NPR News: 09-28-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – 09-28-2025 8PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: September 29, 2025
Episode Overview:
This five-minute news bulletin delivers a concise roundup of major stories, including a tragic shooting in Michigan, developments on a US Middle East diplomacy bid, an update on Tropical Storm Imelda, looming government shutdown concerns, and a contentious Ryder Cup golf championship.

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Michigan Church Shooting

Timestamps: 00:15 – 01:21

• Incident Summary:

  • A shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand, Michigan (north of Detroit) leaves at least two dead and eight hospitalized.
  • The shooter, Thomas Jacob Sanford (40, from Burton, MI), rammed his truck into the church around 10:30 am before opening fire and setting the building ablaze.

• Law Enforcement Response:

  • Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renney stated:

    "The suspect again, we're in the preliminary stages right now, was neutralized at 10:33:44 in the parking lot of that church." (01:05)

• Status:

  • No motive disclosed; investigation ongoing.
  • "[The] church was also set on fire during the ordeal. Investigators believe Sanford deliberately started the blaze." – Alex McLennan (00:41)

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US Middle East Diplomacy & Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

Timestamps: 01:21 – 02:21

• Background:

  • Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu set to meet President Trump at the White House.
  • The US is advancing a new proposal related to the war in Gaza.

• Diplomatic Details:

  • President Trump expressed optimism via social media, saying,

    "We have a real chance for greatness in the Middle East. All are on board for something special." – reported by Daniel Estrin (01:34)

  • Vice President J.D. Vance stated negotiations are ongoing with Arab and Israeli leaders regarding a ceasefire.
  • Proposal includes:
    • Hamas releases all hostages at the start of a ceasefire.
    • Multinational Arab and Muslim peacekeeping force to gradually replace Israeli troops in Gaza.

• Hamas Response:

  • Spokesperson told NPR they have not received an official offer but are in contact via mediators.
  • Hamas claims loss of contact with two Israeli hostages due to continued bombardment.

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Tropical Storm Imelda Threatens Southeast US

Timestamps: 02:21 – 03:13

• Storm Update:

  • Imelda is currently over the Caribbean, already producing rain and possible flooding in the Bahamas.

• Forecast & Concerns:

  • Heavy rain and potential three-foot storm surge expected in the Bahamas.
  • Imelda may strengthen into a hurricane by Monday or Tuesday.
  • Coastal Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas preparing for rainfall and flooding.
  • South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency.
  • "The risk of strong wind impacts this week is dropping, but Imelda could still produce dangerous conditions along the shore." – Joe Hernandez (02:32)

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Looming US Government Shutdown

Timestamps: 03:13 – 04:01

• Political Developments:

  • Funding for the federal government expires Tuesday at midnight.
  • President Trump set to meet four congressional leaders to attempt a budget deal.

• Key Issues:

  • Republicans push for a temporary spending bill with existing federal spending levels.
  • Democrats demand extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and reversal of Medicaid cuts.

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Ryder Cup Golf: Europe Defeats USA Amid Controversy

Timestamps: 04:01 – 04:44

• Match Result:

  • Team Europe defeats Team USA 15–13 at Ryder Cup in New York State.

• Fan Behavior:

  • Spectators' unruly behavior, including jeering at Rory McIlroy and his wife.
  • McIlroy responded with an expletive and halted play until crowd noise subsided.
  • Team USA captain Keegan Bradley commented,

    "The fans of New York all I've seen have been pretty good. You're always going to have a few people that cross the line, and that's unfortunate." (04:23)

  • Two spectators ejected after a verbal altercation; one person charged with stealing a golf cart.

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Market Update

Timestamps: 04:44 – 04:57

• Current status:
  • US stock futures higher—Dow and S&P 500 up about 1.10%, Nasdaq up 0.2%.

