Wed Dec 25 02:50:00 UTC 2024: ## NORAD Tracks Santa, While US Grapples with Violence and Weather Extremes
**Washington, D.C. –** The annual Christmas tradition of NORAD tracking Santa Claus’s journey continues, a legacy born from a 1955 misdial that connected a child to the Continental Air Defense Command. This year’s festive tracking comes amidst a backdrop of serious events across the United States.
A 26-year-old suspect is facing federal charges for the fatal shooting of a healthcare insurance CEO, Brian Thompson. The suspect, apprehended at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s, was also linked to a porch package theft. Separately, a school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, left two dead and several injured. Severe weather events continue to impact the nation, with a tornado causing damage in Scotts Valley, prompting a state of emergency declaration in New York, and a pipeline fire requiring road closures. In Massachusetts, a police chase ended with the suspect needing rescue from the pursuing officers.
Investigations are ongoing into recent drone sightings, with US officials stating there is no evidence of national security threats. Other news includes the honoring of a British actor on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and ongoing public discussion in New York City regarding a recent fatal subway chokehold case. A wildfire continues to burn in an unspecified location, consuming over 300 acres. Finally, an archaeological discovery of a historic marble slab in Israel adds to the day’s news.
First Piper 