Deadly church shooting in Michigan, and a looming shutdown in Washington: Unbiased Updates, Sept. 29, 2025
A former Marine crashed his truck into a crowded Sunday service at a Mormon church in Michigan, then opened fire and set the building on fire. Police continue to investigate a motive for the attack.
Plus, Washington is once again staring down a federal government shutdown. With the deadline just hours away, Democrats and Republicans remain at a stalemate.
And Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda are swirling side by side in the Atlantic, both now threatening the Southeast coast.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.
4 dead, 8 hurt after ex-Marine opens fire, then torches Michigan church
Over the weekend, a former Marine turned a Michigan Sunday service into a scene of horror.
About an hour northwest of Detroit, police said a man rammed his pickup into a church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, fired his weapon at civilians and then set the building on fire.
Officers shot and killed the suspect, but not before he killed four people and injured at least eight others.
Authorities identified the gunman as 40-year-old Iraq War veteran Thomas Jacob Sanford. Investigators continue to comb through the charred rubble, searching for any additional victims.
The police chief of Grand Blanc Township said some people are still missing.
Investigators believe Sanford used an accelerant to ignite the blaze. The church is a total loss.
“All indications on this investigation are the suspect used an accelerant of some sort, we believe gasoline, and lit the church on fire,” said James Dier with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
During a news conference over the weekend, reporters asked if Sanford had possibly used an IED.
“At this point, I’m not going to comment on IED’s. I will confirm that there were some suspected explosive devices that were located, but as far as using them to initiate the blaze, I can’t say that,” Dier said.
The FBI is leading the investigation, describing it as an act of targeted violence. However, a motive hasn’t been confirmed.
Michigan State Police said Sunday night brought even more fear as additional bomb threats were made across the community.
Some devices were discovered, but officials are not releasing details.
President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, calling it, “Yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States.”
He said he has been briefed and declared, “This epidemic of violence must end immediately.”
Trump to meet with generals at Quantico; security and politicization issues arise
Trump will join Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at an extraordinary gathering of America’s top leaders on Tuesday.
Hegseth previously ordered every one-star general and above to head to Quantico on Tuesday for what he billed as a short speech on “warrior ethos.”
Now, the White House confirmed the president himself will attend.
Trump told NBC News on Sunday that it’s just a pep talk, an “esprit de corps” moment to celebrate how well the military is doing.
But with hundreds of generals and admirals summoned from around the world — some flying in from the Middle East and the Pacific — critics claimed the cost, the risk of having so many senior officers in one place and the timing, just days before a possible government shutdown, all raise serious concerns.
Trump warns government shutdown likely if Democrats don’t back down
Trump said a government shutdown is now looking likely after Tuesday. In a phone interview with CBS News Sunday, the president said he doesn’t see “how we’re going to solve this issue” before Tuesday’s deadline.
Negotiations remain at a stalemate — with Democrats insisting on healthcare funding in the bill, and Republicans refusing to budge.
Trump is scheduled to host top congressional leaders, including Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, Senate majority leader John Thune, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, for another round of talks on Monday afternoon.
The House has already passed a stopgap bill to keep the government funded for seven weeks, while Congress hammers out long-term spending.
However, unless there’s a breakthrough, a shutdown will take effect at midnight on Tuesday.
Eric Adams drops out of NYC mayor’s race
New York City will have a new mayor come Jan. 1, 2026, but Incumbant Eric Adams is no longer in the running.
Adams, who was running as an independent, is dropping his re-election bid.
Adams shared the news in a video posted on X, saying that media speculation about his future and a finance board decision to withhold millions in public funds forced him to call it quits.
Adams had been sitting in fourth place in the polls, far behind Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, the front-runner.
Political experts say Adams’ exit could give a slight boost to Andrew Cuomo’s comeback bid.
There’s also speculation that Adams may join the Trump Administration.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department dropped a federal probe into Adams. However, his popularity at City Hall plummeted amid scandals involving top aides.
Now, he’s bowing out after just four years.
Tropical Storm Imelda strengthens as Hurricane Humberto weakens
Two powerful storms continue to spin side by side in the Atlantic on Monday morning.
A tropical storm watch was posted in Florida on Sunday as Tropical Storm Imelda formed neared the Bahamas and Cuba. As Imelda strengthens, Hurricane Humberto weakens.
Hurricane Humberto, now a Category 4 storm, tracked 827 miles east of Miami at 5 a.m. ET Monday and was moving northwest with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Experts said storm swells could impact the U.S. coast.
Humberto is heading toward Bermuda, where a tropical storm watch is in effect. The storm isn’t expected to make landfall in the U.S., but hazardous surf and rip currents will impact much of the East Coast this week.
Just to its left, Tropical Storm Imelda formed near the Bahamas. It moved just 193 miles east of Miami at 5 a.m. ET Monday with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. However, Imelda is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it tracks north before curving away from the U.S. East Coast by midweek.
In the Bahamas, the impact has already been felt.
Streets in Nassau have flooded, flights have been canceled and gusty winds have kept boats docked and beaches empty.
Forecasters warned parts of the island could see up to a foot of rain and dangerous storm surge.
NFL announces Bad Bunny will headline Super Bowl halftime
From San Juan to the Super Bowl, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will take over the biggest stage in sports. The NFL made it official last night, announcing that the three-time Grammy winner will headline the Super Bowl this February at Levi’s Stadium in California.
Bad Bunny called it a “touchdown for my people, my culture and our history.” His music has propelled Spanish-language hits to the top of the global charts.
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation will produce the show in partnership with Apple Music. The Super Bowl halftime show is consistently the most-watched performance of the year.
Last year’s event with Kendrick Lamar drew more than 130 million viewers.
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Nebraska nursing home resident forms Taylor Swift fan club, hopes to meet pop superstar
To say 95-year-old Frank Uryasz is a character is an understatement. The resident of Remington Heights Retirement Community in Omaha, Nebraska, is the life of the party at the tight-knit facility.
About a month ago, Uryasz was exercising with his occupational therapist, Sarah Zajic, when they struck up a conversation about music. Zajic is a devoted fan of Taylor Swift — a “Swiftie.” She told Uryasz all about the pop superstar.
He was hooked.
“It all started with a conversation. I was just excited about the new album. And so I was having him memorize when the album was going to come out so we could have a listening party,” Zajic told Straight Arrow News. “Then he started bringing me little articles any time Taylor was in the newspaper. And then one day he surprised me with these buttons and everyone in the community wanted the buttons, and then it just kind of has taken off from there.”
Now, it is a movement. Uryasz started listening to Swift’s music, reading about her history and rise to fame. He and Zajic decided to write a card to the pop superstar.Then the big idea: Starting a Taylor Swift fan club at the 122-resident retirement community. Read the full story now >
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
