NPR News: 09-29-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — September 29, 2025, 4AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of major overnight news headlines, including a deadly attack in Michigan, another shooting in North Carolina, updates from the ongoing conflict in Gaza, U.S. budget negotiations, global election results, entertainment news featuring Bad Bunny, and highlights from women's basketball.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. Tragedy at an LDS Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan

• [00:20] Reported by Dale Willman and Liz Baker

  • At least four people confirmed dead after a violent attack at the church.
  • Suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford (age 40), reportedly crashed a vehicle into the church, opened fire, and then set the building on fire using an accelerant.
  • Some victims died from gunfire, others from the resulting fire.
  • Several explosive devices were found; bomb threats led to searches at other local churches.

  Notable Quote:

  • William Renney, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief:

    "The entire church has not been cleared because it's a total loss due to the fire. So these first responders right now, they're in recovery mode. They're trying to fight through all the debris." [00:48]

2. Shooting in Southport, North Carolina

• [01:10] Reported by Dale Willman

  • Nigel Edge, the alleged shooter, used a boat to approach a riverside bar, opening fire and injuring eight in addition to the three killed.

  • No motive has been provided by police.

  • Community's Response:
    CeCe McDonald, assistant senior chaplain, praised solidarity at a vigil.

    Notable Quote:

    • CeCe McDonald:

      "We are a community and look at this in here. We are Southport Strong. Absolutely." [01:32]

3. Gaza Conflict Update

• [01:39] Reported by Dale Willman and Anas Baba

  • Gaza health officials state over 66,000 Palestinians killed in nearly two years of war with Israel.
  • Recent Israeli airstrike hit a crowded outdoor market, killing at least 19 (including women and children) and wounding 70+.
  • Israel claims it was targeting a Hamas militant involved in a prior deadly raid.
  • Central Gaza and southern regions remain under near-daily bombardment, with hundreds of thousands displaced.

  Notable Context:

  • Reference to Israel's 2024 raid in central Gaza, which freed four hostages but resulted in a high Palestinian death toll.

4. U.S. Federal Budget Standoff

• [02:50] Reported by Dale Willman
  • President Trump set to meet with Congressional leaders to negotiate a temporary budget.
  • Without a deal, government faces shutdown at midnight Tuesday.

5. Global and Financial Updates

• [03:10]

  • Asian stock indexes mostly higher; Tokyo’s Nikkei drops 0.7%.
  • U.S. stock futures rise; oil prices fall.
  • Moldova’s pro-Western Party of Action and Solidarity wins parliamentary majority, signaling geopolitical orientation.
  • Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny announced as Super Bowl 60 halftime headliner; skips Mainland U.S. on world tour over ICE raid concerns.

  Notable Quote:

  • Bad Bunny (in statement on Super Bowl announcement):

    “What I'm feeling goes beyond myself. It's for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown... This is for my people, my culture and our history.” [03:49]

6. Sports Highlights: WNBA Playoffs

• [04:39] Reported by Dale Willman
  • Despite Asia Wilson scoring 31 points, her Las Vegas Aces lost to the Indiana Fever, tying the series 2-2.
  • Phoenix Mercury defeat Minnesota Lynx, advancing to WNBA Finals.

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Timestamps & Segment Highlights

• [00:20] Michigan church shooting and fire – Details, casualties, investigation
• [01:10] North Carolina riverside bar shooting – Attack, vigil, response
• [01:39] Gaza market airstrike and ongoing war – Civilian impact, Israel’s targeting rationale
• [02:50] Washington budget crisis – Leaders meet ahead of shutdown deadline
• [03:10] Markets, Moldova election results, Super Bowl halftime show featuring Bad Bunny
• [04:39] WNBA playoffs results and next games

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• William Renney on church tragedy recovery:

  "The entire church has not been cleared because it's a total loss due to the fire. So these first responders right now, they're in recovery mode. They're trying to fight through all the debris." [00:48]

• CeCe McDonald at Southport vigil:

  "We are a community and look at this in here. We are Southport Strong. Absolutely." [01:32]

• Bad Bunny on representing his culture at the Super Bowl:

  "This is for my people, my culture and our history." [03:49]

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Overall Tone

Straightforward, serious, and empathetic—delivering hard news with occasional humanizing quotes that highlight community resilience and cultural pride.

