Prepared for the Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Editorial Note: The DHS Daily Briefing is a collection of news articles related to Department’s mission. The inclusion of particular stories is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse the political viewpoints or affiliations included in news coverage.

The AP [1/4/2025 12:02 PM, Jim Mustian, Jack Brook, Stephen Smith and Sara Cline, Negative] reports the man who rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans had suspected bomb-making materials at his home and reserved the vehicle used in the deadly attack more than six weeks earlier, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Friday. Federal authorities searching the home of Shamsud-Din Jabbar in Houston found a workbench in the garage and hazardous materials believed to have been used to make explosive devices, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the search. The officials were not authorized to speak about the ongoing inquiry and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The FBI investigation also revealed that Jabbar purchased a cooler in Vidor, Texas, hours before the attack and gun oil from a store in Sulphur, Louisiana, the officials said. Authorities also determined Jabbar booked his rental of the pickup truck on Nov. 14, suggesting he may have been plotting the attack for more than six weeks. Authorities say 14 people were killed and about 30 were injured in the attack early Wednesday by Jabbar, a former Army soldier who posted several videos on his Facebook hours before the attack previewing the violence he would unleash and proclaiming his support for the Islamic State militant group. The coroner’s office listed the cause of death for all 14 victims as "blunt force injuries." NPR [1/4/2025 8:08 AM, Ryan Lucas, Eric Deggans, Negative] Audio: HERE reports the FBI is investigating the Jan. 1 attack in New Orleans as an act of terrorism while the motivation for the Jan 1. truck explosion in Las Vegas is still unclear but appears to be mental illness. Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 4:05 PM, Terrian Spurs, 57114K, Negative] reports the FBI Houston office reports they are continuing to assist in the investigation of the New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Investigators began an hours-long search of the suspect’s home after receiving a court-authorized warrant and concluded the search on Thursday. However, the FBI and Harris County Sheriff’s Office officials returned to the area on Friday to seize a vehicle near the home as part of the ongoing investigation. The FBI announced Friday bomb-making materials were found inside the home of 42-year-old suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar, according to a release. As of Thursday, officials say all evidence recovered along Bourbon Street and a short-term rental home on Mandevill Street in New Orleans used by Jabbar has been completed. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) determined Jabbar was the only person who could have had access to the home when the fire was set. The ATF also determined Jabbar set a small fire in the hallway, and strategically placed accelerants throughout the house in his effort to destroy it and other evidence of his crime.

Washington Post [1/4/2025 7:00 AM, Maria Sacchetti, Ellie Silverman, Mark Maske and Justin Jouvenal, 40736K, Neutral] reports the deadly New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans by a man driving a pickup truck and an electric vehicle explosion in Las Vegas the same day have prompted law enforcement officials nationwide to increase security, issue fresh safety warnings and reassess preparations ahead of events that could be targeted for violence. The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center on Friday warned about possible copycat attacks in a security bulletin after an Army veteran from Texas rammed a truck into New Year’s revelers in the early-morning hours of Jan. 1, fatally injuring at least 14 people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The warning came as officials from coast to coast gear up for events such as the Golden Globes awards in Los Angeles, the Super Bowl in New Orleans and events in Washington, D.C. — the presidential election certification on Monday, the memorial service for President Jimmy Carter on Thursday and Donald Trump’s inauguration as president on Jan. 20. William “Matt” McCool, the special agent in charge for the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, said the series of high-profile events calls for heightened security measures. U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said at a Friday news conference that “all of us are on high alert.” The Department of Homeland Security has said the terrorism threat in the United States will remain high into 2025, driven by people motivated by varying ideologies, personal grievances and international conflicts.

Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 6:41 PM, Collin Leonard, 57114K, Negative] reports Hill Air Force Base announced Friday it will be suspending its Trusted Traveler Program, tightening security after the recent events in Las Vegas and New Orleans. The program previously allowed those with valid Department of Defense identification to vouch for those in their car when entering the base. Starting Friday, there is a 100% ID check at all gates, and those without identity cards will have to get visitor passes at the South Gate, limited to business hours, according to a social media post from the installation. The tightened security is "due to the recent attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas," and affects all installations, facilities and units within the USNORTHCOM area of responsibility, including the continental U.S. and Alaska, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Northern Command. "This is a prudent measure to ensure the safety and security of our installations and personnel. This may have the potential to cause delays for personnel or visitors entering installations," the spokesperson said. There is no indication when the Trusted Traveler Program may return. Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 4:08 PM, Amber Coakley, 57114K, Neutral] reports officials at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Naval Base San Diego issued base access advisories Friday, announcing heightened security measures at all entry gates, according to posts made on social media. The Naval Base was the first to notify the public of changes, noting on Facebook that the Trusted Traveler Program has been suspended until further notice. As a result, gate guards will now be conducting 100% hands-on ID card checks. Plus, if a person with authorized access wants to escort another individual on base, that person must also provide a valid U.S. federal or state ID and must be in the same vehicle as the person escorting them. “Please note, foreign nationals are not permitted to be escorted onto the installation unless they have undergone the necessary vetting process at the Naval Base San Diego visitor control center,” Naval Base officials noted. Later on, officials with Camp Pendleton made a similar announcement while posting on X, formally known as Twitter. The base advisory noted, “Commander NORTHCOM has directed all military installations to implement heightened security measures at all entry gates to include 100% ID checks, random inspections, and the suspension of the Trusted Traveler Program until further notice.”

Newsweek [1/4/2025 1:54 PM, Natalie Venegas, 56005K, Neutral] reports podcaster Shawn Ryan and retired U.S. Army intelligence officer Sam Shoemate have shared more messages on social media allegedly from Matthew Livelsberger, a Green Beret and the main suspect in the Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas after his alleged manifesto was emailed. Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found inside the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday. The blast resulted in a single casualty, the suspect inside the vehicle, and sparked national attention and a thorough investigation into potential terrorism. On Thursday, authorities identified the victim as Livelsberger, 37, who reportedly shot himself in the head moments before the explosion. Seven others, meanwhile, were injured in the incident. Authorities found several charred items inside the truck including a handgun at Livelsberger’s feet, another firearm, a passport, a military ID, credit cards, an iPhone and a smartwatch. While investigators are still determining Livelsberger’s motives for detonating the explosives outside the hotel, his alleged manifesto, emailed to Shoemate, has provided some clues. In the document, Livelsberger, allegedly raised questions about national security and U.S. military transparency—offering potential insight into his actions. Authorities are still working to determine a motive as the FBI is expected to continue to examine the evidence to determine whether the manifesto is legitimately tied to Livelsberger.

The Hill [1/4/2025 10:41 AM, Ashleigh Fields, Negative] reports Honduran President Xiomara Castro issued President-elect Trump a stark warning earlier this week over his vow to pursue mass deportations when he returns to the White House, threatening to bar U.S. troops from the Latin American nation. Republicans’ effort to remove Latino immigrants from the U.S. would force the amicable agreement to end, Castro said in her address. The president-elect has argued that his plan is focused on curbing illegal immigration and closing the border, which he consistently pledged to do during his time on the campaign trail. Both leaders received criticism over their proposals.

Reported similarly:
Washington Examiner [1/4/2025 10:08 AM, Anna Giaritelli, 2365K, Negative]

Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 5:46 PM, Greg Jordan, 57114K, Neutral] reports Hurricane Helene is gone, but its impact is still being felt after it struck Mercer County. Powerful winds brought down thousands of trees and tore down power lines which left communities in the dark. Losing power in both homes and grocery stores ruined over $1 million worth of food. Besides cutting off electricity, the falling trees hit vehicles and crashed into homes and businesses. Torrential rain flooded basements, ruined vehicles and added even more damage that residents are still struggling to clean up. On Dec. 10, 2024, FEMA announced that disaster assistance was being made available to Mercer County to help communities hit by Hurricane Helene on the morning and afternoon of Sept. 27, 2024 after President Joe Biden signed the declaration. This federal assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to help cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the disaster’s impact. The Bluefield FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened at the Maple View Church of Christ next door to the Mercer Mall. Soon hundreds of residents were seeking help by sitting down with FEMA representatives and learning how they can apply for assistance and get the process started. On Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, FEMA announced that this disaster recovery center was relocating to the Lifeline Princeton Church of God at 250 Oakvale Road near Princeton. It is scheduled to open on Jan. 2. The Lifeline Princeton Church has large rooms where the FEMA representatives can set up their operations as well as a big parking lot plus a central location in Mercer County. FEMA is encouraging residents to use the Princeton center as anopportunity to speak one-on-one with its representatives. People seeking FEMA assistance can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA App on their phones, but the center offers the chance to speak in person with a representative. County residents can call 800-621-FEMA (3362). The Princeton Disaster Recovery Center will be open today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Yahoo! News [1/5/2025 6:00 AM, Fiona Harrigan, 57114K, Neutral] reports in FY 2024, the U.S. resettled 100,034 refugees—the highest number in 30 years and about nine times the number resettled in FY 2021. The 2024 tally is a reason to celebrate and a reminder that refugee resettlement is highly subject to presidential whims. America’s modern refugee resettlement system was established in 1980. The U.S. legally defines a refugee as someone who is living outside of his home country and can’t or won’t return to that country because of previous or potential persecution based on certain criteria, such as race, religion, or political opinion. The U.S. has resettled over 3 million refugees since 1980. The year-by-year level has varied dramatically due to the president’s powerful role in shaping refugee admissions. "More than in other areas of immigration, in which Congress sets caps on the number of annual visas and admissions, the president has wide latitude to determine the maximum number of refugees admitted each year (and from where), in consultation with Congress," notes an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), a nonpartisan think tank. Donald Trump set a lower and lower ceiling every year of his first term, and while Joe Biden promised to change course during his presidency, that proved difficult. Until FY 2024, the total number of refugees admitted to the country was far lower than the ceiling Biden set, in large part because Trump-era policies hobbled the resettlement infrastructure. Improvements to the resettlement system are easy for a future administration to undo, and with Trump returning to the White House, refugee admissions are likely to fall. It’s not yet clear which changes Trump will impose or how deeply they will affect people seeking protection, but it would be a mistake for America to abandon its opportunity to welcome refugees and benefit from their presence.

FOX News [1/4/2025 7:02 AM, Michael Dorgan, Negative] reports a suspected illegal immigrant was arrested in South Carolina on Thursday after officials say he made a fake bomb threat during a traffic stop which ultimately led to a section of Interstate 85 being shut down for nearly five hours. Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi, 28, was stopped at around 2:45 p.m. by state transport police for having a missing license plate on his tractor trailer, according to the South Carolina Dept. of Public Safety (SCDPS). Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi was arrested in South Carolina after officials say he made a fake bomb threat during a traffic stop. All six lanes of I-85 were subsequently shut down as the threat was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the FBI. Alhendi appeared in court on Friday and was charged with conveying false information about a bomb threat, breach of peace of high and aggravated nature, and having no vehicle license. He was issued a total surety bond of $20,238 for all three charges and sent to the Greenville County Detention Center, Fox Carolina reports. A Greenville County Detention Center spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Alhendi was placed on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, a holding notice of a potential illegal immigrant who could be removed from the country.

CNN [1/4/2025 7:00 AM, John Fritze, Neutral] reports President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to dust off a series of centuries-old laws and legal theories to drive his first-year agenda — particularly on the border and birthright citizenship — hoping history will be on his side when the inevitable legal challenges make their way to the Supreme Court. The incoming president has said he intends to use an obscure 1798 law with a sordid backstory to speed deportations and has hinted at the possibility of invoking a separate law with roots in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 to deploy the military on American soil.

FOX News [1/5/2025 4:00 AM, Christina Coulter, 49889K, Negative] reports communities nationwide have been left on edge by illegal immigrants who have taken advantage of a lax southern border under the Biden-Harris administration and victimized innocent Americans. Through the efforts of police and prosecutors, an example was set with the arrests or convictions of these migrants for their violent crimes in 2024. 1. Guatemalan immigrant accused of setting woman on fire in NYC subway. Sebastian Zapeta, a previously deported immigrant from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and one count of arson after a woman was lit on fire and burned to death on a subway train Dec. 22 in Brooklyn, New York. 2. Venezuelan migrant Jose Ibarra sentenced in Laken Riley’s murder. In November, a Georgia judge convicted and sentenced Jose Ibarra, the suspect accused of murdering Augusta University student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus in February. 3. Mexican citizen arrested for girlfriend’s murder after removal from US. Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who was deported to his home country of Mexico in 2020, was arrested on murder charges in March for the killing of a Michigan woman after he allegedly reentered the United States illegally. 4. Honduran national accused of attempted hiking trail rape, sexual assaults. During a press conference in November, Virginia’s Herndon Police Department announced that Denis Humberto Naverette Romero, 31, was charged with abduction with intent to defile and rape a stranger he grabbed off a trail. 5. Migrant wanted for murder in Dominican Republic accused of killing New York family. Julio Cesar Pimentel-Soriano, originally from the Dominican Republic, was arrested in September for allegedly murdering a New York family of four in their home.

Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 8:02 PM, Staff, 57114K, Negative] reports an undocumented immigrant from Colombia has been charged in Harris County with threatening to kill a teenager and burglarizing a home, according to court documents. Jeison Ramirez-Valencia, 17, allegedly crossed the border into Laredo from Mexico before making his way to the Houston-area. Ramirez Valencia is accused of threatening to kill a 16-year-old and a neighbor with a weapon officials believe he got illegally, documents read. According to documents, he was charged with burglary of habitation, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and terroristic threat with fear of imminent serious bodily injury.

Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 4:08 PM, Shannon Heupel, 57114K, Positive] reports a suspect is in custody after a gun was fired inside Montgomery Regional Airport early Saturday morning. According to a release from the airport, a single shot was fired at a closed TSA security checkpoint. Airport police and personnel responded to the scene. "We are grateful for the swift response from our local law enforcement, which ensured the safety of everyone at the airport," said Wade A. Davis, C.M. MGM Executive Director. There were no reports of injuries, but a glass window was damaged. The airport reported that normal operations resumed by 4 a.m. Saturday, with no further threat. By then, the TSA checkpoint was fully operational, and travelers were able to proceed with flights without disruptions. Montgomery Regional Airport offers daily flights by American Airlines and Delta Airlines to Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; and Washington, D.C. "We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all passengers," Davis said. The shooting suspect has not been identified. Montgomery Regional Airport reports that it is working closely with law enforcement agencies as the investigation continues.

Reported similarly:
Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 12:43 PM, Aaron Dixon, 57114K, Neutral]

Newsweek [1/4/2025 6:19 PM, Adeola Adeosun, 56005K, Negative] reports Kansas City International Airport (KCI) has suspended all flight operations due to severe winter weather conditions, specifically citing "rapid ice accumulation" on the airfield. The closure, announced Saturday at 2:50 PM local time, coincides with a blizzard warning issued for the Kansas City metro area. A critical situation has developed as the airport’s only runway treatment truck has broken down during this severe weather event. The airport closure represents a significant disruption during Winter Storm Blair, which is coinciding with a polar vortex that could make this January the coldest since 2011. The combination of heavy snow, ice accumulation, and extreme cold poses serious risks to travel infrastructure and public safety. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of widespread power outages and treacherous travel conditions that could affect millions of Americans. A Blizzard Warning was issued until 3 AM Monday for the north side of the Kansas City Metro. The region is currently experiencing a dangerous mix of freezing rain and sleet, which is expected to transition to snow as temperatures continue to drop. No other airport closures have been announced. Travelers can check the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airspace System Status for active airport events. NWS public affairs specialist and meteorologist Erica Grow Cei previously told Newsweek: "Arctic outbreaks are often associated with a weakening of the Polar Vortex. When the Polar Vortex weakens, it allows the cold air contained in the Vortex to spill southward, instead of staying bottled up at the poles." KCI officials announced via social media: "Due to rapid ice accumulation, the airfield at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is currently closed to flight operations. Check with your airline for specific flight information." CBS sports reporter Tracy Wolfson on X: "Due to the airport being closed, Chiefs plane stranded as of now. They were set to arrive at 3. #Chiefs"