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Memorable Quotes

• Chief William Renney (on suspect neutralization):

  "The suspect again, we're in the preliminary stages right now, was neutralized at 10:33:44 in the parking lot of that church." (01:05)

• Daniel Estrin (quoting President Trump on Middle East diplomacy):

  "We have a real chance for greatness in the Middle East. All are on board for something special." (01:34)

• Keegan Bradley (on fan behavior at Ryder Cup):

  "The fans of New York all I've seen have been pretty good. You're always going to have a few people that cross the line, and that's unfortunate." (04:23)

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Summary Flow & Tone

This episode succinctly covered the most pressing news stories with direct reporting and statements from key figures and NPR correspondents. The tone was factual, urgent, and informative, matching the nature of a rapid, five-minute newscast designed to quickly update listeners on diverse and critical topics.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

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[Jeanine Herbst]

FX stream on Hulu Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. In Michigan. At least two people are dead, eight others hospitalized, after a gunman opened fire inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand, about an hour north of Detroit this morning. As Alex McLennan from member station WDET reports, the shooter has been identified as Thomas Jacob sanford.

[Alex McLennan]

Authorities say 40 year old Thomas Jacob Sanford from nearby Burton, Michigan, rammed his truck into the church just before 10.30am local time and opened fire on the congregation. The church was also set on fire during the ordeal. Investigators believe Sanford deliberately started the blaze. The Grand Blanc Township Police Chief, William Renney, says local authorities were on the scene within minutes.

[William Renney]

The suspect again, we're in the preliminary stages right now, was neutralized at 10:33:44 in the parking lot of that church.

[Alex McLennan]

No motive has been given so far. For NPR news, I'm Alex McLennan in Detroit.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to meet President Trump at the White House tomorrow. Trump is signaling optimism rather for his new proposal to the war in Gaza. NPR's Daniel Estrin has more.

[Daniel Estrin]

President Trump said on social media we have a real chance for greatness in the Middle East. All are on board for something special. Vice President J.D. vance said the U.S. was negotiating with Arab and Israeli leaders over the ceasefire plan. A person briefed on the plan, not authorized to speak publicly told NPR Trump is proposing that Hamas release all hostages at the start of a Gaza ceasefire and that a multinational Arab and Muslim peacekeeping force gradually replace Israeli troops in Gaza. A Hamas official told NPR Hamas was not given an official offer but was being briefed by mediators on the details. Hamas says it's lost contact with two Israeli hostages in Gaza City due to Israeli bombardment. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Parts of the southeastern US Are bracing for the impacts of Tropical Storm imelda this week. NPR's Joe Hernandez reports. The storm's also producing already producing rain and possible flooding in the Bahamas.

[Joe Hernandez]

Tropical Storm Imelda is tracking across the Caribbean. In the Bahamas, forecasters say the storm is dropping heavy rains and could produce as much as a three foot storm surge. The National Hurricane center says Imelda could strengthen into a hurricane by Monday or Tuesday. Coastal areas of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas are preparing for harsh conditions early this week, including rain and possible flooding. A large swath of Florida's eastern coastline was under a tropical storm watch Sunday, and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency say the risk of strong wind impacts this week is dropping, but Imelda could still produce dangerous conditions along the shore.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR's Joe Hernandez reporting. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. With a possible government shutdown just days away, President Trump says he will meet with the four congressional leaders tomorrow at the White House to try to come to an agreement on a budget deal. Republicans want a temporary spending bill that keeps federal spending levels the same, but Democrats want an extension of the Affordable Care act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, along with a reversal to Republican cuts to Medicaid. Funding for the government runs out Tuesday at midnight. In golf, Team Europe defeated Team USA at the Ryder Cup Sunday, 15 to 13. And Pierre Chandelyse Duster has more on the championship game played in New York State that was overshadowed by unruly fans.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Rory McIlroy faced the brunt of insults and cursing from unruly spectators who also jeered at his wife throughout the weekend during the Ryder Cup. At one point, McIlroy pushed back against the jeering using an expletive. He also refused to putt until the jeering stopped. Keegan Bradley, captain of Team usa, defended fans during a press conference by the Ryder cup on Saturday.

[William Renney]

The fans of New York all I've seen have been pretty good. You're always going to have a few people that cross the line, and that's unfortunate.

[Chandelyse Duster]

New York State Police say two spectators were rejected from the Ryder cup on Saturday after a verbal altercation. A person was also charged with two misdemeanors for stealing a golf cart used for the game. Chandelyse duster, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading higher at this hour. Both Dow and S&P 500 contracts up about 1.10 of a percent. Nasdaq futures are up about 0.2%. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News.

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