Winter Weather Descends Across Northern U.S.; Advancing Gaza Peace Plan | NTD Good Morning (Dec. 30)

The FBI is investigating a shooting in Portland, Oregon. Authorities say a man and a woman were injured in an incident involving immigration agents.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop when the driver tried to run them over. Agents then fired a defensive shot before the two suspects drove away.DHS says the driver and passenger are suspected members of the Tren De Aragua gang, and that one was involved in a recent shooting.The Trump administration has announced a new Justice Department division dedicated to investigating fraud, led by an assistant attorney general overseeing major multi-agency investigations. The effort is already focused on Minnesota, where Vice President JD Vance says more than 1,500 subpoenas and nearly 100 indictments have been filed.President Donald Trump says Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is expected in Washington next week, where he said he’d be honored to meet her. And in a social media post on Jan. 9, the president said he canceled a second wave of strikes on Venezuela, following cooperation from the South American nation. This comes after Venezuela began releasing a large number of political prisoners. Trump also said at least $100 billion will be invested by what he called "big oil," and that he expects to meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday.

The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are both investigating the shooting of a woman by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The incident is drawing national attention, and the Trump administration says the officer acted in self-defense, alleging the woman attempted an act of domestic terrorism by using her vehicle as a weapon. Governor Tim Walz blames heightened immigration enforcement for escalating tensions, while the White House points to anti-ICE rhetoric.Lawmakers held the first public hearing on Capitol Hill following allegations of fraud taking place in Minnesota. A federal prosecutor gave a report last month that around $9-billion may have been stolen. At the hearing, Republicans criticized Minnesota officials for not acting quickly enough. Democrats and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have defended their handling of the crisis, but Walz has since dropped his re-election bid. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has called on Walz to testify in February.Efforts are underway to stabilize Venezuela following the removal of former dictator Nicolás Maduro. The White House says president Trump has a three-phase plan, beginning with stabilization. Marco Rubio says the next steps focus on economic recovery, national reconciliation, and a gradual transition of power led by the Venezuelan people.

The CDC made major changes to its vaccine recommendations on Monday, narrowing the number of shots recommended to all children from 14 down to 8. The recommendations now more closely align with other developed countries such as Denmark, Germany and Japan. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. said the decision protects children, respects families and rebuilds trust in public health.Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty on Monday at an arraignment hearing in Manhattan. They are being charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking and weapons charges.vThe couple agreed to waive their right to a speedy trial and did not request bail at this time.vA second hearing is scheduled for March 17th.A Minnesota hotel cancellation involving ICE agents is drawing sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security. It's also prompting apologies from Hilton and a local operator. DHS says agents’ reservations were canceled after being booked with official government emails. Hilton says the property is independently owned and that the actions were not company policy.

The CDC made major changes to its vaccine recommendations on Monday, narrowing the number of shots recommended to all children from 14 down to 8. The recommendations now more closely align with other developed countries such as Denmark, Germany and Japan. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. said the decision protects children, respects families and rebuilds trust in public health.Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores pleaded not guilty on Monday at an arraignment hearing in Manhattan. They are being charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, drug trafficking and weapons charges.vThe couple agreed to waive their right to a speedy trial and did not request bail at this time.vA second hearing is scheduled for March 17th.A Minnesota hotel cancellation involving ICE agents is drawing sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security. It's also prompting apologies from Hilton and a local operator. DHS says agents’ reservations were canceled after being booked with official government emails. Hilton says the property is independently owned and that the actions were not company policy.

Nicolas Maduro has arrived at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where he is expected to be arraigned on Monday. President Trump says the U.S. is now in charge in Venezuela and plans to have American oil companies revive the country’s energy sector. Trump also predicted Cuba is close to collapse without Venezuelan oil, and hinted traffickers in Colombia and Mexico could face U.S. military action. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said the Maduro's capture was a law-enforcement operation without need of congressional approval.For many Americans, it won't feel like the middle of winter. Forecasters say a big warm up is heading eastwards, bringing temperatures well above normal for this time of year. Record highs are expected in central U.S. A strong high pressure system is expected to keep temperatures high for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, California is dealing with flooding and mudslides.Authorities say they’ve finished identifying all 40 victims of the deadly New Year’s Eve fire at a Swiss bar. Swiss police say, many of the victims were just teenagers, including two 14-year-olds. No names have been released yet. Hundreds of people marched in silence through the ski resort of Crans-Montana on Sunday to honor the victims. Swizterland will hold a national day of mourning on Firday, which church bells ringing and a moment of silence to honor the victims.