CBS News [1/4/2025 10:20 {M, Staff, 52225K, Negative] reports road conditions were deteriorating Saturday in the central U.S. as a winter storm brought a mix of snow, ice and plunging temperatures, with forecasts calling for the dreaded combo to spread eastward in the coming days. "Winter returned," said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland. More than 32 Million people are under winter alerts from Kansas to the East Coast stretching over 1500 miles, the National Weather Service said. The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually stays penned up around the North Pole, spinning like a top. But sometimes it escapes or stretches down to the U.S., Europe or Asia — and that’s when large numbers of people experience intense doses of cold. Studies show a fast-warming Arctic gets some of the blame for the increase in polar vortex stretching or wandering. By Saturday evening, widespread heavy snow was likely between central Kansas and Indiana, especially along and north of Interstate 70. Part of the interstate was closed in central Kansas by the afternoon. Total snow and sleet accumulations for parts of Kansas and northern Missouri were predicted to be as high as 14 inches. The storm was forecast to move then into the Ohio Valley, with severe travel disruptions expected. It will reach the Mid-Atlantic states on Sunday into Monday, with a hard freeze even expected as far south as Florida. Severe thunderstorms, with the possibility of tornadoes and hail, were also possible ahead of the storm system’s cold front as it crosses the Lower Mississippi Valley, the National Weather Service warned.

Reported similarly:
PBS [1/4/2025 5:29 PM, Heather Hollingsworth, 12036K, Negative]
NBC News [1/5/2025 4:19 AM, Freddie Clayton, 50804K, Negative]
Washington Examiner [1/4/2025 3:56 PM, Anna Giaritelli, 2365K, Negative]
National Public Radio [1/4/2025 6:40 PM, Mansee Khurana, 91K, Negative]

Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 7:41 PM, Caleb Okes, 57114K, Neutral] reports FEMA is ready to get Mercer County residents on the path to recovery after the events of Hurricane Helene. Georgeta Dragoiu is the federal coordinating officer for FEMA. She explained to 59News how folks can go about getting assistance. “If you have been impacted by Hurricane Helene, if you have any home damage, any need in terms of rental assistance, immediate needs like food, water, gas, shelter or things like baby formula come in to our disaster recovery center. [This is] basically a place where you can come in, sit with someone, face to face, and find out what you are eligible for,” said Dragoiu. FEMA is switching between two Mercer County locations – Maple View Church of Christ in Bluefield and Lifeline Princeton Church of God. Dragiou said that the FEMA agents on hand at the Mercer County locations helps the application process go smoothly.

Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 2:47 PM, Emmet Jamieson, 57114K, Positive] reports Claremore/Rogers County Disaster Assistance will begin meeting as a long-term tornado recovery group in late January or early February. CRCDA came together as an informal volunteer group just after the May 25 tornado struck Claremore. The group has connected disaster victims to resources and given out checks to help people cover needs like bills or groceries. Debbie Long, mayor of Claremore and a founding member of CRCDA, announced at a pair of meetings in November that the group is plugging into Oklahoma Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Its focus will now shift to assisting victims over the next year and a half. Long said the first meeting in late January or early February will kick off twice-monthly group meetings. Anyone interested in joining should send an email to crcdacare@gmail.com, Long said. "The first meeting, basically, we’re going to try to cover what does this group look like, how often do we want to meet, maybe a little bit of guidelines to the structure of how we’ll how we’ll actually run the meetings," Long said. Long said Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma will serve as CRCDA’s case manager under a state contract. At the group’s meetings, the case managers will present the cases of victims who applied for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Case managers won’t reveal victims’ names, only what they need and how much their needs cost. "The goal, then, is to take each case and between the group of people that show up at the table, we try to get all of their needs filled," Long said.

Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 5:12 PM, Rey Covarrubias Jr., 57114K, Neutral] reports the Horton Fire has scorched nearly 1,900 acres of forest along the Mogollon Rim, northeast of Payson, as of Saturday, with the number of firefighters on the scene almost doubling over the past week. Tonto National Forest officials reported that the wildfire remained 17% contained as of Saturday, the same figure reported on Thursday, with crews warning of potential further spread ahead of the new year. Since the last update shared Friday on the social media platform X, the fire has grown by 538 acres. Officials warned that smoke from the fire was expected to impact visibility along State Route 260, east of the Payson area toward Woods Canyon Lake. The cause of the fire remained under investigation. Ground crews on Saturday were expected to battle the fire below the Mogollon Rim and along the Horton Creek Trail, as air resources would be limited because of gusty winds near the rim, according to a Tonto National Forest news release. The number of personnel battling the fire increased to 418, up from 258 a week ago. The fire was expected to spread farther south and "off the face of the rim, and into the head of Horton Creek," according to officials. "Firefighters are working around the clock in this area to secure the fire line in this steep and difficult terrain," added officials in the news release. A total of seven crews, 32 fire engines, two helicopters, four water tenders and one bulldozer were at the scene on Saturday. Crews also laid more than 7,000 feet of hose on Friday near Tonto Creek Estates and Christopher Creek to help protect nearby structures.

