NPR News: 12-14-2025 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 14, 2025, 10AM EST

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise, five-minute roundup of the latest news from around the world. Headline topics include an update on a shooting at Brown University, a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, historic flooding in Washington State, an extreme cold snap in the US Midwest, Chile’s presidential runoff election, the disbandment of Hong Kong’s last opposition party, and the Heisman Trophy announcement.

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Key News Stories & Insights

Brown University Shooting – Providence, Rhode Island

• [00:17–00:48] Jael Snyder reports that Providence police have detained a person of interest related to the shooting at Brown University that resulted in 2 deaths and 9 injuries.
• The incident took place in the engineering building during final exams.
• Police Chief Oscar Perez emphasizes the ongoing nature of the investigation:

  "The next process for us is what we do best, and our detectives is to coordinate with the prosecutors to collect evidence, to conduct interviews. And then from there we'll be able to, when it’s appropriate and accurate, to share more details with you all." ([00:33])

• Of the injured, 1 person remains critical, 7 are stable, and 1 has been discharged.

Mass Shooting at Hanukkah Event in Australia

• [01:02–02:02] Israeli and international leaders react to a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, where Jews were celebrating Hanukkah. At least 12 dead and dozens injured.
• Reporter Jerome Sokolowski summarizes Israeli officials’ reactions and concerns about rising anti-Semitism:
  • Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sar links the attack to local protests:

    "[He] drew a link between the attack and protests in Australia against the war in G. He says calls at those protests to, quote, globalize the intifada incited the attack." ([01:18])

  • President Isaac Herzog urges Australia to address rising anti-Semitism.
  • Yad Vashem states the tragedy “reflects the growing and very real threat facing Jewish communities...around the world.” ([01:49])

Historic Flooding in Washington State

• [02:02–02:55] After days of rain, flooding impacts areas north of Seattle. Congresswoman Kim Schreier comments on the extent of damage during her tour:

  "It was practically unsafe, unfathomable to think near where we were standing, there was water that would have been five feet over my head." ([02:28])

• Only reported fatality is a kayaker swept over a dam in Seattle, outside the main flooded zones.
• Response efforts continue as officials monitor conditions and forecast more rain.

Weather Alerts in the United States

• [02:55–03:17] The Pacific Northwest braces for more wind and rain. Meanwhile, a blast of arctic air brings extreme cold warnings to Illinois, Indiana, and as far south as Montgomery, Alabama.

Chile’s Presidential Election – Runoff

• [03:17–04:06] Chile heads into the second round of a divisive presidential election between Communist Jeanette Hara and far-right candidate Jose Antonio Cast.
• John Bartlett details Cast’s campaign pivot:

  "Cast, the ultra conservative Catholic father of nine, has gone to great lengths to avoid discussing his controversial moral agenda...he has focused his campaign almost entirely on crime, border security, and illegal immigration...an agenda which is likely to win out over Hara’s focus on affordability and social justice." ([03:30])

Hong Kong’s Last Opposition Party Disbands

• [04:06–04:31] The Democratic Party, city’s largest pro-democracy group, votes to disband after over 30 years. Party members cite warnings of consequences if they continued:

  "...the vote to disband and enter liquidation was overwhelming and that it is the best way forward." ([04:16])

• International wire services report pressure and intimidation behind the decision.

Heisman Trophy Winner Announced

• [04:31–04:56] Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza wins the 2025 Heisman Trophy, marking the first time an Indiana player has received college football’s top honor. Mendoza’s team completed a perfect regular season and will play in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Police Chief Oscar Perez:

  "The next process for us is what we do best..." ([00:33])

• Rep. Kim Schreier:

  "It was practically unsafe, unfathomable..." ([02:28])

• Reporter Jerome Sokolowski:

  "[The tragedy] reflects the growing and very real threat facing Jewish communities..." ([01:49])

• John Bartlett on Chilean election:

  "...focused his campaign almost entirely on crime, border security and illegal immigration..." ([03:30])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Brown University shooting: [00:17–00:48]
• Mass shooting in Australia: [01:02–02:02]
• Washington floods: [02:02–02:55]
• US extreme weather alerts: [02:55–03:17]
• Chile presidential runoff: [03:17–04:06]
• Hong Kong Democratic Party disbands: [04:06–04:31]
• Heisman Trophy winner: [04:31–04:56]

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This succinct episode provides listeners with an efficient, globe-spanning update on important, evolving stories, all delivered in the clear, direct style typical of NPR’s hourly news roundups.

