NPR News: 12-17-2024 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 17, 2024

Host: Shea Stevens

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Madison Christian School Shooting: Investigation and Aftermath

In a tragic incident earlier today, a shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, resulted in the loss of two lives and left six others wounded. Madison Police Chief Sean Barnes identified the perpetrator as Natalie Rupnell, a 15-year-old student at the school. Speaking at 00:44, Chief Barnes stated, "She was a student at the school and evidence suggests she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Rupnell succumbed to her injuries while being transported to the hospital. The victims included a teacher and an assistant principal, with two of the wounded students currently in critical condition.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear as authorities continue their investigation, with Rupnell's family cooperating fully. This incident underscores the escalating issue of firearm violence in educational institutions. Highlighting the severity of the problem, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared firearm violence a public health crisis, noting at 00:51, "In 2020, guns overtook motor vehicle crashes, cancer, drug overdose and poisoning as the leading cause of death among children and teens."

Leadership Changes in the Agriculture Committee

Shifting focus to national politics, House Democrats are making strategic moves to replace several aging chairs within key committees to better position themselves against the Trump administration. Specifically, Democrats are seeking to replace Georgia Congressman David Scott as the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee. As reported by Sam Greenglass at 01:38, "Agriculture is Georgia's top industry and the committee's ranking member will help shape the crucial farm bill which is expiring this year."

The Democratic Steering Committee has recommended Angie Craig, a 52-year-old from Minnesota, for the position. The full Democratic caucus will vote on this recommendation next. Scott, who has chaired the committee in 2021 and 2022, was recently re-elected to his 12th term in Congress but has been experiencing health issues, prompting this leadership change. Additionally, Democrats are preparing to appoint new ranking members on the Judiciary and Natural Resources committees, aiming to strengthen their legislative agenda.

SoftBank’s $100 Billion Investment Pledge in the United States

In a significant move within the tech industry, Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, announced a pledge to invest $100 billion in the United States over the next four years. This substantial investment aims to bolster SoftBank’s ventures in artificial intelligence (AI) startups and other innovative technologies. Bobby Allen reports at 02:27, "Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, a Japanese financial juggernaut, hasn't explained where the hundred billion dollars will come from, but he says it’s spent on investments in AI startups and other ventures."

This initiative aligns SoftBank with other major tech executives such as Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, and OpenAI's Sam Altman, who have previously announced multimillion-dollar donations to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund. Margaret O'Meara, a Silicon Valley historian, commented at 02:54, "This we’re giving lots of money and we’re making it very clear how much we're giving and who we're giving it to and why. That’s something that was a departure from past forms." O'Meara further noted that for leaders like Zuckerberg and Bezos, known for their clashes with Trump, the publicity surrounding these donations could facilitate a fresh start in their relationships with the administration.

Reopening of George Floyd Case: Potential Conviction Reversal

In legal developments surrounding the high-profile case of George Floyd, defense attorneys are seeking to overturn the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin, who was sentenced to around 20 years in prison for Floyd's death. Matt Sepic of Minnesota Public Radio reports at 03:14 that a federal judge has allowed defense experts to examine preserved samples of Floyd's heart tissue and bodily fluids. This move comes as Chauvin contends that his original defense attorney failed to disclose critical evidence suggesting Floyd died from a pre-existing heart condition rather than from the pressure of Chauvin's knee on his neck.

Despite the Justice Department's stance that the jury previously rejected similar medical opinions, the defense aims to present new evidence that could bolster their case for a conviction reversal. Chauvin had initially been convicted of murder in 2021 and later pleaded guilty to federal counts of using excessive force, maintaining his guilt across both state and federal charges.

North Korean and Russian Military Engagements Near Ukraine Border

International tensions continue to escalate as the Pentagon reports that approximately 30 North Korean troops were killed in combat with Russian forces near the Ukraine border. These casualties occurred around three villages in Russia's Kursk region, where Russian military efforts are focused on suppressing a Ukrainian incursion. The United States and Ukraine estimate that North Korea has dispatched up to 12,000 forces to support Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

Additionally, in Pakistan, police in the northern city of Shangla faced a violent attack on a local police post. At least two officers were killed, and three others were injured when militants on a motorcycle opened fire before fleeing the scene. No group has claimed responsibility for this assault, and authorities are investigating the motives behind the attack.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on December 17, 2024. For more detailed coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full podcast episode.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Authorities in Wisconsin have identified the teenage girl who they believe fatally shot two people and wounded six others at a private Christian school in Madison. But NPR's Giles Snyder reports that they're still working to determine a motive for Monday's attack.