KCRA [1/4/2025 2:48 PM, Lindsay Weber, Negative] reports the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning on Friday for areas in Tehama and Shasta counties. According to the NWS, a possible tornado was located near Paynes Creek, south of Shingletown. As of Friday evening, it was unclear if the funnel reached the ground. By 8:30 p.m., there had been no reports of any damage. The NWS will work with the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office to continue to look for any damage in the area.

Washington Post [1/4/2025 12:33 PM, Holly Bailey, Lori Rozsa and Jim Lynn, 40736K, Positive] reports the nation began its formal farewell to Jimmy Carter on Saturday, as the casket carrying the former president started its journey along the rural roads of south Georgia, where he spent much of his life, and onward to Atlanta, where his body will lie in public repose ahead of a state funeral in Washington next week. The events marked the first of a multiday celebration of Carter, who died last Sunday at his home in Plains, the tiny town of his childhood and the launchpad for his storied political career. Under a crystal-clear blue sky, Carter’s casket, draped in an American flag, was escorted by current and former members of the late president’s Secret Service detail to a waiting hearse. It was a detail the late president had requested to honor those who had protected him and his family over the decades, and who were considered “lifelong friends,” according to memorial organizers.

Reported similarly:
CBS News [1/4/2025 11:53 AM, Caroline Linton, Positive]
FOX News [1/4/2025 1:19 PM, Jamie Joseph, 49889K, Positive]
AP [1/4/2025 12:49 PM, Kate Payne and Bill Barrow, Neutral]

KFVS12 [1/4/2025 10:31 AM, Olivia Tock, 227K, Negative] reports a weeklong investigation in western Kentucky has resulted in an arrest. According to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were investigating a man accused of using fake currency at local businesses. At around 8 p.m. on January 3, a business on Clarks River Road reported that a man was in their store who had previously used fake money to make purchases there. According to the sheriff’s office, the deputies arrived and immediately detained the suspect, who gave them a different name to try to elude arrest. However, they were able to identify the man as Willis Scott. Scott had multiple arrest warrants for various narcotic and criminal charges. At the time of his arrest, Scott had fake currency on him. K-9 Vegas searched Scott’s vehicle and found methamphetamine, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. More charges are expected.

San Francisco Chronicle [1/4/2025 10:05 PM, Maliya Ellis, 4368K, Negative] reports Madera County authorities arrested a correctional sergeant for allegedly possessing and distributing child pornography, the county sheriff’s office said. Ralph Contreras Jr., 39, a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation sergeant, was arrested Thursday at a home on the 11000 block of Muirfield Road in Chowchilla, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities seized all of his electronic devices. Contreras Jr. was identified as a suspect after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children detected that child sexual abuse materials were being distributed in Madera County, the sheriff’s office said. Sheriff’s detectives executed the search warrant along with the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. In a statement, sheriff Tyson Pogue thanked detectives for investigating the case thoroughly "regardless of the suspect’s professional status."