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Note: This episode covered multiple breaking stories across national and international topics, with succinct but impactful reporting aimed at keeping listeners informed.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News. I'm Dale Willman. Michigan authorities have now confirmed that at least four people are dead following a shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc on Sunday. NPR's Liz Baker reports.

[Liz Baker]

Two of the victims were killed by gunfire when the suspect, 40 year old Thomas Jacob Sanford, drove a vehicle into the church and started shooting. The others likely died in the fire that Sanford is believed to have lit with an accelerant. Grand Blank Township Police Chief William Renney says that some are still unaccounted for.

[William Renney]

The entire church has not been cleared because it's a total loss due to the fire. So these first responders right now, they're in recovery mode. They're trying to fight through all the debris.

[Liz Baker]

Several explosive devices were also found, and other churches in the area have been searched after receiving bomb threats in the hours after the attack. Liz Baker, NPR News, Grand Blank, Michigan.

[Dale Willman]

A North Carolina man is facing three counts of first degree murder following a shooting Saturday night in the town of Southport. Police say Nigel Edge piloted a small boat close to a riverside bar and began shooting before speeding away. Eight people were also injured in the attack. CeCe McDonald is the assistant senior chaplain for the Brunswick County Sheriff's Department. She spoke Sunday night at a vigil.

[CeCe McDonald]

We are a community and look at this in here. We are Southport Strong. Absolutely.

[Dale Willman]

Police have so far offered no motive for that shooting. Gaza health officials say more than 66,000 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire after nearly two years of war. Some of the latest victims include at least 19 people who were killed in an Israeli strike on a crowded outdoor market over the weekend. Israel says it was targeting a wanted Hamas militant. NPR's Anas Baba reports from Gaza City.

[Anas Baba]

Israel launched a raid in central Gaza last year and rescued four Israeli hostages. The operation also killed at least 276 Palestinians and wounded nearly 700, according to Gaza health officials. It was one of Israel's most lethal attacks of the war. This weekend, an Israeli airstrike hit a busy market, killing 19 people, including women and children, and wounding at least 70 others, Gaza Health officials say. Israel says the target was a Hamas militant allegedly involved in killing an Israeli soldier during last year. Hostages rescue in recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced to South Gaza, where Israel says it's safer. But that area has also been bombed almost Daily. Anas Baba, NPR News, Gaza City.

[Dale Willman]

A budget standoff continues in Washington right now, President Trump is meeting with top congressional leaders from both parties later today in an effort to agree on a temporary budget deal. Without one, much of the government will shut down at midnight Tuesday. Shares are mostly higher in Asia after Wall street broke its three day losing streak last week. Tokyo's Nikkei was the only index to drop by 0.7%. U.S. futures edged higher and oil prices fell. This is NPR News. Moldova's pro Western governing party won a clear parliamentary majority during national elections on Sunday. The vote was widely viewed as a stark choice between east and west. EU Party of Action and Solidarity had 50.1% of the vote, while the pro Russian patriotic electoral bloc had 24.2%. Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny will headline The Super Bowl 60 halftime show next year at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. NPR's Marie Andrusevic has more.

[Marie Andrusevich]

The NFL made the announcement during halftime of the Green Bay Packers Dallas Cowboys game Sunday night. The promotional video features the artist's music as he sits on top of a football goal post staked in a sandy beach. In a statement, Bad Bunny said, what I'm feeling goes beyond myself. It's for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown, adding, this is for my people, my culture and our history. The super bowl announcement comes after the artist said he excluded the US Mainland from his upcoming world tour due to fears his fans would be subject to ice raids. Bad Bunny's recent Puerto Rico residency was attended by half a million fans. He's also scheduled to host the season premiere of Saturday night live on October 4th. Marie Andrusevich, NPR News, Asia Wilson scored.

[Dale Willman]

31 points, but it wasn't enough to keep the Indiana Fever from beating her Las Vegas Aces Sunday night, 90 to 83. The Fever tied the best of five series at two games apiece. The final game takes place on Tuesday, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Minnesota Links Sunday. They now move to the WN NBA Finals. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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