24/7 News: The Latest
The Latest: 01/25/2025 03:12am ET
This is your 24/7 News Update, the latest news this hour in just four minutes. It was a tight vote, but President Trump added one more member to his cabinet. Former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, however, had a surprise vote against Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegsef. Hegsef was narrowly confirmed in the Senate Friday night. After Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote, it was only the second time in history that a vice president had to act as a nomination tie-breaker. Three Republicans voted against the former Fox News host, including McConnell, who said he did not have confidence in Hegsef's ability to lead the Pentagon at a time of escalating national security threats posed by Russia, China, and Iran. President Trump is promising federal support for Los Angeles County in the wake of the devastating palisades and eaten wildfires. Daniel Martindale has the latest. On Friday afternoon, Trump met with first responders and wildfire survivors in Pacific Palisades, the site of the most expensive natural disaster in Los Angeles history. The federal government standing behind you, 100 percent. The first lady and I are in California to express a great love for the people of California. He also toured the disaster area in the air and on the ground. Trump then took questions and comments from local officials and property owners. He discussed waiving limits on permits, reducing an anticipated 18-month period before rebuilding can begin, getting more water to Southern California to prevent and fight future fires, allowing property owners to immediately return to what's left of their homes and expediting the rebuilding process. I'm Daniel Martindale and the NFL's championship Sunday will determine which teams will face off in Super Bowl 59. At 3 p.m. Eastern, the Washington commanders will take on the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC championship. The Eagles beat Washington in November while the commanders took down Philly in December. Even the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Buffalo Bills for the AFC championship game at 6.30 p.m. Eastern. And that's the very latest. I'm Jim Forbes. A historic snowstorm hit the South this week, breaking records that stood more than a century. At least 11 people were killed because of the cold and wintery conditions that stretch from Alabama to North Carolina. In Florida, 9 inches of snow fell earlier this week in parts of the panhandle, beating out Anchorage, Alaska's total snowfall this winter. In New Orleans, snow blanketed the city, nearly breaking a record set in the 1890s. Preliminary economic damage from the storm is estimated at between $14 and $17 billion. An AI-based weapons detection system is being questioned following this week's deadly shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville. Ryan Schuch has more. The Omnilirt network was installed at schools across the district last year and uses cameras to detect weapons. WZ-TV reports it didn't alert when 17-year-old Solomon Henderson opened fire in the cafeteria, killing 16-year-old Jozzling Korea Escalante. However, it did go off when school resource officers brandished their guns after the shooting was already over. I'm Brian Schuch. The CDC is releasing new flu data. That's despite the Trump administration putting a halt this week on virtually all scientific communication coming from the federal health agencies. The new data was not reported as it usually is on a CDC website called FluView. Instead, the latest flu numbers are in a section that focuses on respiratory illness. The data shows flu activity remains high and is on the rise in many parts of the country. Earlier this week, the Trump administration instructed all federal health agencies to temporarily stop public messaging pending a review. And the NFL's championship Sunday will get down this weekend and will determine the two teams that will play in Super Bowl 59. I'm Jim Forbes.