It was a violent, horrifying weekend. A mass shooting at Brown University during a study session in the schoolâs engineering and physics building left two people dead and nine injured. The university was locked down for 12 hours, with students crouched under desks and inside locked classrooms. As of this morning, the shooter is still at large. Police had arrested a person of interest over the weekend, but they released them on Sunday, saying that evidence pointed in a âdifferent direction.â The university cancelled classes and exams for the rest of the semester, and encouraged students to go home.
Halfway around the world in Sydney, a father and son opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, killing at least 15 people. The youngest victim was a 10-year-old girl named Matilda. Mass shootings are extremely rare in Australia because the country has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, but the Australian prime minister has pledged to tighten their gun laws even more after this shooting. Sure beats thoughts and prayers.
In Los Angeles, director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, were stabbed and killed in their home on Sunday. Police havenât formally announced an arrest, but the New York Times says that the coupleâs son Nick Reiner has been arrested and is being held on $4 million bail.
You know Reinerâs work because itâs simply some of the best. As a director, you can thank him for A Few Good Men, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met SallyâŠ, and This Is Spinal Tap, just to name a few. His production company, Castle Rock, took a chance on a show called The Seinfeld Chronicles, even though it tested terribly, and now weâll always have Seinfeld. He met Michele while he was working on When Harry Met SallyâŠ, and falling in love with her quite literally changed the film. Sheâs the reason Harry and Sally get together in the end.
My Favorite Rob Reiner Fact: The âIâll have what sheâs havingâ line from When Harry Met Sally⊠was delivered by Reinerâs mother.
Dick Van Dyke turned 100 over the weekend. The Dick Van Dyke Show was created by Rob Reinerâs dad, Carl Reiner. Van Dyke, Reiner, and Mel Brooks were constant collaborators and friends. In honor of Van Dykeâs birthday, Here and Nowâs Robin Young was supposed to interview him at his home, but when she got there, he was under the weather. So instead, she interviewed the 99-year-old Mel Brooks about the legendary entertainer. When asked what Van Dykeâs secret to longevity is, Brooks told her: âI don't know, because the angel of death said, âAh, let's give this guy a break. He's such a sweetheart.ââ As for him? âWell, I hide. I'm never in one place for very long because I'm not looking for this guy to catch up with me.â
Trump blamed Reiner's death on "Trump Derangement Syndrome," which even his supporters found disgusting.Â
Weather: After a brief break, the rain is back. The flooding isnât expected to be as catastrophic as last weekâs, but itâs a one-two punch that our region never needed. Over the weekend, Auburn city officials issued a âget out nowâ evacuation order. Farms throughout Snohomish and Skagit Counties are underwater. The Nooksack River swept away an entire two-story home. Christmas was cancelled in Leavenworth. Even Trump had to acknowledge that this is an emergency.
Fuck Cars:Â A 38-year-old cyclist was hit by a car and killed on Sunday. The driver took off, and thereâs no public description of the car yet, but the police are asking for tips if youâve got them.
A Headline to Make You Smile: âDonald Trump wax figure removed from museum after being repeatedly punched in the face.âÂ
Fresh Hell: TSA has been providing names of all air travelers to ICE to help them intercept immigrants while theyâre in the airport. The program has been active since March, but hadnât been known to the public until now. Itâs not clear how many arrests have been made thanks to this collab from hell, but one former ICE official told the New York Times that in their region, if a name was flagged in a TSA list, it led to an arrest 75 percent of the time.
Murray Takes on AI: US Senator Patty Murray plans to introduce legislation Monday that would halt the six-state federal pilot program adding AI reviews to Medicare approvals. Until now, our stateâs Medicaid recipients didnât need prior authorization for most services. But under this program, on January 1, the robots will help determine whether or not patients qualify for services like pain management. Even better, the program sets up a financial incentive for the AI providers to deny approvals: they get a cut of the money they save the government.
The News Today Sucked: Hereâs one more bit of love for Mr. Reiner.







