Daily News Roundup: Community Support, Tragedies, and Political Reflections
In a mix of heartwarming local initiatives and sobering incidents, today's headlines highlight support for military families amid rising costs, multiple fires and shootings across the U.S., a brazen bank robbery, and the shutdown of illicit smoke shops. Nationally, a deadly shooting at Brown University sparks a manhunt, while sports celebrate a historic Heisman win. Political discourse intensifies with CBS segments on the economy and world events, alongside a poignant town hall featuring Erika Kirk addressing her husband Charlie Kirk's assassination, conspiracy theories, and calls for curbing political violence.
Local News
Communities in Virginia and North Carolina are grappling with a range of emergencies and support efforts this holiday season. In Norfolk, Hundreds of military families receive holiday meals and gifts as inflation bites, thanks to Operation Homefront's event that aided 300 households with meals, gifts, and emotional relief. Firefighters have been on high alert, swiftly containing a blaze on the USS Bataan at General Dynamics pier, where Norfolk Fire-Rescue responds to fire on USS Bataan and preventing it from escalating. Similarly, in Chesapeake, a quick response to a vehicle fire stopped it from engulfing a nearby home, showcasing the vital role of rapid intervention in averting disaster. Tragically, a house fire in Perquimans County's Hertford claimed three lives, leaving two survivors as investigators probe the cause. On the crime front, James City County police are hunting a suspect in a gray jacket who robbed a Wells Fargo bank on Monticello Avenue, fleeing with cash. Newport News saw violence with a man injured in a non-life-threatening shooting late Friday, under active investigation, while authorities shuttered three smoke shops after seizing over 62 pounds of marijuana, psilocybin, and edibles in a major drug bust.
National Crime and Incidents
A mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, has shattered campus calm, killing two and wounding eight in an engineering building. Police in Providence say the suspect is a male in dark clothing who fled the scene, prompting a widespread manhunt as details emerge in a timeline of the chaos. Echoing the urgency, at least 2 killed, several wounded in Brown University shooting underscores the suspect's escape in black attire, with law enforcement urging vigilance.
Sports
In a milestone for college football, Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza becomes first-ever Indiana Hoosier to win the Heisman, securing the prestigious award with 2,362 first-place votes and etching his name in history.
Politics and Media
CBS's "The Takeout" with Major Garrett continues to dissect key issues, as in the December 9 episode where President Trump to make speech in Pennsylvania touting his work on the economy; Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett announces a Senate bid. Earlier on December 5, coverage included President Trump attends World Cup draw, awarded peace prize, alongside the U.S. team's 2026 draw against Paraguay and Australia. Shifting to raw emotion, Erika Kirk's CBS News town hall, hosted by Bari Weiss, drew widespread attention following Charlie Kirk's assassination. 7 highlights from Erika Kirk's CBS News town hall captured her navigating grief, debunking conspiracies, and fielding tough questions from the last person to query her husband. Kirk emphasized that controversial Charlie clips lack context, urging against reducing his legacy to snippets. She delivered a sharp rebuke to Candace Owens with one word for Candace Owens, who fueled theories about the killing. For those celebrating the death, Erika Kirk's message to people who celebrated husband's death was unflinching, while her call to action for parents stressed personal responsibility in halting violence. Viewers can catch the full event via How to watch Erika Kirk's town hall with CBS News, which aired at 8 p.m. ET/PT.