[Giles Snyder]

Madison Police Chief Sean Barnes identified the 15 year old who used a handgun in the shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School as Natalie Rupnell.

[Sean Barnes]

She was a student at the school and evidence suggests she died from a self inflicted gunshot wound.

[Giles Snyder]

Barnes said Rupnell died while being taken to a hospital. He said family members are cooperating with the investigation. A teacher and an AB were killed. Of the six wounded, Barnes said two students are in critical condition over the summer. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared firearm violence a public health crisis, saying in an advisory that in 2020, guns overtook motor vehicle crashes, cancer, drug overdose and poisoning as the leading cause of death among children and teens. Jael Snyder, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

House Democrats have moved to oust Georgia Congressman David Scott from the top post on the agriculture committee as WABE's Sam Gre Greenglass reports from Atlanta. Democrats are replacing several aging chairs as they gear up to battle the Trump administration.

[Sam Greenglass]

Agriculture is Georgia's top industry and the committee's ranking member will help shape the crucial farm bill which is expiring this year. The Democratic Steering committee ultimately voted to recommend 52 year old Minnesotan Angie Craig for the post. The full caucus weighs in next. Scott chaired the committee in 2021 and 2022 and was elected to a 12th term in Congress this fall. But the 79 year old has experienced health issues in House. Democrats are also poised to have new ranking members on judiciary and natural resources. For NPR News, I'm Sam GreenGlass in Atlanta.

[Shea Stevens]

SoftBank CEO Masayosi Son is pledging $100 billion investment in the United States over the next four years, as NPR's Bobby Allen reports. San Is the latest tech mogul offering to spend big in order to court President Elect Donald Trump?

[Bobby Allen]

Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, a Japanese financial juggernaut, hasn't explained where the hundred billion dollars will come from, but he says it spent on investments in AI startups and other ventures. It comes just as other tech executives like Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Jeff Bezos and OpenAI Sam Altman have all announced million dollar donations to Trump's inaugural fund. Silicon Valley Historian Margaret O'Meara says tech companies have donated to inaugural funds before, but this time is different.

[Margaret O'Meara]

This we're giving lots of money and we're making it very clear how much we're giving and who we're giving it to and why. That's something that was a departure from past forms.

[Bobby Allen]

O'Meara says for some tech executives like Zuckerberg and Bezos, who have clashed with Trump, the publicity over the donations could be fodder for a fresh start. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

This is npr. The Jewish Floyd case is getting another review as defense attorneys seek to reverse the conviction of the ex police officer sent to prison for killing him. As Matt Sepic of Minnesota Public Radio reports, a judge says the lawyers may examine Floyd's heart tissue.

[Matt Sepic]

In 2021, a state jury convicted Derek Chauvin of murder. He later pleaded guilty to federal counts of using excessive force on George Floyd. Chauvin is serving concurrent sentences of around 20 years. Chauvin argues that his original defense attorney failed to tell him about an email from a Kansas pathologist who believes Floyd died of a heart condition, not from the pressure of Chauvin's knee on his neck. Federal Judge Paul Magnuson is letting defense experts examine preserved samples of Floyd's tissue and bodily fluids. The Justice Department contends that because a jury already rejected a similar medical opinion, Chauvin's conviction should stand. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepik in Minneapolis.

[Shea Stevens]

The Pentagon says around 30 North Korean troops were killed in combat with Russian forces near the Ukraine border. The casualties reportedly occurred around three villages in the Kursk region, where Russia has been trying to quash a Ukrainian incursion. The US And Ukraine estimate that North Korea has sent up to 12,000 forces to Russia to aid that nation's war against Ukraine. Police in the north Pakistani city of Shangla say at least two officers are dead and three others are injured following an attack on a police post there. Authorities say the militants on a motorcycle opened fire before fleeing the scene. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. This is NPR News.

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