The Wall Street Journal [1/4/2025 9:00 PM, Dustin Volz, Aruna Viswanatha, Sarah Krouse, and Drew FitzGerald, 646K, Negative] reports the message from President Biden’s national security adviser was startling. Chinese hackers had gained the ability to shut down dozens of U.S. ports, power grids and other infrastructure targets at will, Jake Sullivan told telecommunications and technology executives at a secret meeting at the White House in the fall of 2023, according to people familiar with it. The attack could threaten lives, and the government needed the companies’ help to root out the intruders. What no one at the briefing knew, including Sullivan: China’s hackers were already working their way deep inside U.S. telecom networks, too. The two massive hacking operations have upended the West’s understanding of what Beijing wants, while revealing the astonishing skill level and stealth of its keyboard warriors—once seen as the cyber equivalent of noisy, drunken burglars. China’s hackers were once thought to be interested chiefly in business secrets and huge sets of private consumer data. But the latest hacks make clear they are now soldiers on the front lines of potential geopolitical conflict between the U.S. and China, in which cyberwarfare tools are expected to be powerful weapons. U.S. computer networks are a “key battlefield in any future conflict” with China, said Brandon Wales, a former top U.S. cybersecurity official at the Department of Homeland Security, who closely tracked China’s hacking operations against American infrastructure. He said prepositioning and intelligence collection by the hackers “are designed to ensure they prevail by keeping the U.S. from projecting power, and inducing chaos at home.” As China increasingly threatens Taiwan, working toward what Western intelligence officials see as a target of being ready to invade by 2027, the U.S. could be pulled into the fray as the island’s most important backer. Other friction between Washington and Beijing has intensified in recent years, with President-elect Donald Trump threatening a sharp trade war and China building a tighter alliance with Russia. Top U.S. officials in both parties have warned that China is the greatest danger to American security. Investigators, both at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and in the private sector, found the hackers lurked, sometimes for years, periodically testing access. At a regional airport, investigators found the hackers had secured access, and then returned every six months to make sure they could still get in. Hackers spent at least nine months in the network of a water-treatment system, moving into an adjacent server to study the operations of the plant. At a utility in Los Angeles, the hackers searched for material about how the utility would respond in the event of an emergency or crisis. The precise location and other details of the infrastructure victims are closely guarded secrets, and couldn’t be fully determined. MSNBC [1/4/2025 2:13 PM, Staff, 57114K, Neutral] Video: HERE reports that, on Friday, the U.S. announced sanctions on China’s Integrity Technology Group, a cybersecurity firm linked to the Chinese hacking group Flax Typhoon, which has been accused of carrying out a litany of cyberattacks on Americans in recent weeks. China’s escalating cyberespionage campaign against the U.S. and its allies is one of the more overlooked stories, yet its stakes are intensifying. As cyber-attacks ramp up, top China cybersecurity expert Samm Sacks argues that the U.S. must decide whether to take a hardline approach in regulating critical industries vulnerable to attack. “Our system is so vulnerable,” says Sacks, we could find ourselves “essentially rebuilding it from scratch.”

NPR [1/4/2025 8:01 AM, Emma Bowman, Jaclyn Diaz, 35747K, Neutral] reports intentional vehicular attacks on crowds of people, like the one that killed 14 revelers in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, are not new. They have been carried out for decades. Although in recent years, they have increasingly been used by terrorist groups and individuals. The FBI said the man who intentionally drove a pickup truck into crowds on Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day acted alone and that the attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism. While a specific motive is still unclear, the FBI said the suspect was inspired by ISIS. In an unclassified document from 2010, Department of Homeland Security officials warned that vehicle-ramming allows terrorists who lack access to or expertise in explosives or other weapons an opportunity to carry out an attack.

CBS New York [1/4/2025 5:11 PM, Katie Houlis, 52225K, Negative] reports the New York City Police Department has released new photos of individuals wanted in connection to a shooting in Queens that left 10 teenagers injured. Police say they need the public’s help identifying several individuals seen in surveillance images. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X by tagging or messaging @NYPDTips. The shooting happened just after 11:15 p.m. Wednesday outside an event space on 144th Place between Archer and 91st avenues. Sources tell CBS News New York a vigil was being held there for 16-year-old Taearion Mungo, who was shot and killed last October. According to police, a group of teenagers and young adults outside the venue were approached by four unidentified male suspects who then opened fire on the group before running down 91st Avenue, getting in a white sedan and driving off. Ten people were struck by gunfire: a 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl, three 18-year-old women, three 19-year-old women and two 19-year-old men. None of their injuries were life-threatening, and all were taken to local hospitals in stable condition. Sources tell CBS News New York the shooting appears to be gang-related. No arrests have been made. [Editorial note: consult video at source link]

Reported similarly:
Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 3:05 PM, Adeja Shivonne, 57114K, Neutral]

