killed, at least 10 wounded.
  • Civilian targets included residential buildings, medical facilities, and a kindergarten; over 20 locations hit.

6. Disproportionate Suspension of Students with Disabilities (03:49–04:28)

• Story Focus:
  • Nationwide, students with disabilities suspended far more than non-disabled peers.
  • Personal lens: Shanae, mother of a 13-year-old with ADHD, discusses the impact of frequent suspensions on her son’s education.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Shanae (on her son’s suspensions):

    "Why is he getting in trouble for what ADHD looks like?" (04:03–04:06)
    "I don't want him to get even further behind." (04:12–04:14)

  • School official insists strict discipline is required for academic focus.
  • Reporter: Dylan Piers McCoy (WFYI), reporting from Indianapolis.

7. College Football Roundup (04:28–04:57)

• Highlights:
  • Texas A&M narrowly beats Auburn 16-10; Lavon Moss rushes for a career-high 139 yards.
  • Tennessee beats Mississippi State 41-34 in overtime.
  • Georgia Tech tops Wake Forest 30-29 in overtime.
  • Eastern Kentucky defeats Nichols 27-7; Caden Smith scores on an interception return.

---

Memorable Quotes

• Mayor Keith Wilson (Portland):

  "The number of necessary troops is zero." (01:17–01:24)

• Paul Kempton (Arizona flood victim):

  "So just it looks like a complete loss." (02:05–02:08)

• President Gustavo Petro (Colombia):

  "Do not surround yourself with the perpetrators of genocide." (02:25–03:13, paraphrased from social media)

• Shanae (Mother of suspended student):

  "Why is he getting in trouble for what ADHD looks like?" (04:03–04:06)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:13] Southport, NC shooting details
• [00:47] Portland federal troops controversy
• [01:17] Portland mayor/official response
• [01:34] Arizona flooding and business owner's account
• [02:08] U.S.-Colombia diplomatic tensions
• [03:13] Russian strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine
• [03:49] Suspensions of students with disabilities
• [04:28] College football roundup

---

This summary captures the key stories and voices from today's concise, fast-paced NPR News Now broadcast, highlighting the main issues, emotional moments, and significant quotes central to understanding the day’s headlines.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Capital One. With the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy, plus get premium benefits at a collection of hotels when booking through Capital One Travel. What's in your wallet?

[B]

Terms apply [e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Three people were killed and eight others injured Saturday when a man in a boat pulled up outside a riverside bar in Southport, North Carolina, and opened fire. The gunman then fled by boat. A half hour later, a man was detained, detained by the US Coast Guard and is now in custody. It's not clear if he's the shooter, and police have offered no motive for the attack. Officials in Oregon are pushing back against President Trump's announcement that he'll send federal troops into Portland. NPR's Matt Bloom has more on the response.

[C]

Trump said in a post on social media that he will send troops to protect war ravaged Portland and any of its ICE facilities as he threatens to expand his deployments to more American cities. State and local officials in Oregon say there have been small protests and some arrests recently outside of Portland's main ICE facility, but nothing they say is big enough to warrant a federal response. Mayor Keith Wilson spoke alongside the state's governor at a press conference.

[D]

President Trump has directed all necessary troops to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero.

[C]

Oregon's governor says the state will respond legally if Trump still sends troops, as he did to Los Angeles early. Matt Bloom, NPR News.

[B]

At least four people have died following intense flooding in parts of Arizona this week, and at least two other people are still missing. The city of Globe, Arizona, declared a state of emergency after about 1,000 propane tanks washed away from a distribution center and caused a major concern downtown. Local business owner Paul Kempton says his physical therapy office appears to have been totally destroyed by the high waters.

[E]

It's about 3 inches full of mud and water about halfway up the wall and all the equipment has been under.

[F]

Oh my goodness.

[E]

So just it looks like a complete loss.

[B]

Relations between the US And Colombia, once the top American ally in Latin America, appear to be deteriorating. On Friday, the State Department said it was revoking the visa of Colombia's president, who then responded by lashing out at President Trump. John Otis has more from Bogota.

[G]

The decision to cancel President Gustavo Petra's visa came after he addressed a pro Palestinian rally in New York, where he called on American troops to disobey President Trump. Back in Colombia Saturday, Petro scoffed at his visa cancellation and heaped even more scorn on Trump for his strong support for Israel in its war against Hamas. On social media, Petro told Trump, do not surround yourself with the perpetrators of genocide. Although the US And Colombia have a long history of cooperation, Trump and Petro have repeatedly clashed over everything from tariffs to recent U.S. airstrikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea. For NPR News, I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia.

[B]

And you're listening to NPR News. A large Russian drone and missile attack is underway in the capital of Ukraine. Officials in Kyiv say four people have been killed and at least 10 others wounded. The strikes began overnight and targeted residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, a medical facility and a kindergarten. More than 20 locations around the city have been hit so far. Nationwide, K12 students with disabilities are suspended at far higher rates than their non disabled peers. As Dylan Piers McCoy from member station WFYI reports, families say those missed days come at a cost.

[H]

Shanae's 13 year old son has ADHD. We're only using her middle name because we're describing her son's disability. Shanae says ADHD makes him impulsive and she's frustrated by how often that has led to suspensions.

[I]

Why is he getting in trouble for what ADHD looks like?

[H]

Records show he was suspended for at least 10 days last school year. That's a lot of missed classroom time.

[I]

I don't want him to get even further behind.

[H]

An official with her son's middle school says its strict discipline policies are essential to foster quiet classrooms where students are focused on academics. For NPR News, I'm Dylan Pierce McCoy in Indianapolis.

[B]

In college football, number nine Texas A and M barely escaped to the wind Saturday, beating unranked Auburn 16 10. Lavon Moss ran for a career high 139 yards in the win. It took overtime for number 15 Tennessee to put away Mississippi State 41 34. Number 16 Georgia Tech, meanwhile, also needed overtime to beat Wake Forest 30 29. And Caden Smith returned an interception for a touchdown as Eastern Kentucky rolled over Nichols 27 7. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[J]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. From the gas pump to the grocery store, inflation is everywhere. So Mint Mobile is offering premium wireless starting at just $15 a month. To get your new phone plan for just $15, go to mintmobile.com switch.