A shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school. The CDC director fired by the Trump administration after she refuses to resign. Iowa Democrats are riding high off a string of wins. And a massive attack on Ukraine’s capital kills at least 15.
Here’s what to know today.
School shooting brings tragedy, questions and demand for action
The shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis that killed two children and wounded 17 people has left a community shaken and authorities searching for answers on why the attack occurred.
The kids who died were 8 and 10. Among the wounded were 14 other kids and three adult parishioners. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said they are expected to survive.
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O’Hara said just before 8:30 a.m. 23-year-old Robin Westman approached the side of the church armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol. Westman shot dozens of rounds through the side windows of the Annunciation Catholic School’s church, aiming at children who were attending Mass. The shooter then died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, O’Hara said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the attack a tragedy and demanded that political leaders take action in the aftermath of another mass school shooting.
“It’s on public servants and leaders to not just have words but also have actions that are attached to those words,” Frey told NBC News’ Tom Llamas.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the shooter was “a male” born under a different first name. Westman’s name change to Robin was granted in 2020 when she was 17.
“Anybody who is using this … as an opportunity to villainize our trans community, or any other community out there, has lost their sense of common humanity,” Frey said.
Westman posted videos online with writings that reference suicide, “extremely violent thoughts and ideas,” and an apology to her family, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the matter.
Authorities are working to determine a motive. Police were aware of a “manifesto” that the suspect had timed to be released on YouTube that has since been taken down.
More on the Minneapolis Catholic school attack:
- Authorities are still trying to learn more about the shooter leading up to the attack. Here’s what we know.
Major shake-up at CDC highlights tumultuous time for the agency
First came an X post from the Department of Health and Human Services saying Susan Monarez was no longer the director for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention which led to the resignation of at least four top officials in the agency.
Then Monarez’s lawyers said she was not resigning. The Trump administration proceeded to fire Monarez shortly after her refusal.
In a statement after the HHS X post, Monarez’s lawyers claimed the director “refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts,” and for that she was being “targeted.”
The White House responded by formally terminating Monarez, stating she was “not aligned with the President’s agenda of Making America Healthy Again.”
More politics news:
- The House Freedom Caucus faces an existential moment with some of its most prominent members eyeing the exits for new jobs in the 2026 election.
- At least 21 FEMA employees have been put on administrative leave after they signed an open letter criticizing the Trump administration.
- A top Florida official says ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ will likely be empty in a matter of days.
- Sen. Susan Collins was heckled and drowned out at times by demonstrators at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Maine.
Are Democrats making gains in Iowa? Depends on who you ask.
A string of convincing victories in special legislative elections has left some year hopeful that the Democratic party could flip some major Republican-held offices in next year’s midterm elections.
The streak includes a win that flipped a Republican seat, breaking the GOP supermajority in the Iowa Senate.
Optimistic Democrats have shown excitement at the prospects in next year’s races for governor, U.S. Senate and two House races.
But Iowa Republicans aren’t buying into it. Citing low turnout in off-year, down-ballot special elections, Republicans are pointing to Iowa’s long, red voting history to kill the blue buzz.
Massive Russian attack on Ukraine’s capital kills at least 15
Russia unleashed a massive overnight attack on the Ukrainian capital that killed at least 15 people, including four children, and injured 38, local officials said early Thursday.
The combined strikes were the most significant to hit Kyiv since President Donald Trump intensified his push for an end to the Kremlin’s war, an effort that has stalled in the past week. A total of 629 drones and missiles were fired at the country overnight, Ukraine’s air force said, one of the largest of the war.
The overnight attacks show clearly that Russia has chosen “ballistics over the negotiating table,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
Zelenskyy reiterated his call for “new tough sanctions” against Russia, hoping the U.S. might target Putin’s economy to force him to the table. “All deadlines have already been missed; dozens of opportunities for diplomacy have been spoiled,” he said on X.
Read All About It
- A high school dean was charged with sex crimes against children. Parents say school failures enabled the alleged behavior.
- Three private companies helped China carry out one of the boldest hacking operations to date.
- Florida cities race to save rainbow crosswalks as the state’s deadline to remove them or risk losing millions of dollars in funding looms.
- Israel is facing more pressure as international criticism grows after strikes on a hospital killed 22 people, including journalists and medics.
- ‘Love Island USA’ Season 7 winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales officially split two days after the show’s reunion.
Staff Pick: MAHA loves supplements. Does Washington?
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy takes so many vitamins that he “couldn’t even remember them all.” In Washington, Kennedy has surrounded himself with other prominent fans of dietary supplements, who’ve promoted everything from weight-loss pills to capsules of desiccated organ meat.
But while supplements are a cornerstone of the Make America Healthy Again movement that helped propel Kennedy to power, the industry hasn’t seen sweeping changes since he took office — to the frustration and disappointment of some. Our story takes a close look at America’s love affair with supplements — and why that hasn’t meant big gains for supplement makers in Washington, at least just yet. — Suzy Khimm, national reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Labor Day weekend will have some of the last major sales before Black Friday — but it’s not the best time to buy everything. NBC Select’s editors talked to experts to find out what to buy and what to skip during holiday discounts. Plus, up to 40% off at Lowe’s with deals on grills, appliances and more.
Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
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