FOX News [1/4/2025 10:10 PM, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, 49889K, Negative] reports a Pennsylvania man who briefly served in the U.S. Army faces charges of attempting to join the terrorist militant group Hezbollah in an effort to "kill Jews," the Department of Justice (DOJ) said. Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh Thursday for allegedly traveling to Lebanon and Syria last year to join the Iran-backed group despite knowing it is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. According to an affidavit, Molloy, a dual U.S. and Irish citizen who previously served on active duty status in the Army, attempted to join the terrorist organization multiple times. The DOJ said the 24-year-old converted to Islam in 2024. After his conversion, he contacted people in Lebanon while in the country in August 2024 about becoming a Hezbollah fighter, the DOJ alleges. His contacts responded that the time was not right and that he’d need to take further steps. Molloy went to Syria in October 2024 and attempted to join again. On his flight back to the U.S., the DOJ said, he lied to FBI agents at Pittsburgh International Airport when he said he did not intend to join Hezbollah, that he had no business in Syria and that he did not meet anyone there. When he returned stateside, he continued attempts to join the organization, according to the DOJ.

Yahoo! News [1/4/2025 7:08 PM, Cory McCoy, 57114K, Negative] reports Kennewick police want community members to know that a potential school shooting threat going around on social media is a hoax. A Richland schools student accused of making the threat was taken into custody Sunday afternoon on suspicion of making felony threats, according to an update from Richland police. The student was booked into the Benton County Juvenile Detention Center. The message was reported to police after a Richland school district student was sent a Snapschat message from a friend with a screenshot of a threatening comment their friend had seen on a TikTok video. The comment read, “Mass cms school shooting on January 6th 12:30.” It was made by an account Kennewick police believe is a spoof, AI generated or “dummy” account setup in order to cause disruption and trouble, according to a social media post from the department. The rumor appeared to get around, and grow. Kennewick police said they wanted to address the speculation because what had been a vague comment on a video was now rumored to be a video showing a Kennewick middle school logo. Despite the speculation, police say there is nothing at this time that connects the threatening comment to the Kennewick middle school.

AP [1/5/2025 5:20 PM, Volodymr Yurchuk and Elise Morton, 2315K, Neutral] reports Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will again call on allies to boost its air defenses at this week’s meeting in Germany, as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes over later this month with a vow to end the almost three-year war quickly. Zelenskyy said that dozens of partner countries will participate in the meeting of the Ramstein group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday, “including those who can help boost our capabilities not only to defend against missiles but also against guided bombs and Russian aviation.” “We will discuss this with them and continue to persuade them,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Saturday. “The task remains unchanged: strengthening our air defense.” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin will attend the meeting. Biden was originally scheduled to attend the October summit in Ramstein but it was postponed because of response to Hurricane Milton that battered the U.S.

Wall Street Journal [1/2/2025 2:49 PM, Jared Malsin, Nancy A. Youssef, and Carrie Keller-Lynn, 646K, Neutral] reports the Biden administration notified Congress of an $8 billion weapons package for Israel, including thousands of bombs, missiles and artillery shells, in one of the largest new arms sales since the war in Gaza began in 2023. The weapons package, which congressional officials received notification of late on Friday afternoon, also includes the planned sale of thousands of bombs, air-to-air missiles and precision munitions, according to U.S. officials familiar with the sale. The new weapons package includes some items that could draw objections from Democrats who have opposed the transfer of large bombs to Israel amid concerns over the civilian toll of the war in Gaza. The proposed sale includes a set of guidance kits designed to be fitted to large MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, as well as BLU-109 bunker buster bombs, one of the officials said. Also included are AMRAAM and Hellfire missiles and 155mm artillery rounds. At least $6.75 billion would fund two different kinds of precision kits, small diameter bombs and 2,000-pound bombs, the officials said. The planned weapons sale, which comes just weeks before President Biden hands over power to President-elect Donald Trump, is the largest the U.S. government has authorized for Israel since the massive $20 billion weapons package the administration approved in August. Israel was also informed of the move, said an Israeli official, who said that the country expected the weapons to begin arriving in 2025. “We will continue to provide the capabilities necessary for Israel’s defense,” said an administration official familiar with the deal, which still requires congressional approval to move forward. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment. The new weapons package was reported earlier by Axios.

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