From Times Square to the streets of London, Madrid, and Rio, millions around the world rang in 2026 with spectacle, tradition, and reflection. Revelers in New York City were treated to a surprise, as the Times Square ball was relit in red, white, and blue, before rising again to mark the start of the United States’ 250th year. The Washington Monument in the District of Columbia also put on a light show for America’s upcoming 250th birthday.The Trump administration imposed sanctions on four firms operating in Venezuela’s oil sector on Wednesday. The United States is accusing the oil tankers of being part of a shadow fleet serving President Nicolas Maduro’s government. The latest ship sanctions are meant to deny the firms and tankers access to any property or financial assets held in the United States. The actions are part of the Trump administration’s months-long pressure campaign on Maduro’s authoritarian regime.Zohran Mamdani is officially the mayor of New York City. The Democratic Socialist took the oath of office at a historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan. Mamdani is the first Muslim leader of America’s biggest city, and took his oath on a Quran. The ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, and he will be sworn in again by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at City Hall on Jan. 1.

Health and Human Services now says it is freezing all federal child care funding to Minnesota following an investigative video by independent journalist Nick Shirley on alleged fraud at child and health care center. HHS provides Minnesota with $185 million in child care funding every year. Federal agents have also surged into the state for massive investigation into the child care operations.For the first time in 20 years, rain is expected to shower the thousands of spectators at the Rose Parade in Southern California. At Times Square for the New Year’s Eve Celebration, attendees will be experiencing the coldest ball drop in 10 years, as well as light to moderate snowfall. Out in the Midwest, a powerful winter storm is beginning to sweep across the U.S. bringing strong winds and heavy snow.Thieves broke into a German bank vault over the Christmas holiday weekend and made off with millions of dollars worth of valuables. Police say the suspects drilled their way through a concrete wall before breaking into the bank’s safe deposit boxes. The perpetrators used the quiet Christmas period to escape detection, with police only discovering the hole after a fire alarm went off on Monday.

Harsh winter weather is expected across the Great Lakes and the Northeast on Tuesday after a bomb cyclone traversed the Midwest at the start of the week, bringing snow, frigid temperatures, and leaving tens of thousands without power. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for northern New York state until New Year’s Eve, with 1 to 2 feet of snow and winds of up to 50 miles per hour expected.President Donald Trump sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday. The two discussed advancing the Gaza cease-fire plan, disarming Hamas, and resolving the status of the last deceased hostage still in Gaza, Ran Gvili. Israel's Minister of Education also formally announced that Trump will be receiving the Israel Prize, the country's highest civilian honor.Trump said the United States struck a loading facility in Venezuela linked to drug boat traffic sometime before Dec. 26. The president said the measure was part of an ongoing campaign against narcotics shipments to the United States. U.S. Southern Command also reported that the U.S. military struck another suspected drug boat on Monday.

President Zelenskyy said on Monday that the U.S. is offering Ukraine a 15-year security guarantee as part of a proposed peace plan, after a meeting with President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Sunday. Zelenskyy has said though, he would prefer a commitment of up to 50 years to deter Russia from further attempts to seize land. Details of the security guarantee have not been made public.Post-holiday travelers are facing delays and dangers on Monday, as winter storms spawn along a cold front along much of the northeast. In the midwest, forecasters warn of blizzards, with winds predicted to go up to 60 miles per hour in some areas. The FAA says Chicago O’Hare Airport had a ground stop on Sunday.China's military launched air, navy and rocket troops to conduct military drills around Taiwan on Monday. The live-fire drills will take place in five maritime and airspace zones around Taiwan, according to China's Eastern Theater Command. Taiwan's government condemned the drills, accusing China of 'military intimidation', while deploying its own forced in a 'rapid response exercise.' The drills follow what could become one of the largest arms sales between the U.S. and Taiwan from earlier this month.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, will once again be tracking Santa Claus this year, as he travels around the world, bringing gifts to kids across the globe. What started 70 years ago as a mistaken phone call from a child to the former Continental Air Defense Command, is now a beloved holiday tradition for families everywhere. More than a thousand volunteers will be staffing NORAD's Santa Operations Center, to answer the hundreds of thousands of phone calls that come in from around the world.In Southern California, powerful winter storms are threatening holiday plans. Millions in California are expected to hit the road for Christmas, but are likely to meet hazardous travel conditions. Officials are warning residents about potentially deadly flash flooding and mudslides, and to reconsider their holiday travel plans. Local and state officials are gearing up to respond to emergencies through the week. The state has also deployed resources and first responders to a number of counties along the coast and in Southern California, with the California National Guard on standby to assist.A fire and explosion erupted in the Bristol Health and Rehab Center near Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon. At least two are dead and 20 are inured. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says firefighters, rescue crews and bystanders were helping to get the nursing home residents to safety. Authorities are investigating a possible gas leak as the cause.