Transcript

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[Jael Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jael Snyder. Speaking with reporters this morning, Providence, Rhode Island, Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that a person of interest is in custody.

[Reporter]

For following the shooting at Brown University.

[Jael Snyder]

That left two people dead and injured nine others.

[Police Chief Oscar Perez]

The next process for us is what we do best, and our detectives is to coordinate with the prosecutors to collect evidence to conduct interviews. And then from there we'll be able to, when it's appropriate and accurate, to share more details with you all.

[Reporter]

The shooting yesterday afternoon happened in Brown's engineering building during final exams. Providence's mayor says of the nine people who were injured, one remains in critical condition, seven are stable, and one person has been discharged from a hospital.

[Jael Snyder]

Israeli leaders are condemning a mass shooting at a popular Australian beach where a.

[Reporter]

Group of Jews were celebrating the first night of hanukkah. At least 12 people are dead, dozens injured in what Australian authorities are calling a terrorist attack. Jerome Sokolowski reports from Tel Aviv.

[Jerome Sokolowski]

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

[Jael Snyder]

To Washington State now, which is beginning to assess damage from historic flooding.

[Reporter]

Scott Greenstone with member station KUOW, has been following local leaders after days of rain and clouds.

[Scott Greenstone]

Mists burned off to blue skies this weekend in Monroe, north of Seattle, allowing responders to take helicopters up and begin to see how far the water is reached. Democratic Congresswoman Kim Schreier represents part of the flooded area.

[Kim Schreier]

It was practically unsafe, unfathomable to think near where we were standing, there was water that would have been five feet over my head.

[Scott Greenstone]

She took a bus tour with other officials through soggy dairy farmland. While damage is widespread, so far, the only fatality was outside the flood zone. A kayaker swept over a dam in Seattle by Swollen Currents. For NPR News, I'm Scott Greenstone in Monroe.

[Reporter]

The Pacific Northwest remains on guard.

[Jael Snyder]

Another round of wind and rain is.

[Reporter]

Set to move into the region. Meanwhile, a blast arctic air is spreading into the US Extreme cold warnings are up today for portions of Illinois and Indiana.

[Jael Snyder]

Forecasters say temperatures as far south as.

[Reporter]

Montgomery, Alabama, could dip into the 20s later tonight. This is NPR.

[Jael Snyder]

A Communist Party politician and far right candidate are facing off today in the second round of Chile's presidential election.

[Reporter]

John Bartlett reports from the capital, Santiago.

[John Bartlett]

Although Communist Jeanette Hara took a narrow first round victory last month, her far right rival, Jose Antonio Cast is predicted to win the presidency by attracting the vote of the other right wing candidates he beat. Cast, the ultra conservative Catholic father of nine, has gone to great lengths to avoid discussing his controversial moral agenda. Rather than talking about his opposition to same sex marriage, abortion and the morning after pill, he has focused his campaign almost entirely on crime, border security and illegal immigration. It is an agenda which is likely to win out over Hara's focus on affordability and social justice. For NPR News, I'm John Bartlett in Santiago, Chile.

[Jael Snyder]

Hong Kong's last opposition party has voted to disband.

[Reporter]

Hong Kong's Democratic Party has been the city's biggest pro democracy party for more than 30 years.

[Jael Snyder]

But the party chair said today that the vote to disband and enter liquidation.

[Reporter]

Was overwhelming and that it is the best way forward. Both Reuters and the Associated Press are quoting party members as saying some were warned of consequences if the party did not shut down.

[Jael Snyder]

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is this year's Heisman Trophy winner, the first Indiana player.

[Reporter]

To ever win college football's most prestigious prize. He led Indiana to a perfect regular season, beating Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. Indiana will play a college football playoff quarterfinal game in the rose bowl on January 1st. I'm Jael Snyder. This is NPR News.

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