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The FBI is investigating after a car in New Orleans plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 10 and injuring at least 30.

The agency is currently investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. The suspect has not been identified, but they were killed in a shootout with police shortly after 3:15 a.m., the Associated Press reported.

The injured were taken to five hospitals in the area, per the AP. There were large crowds on Bourbon Street and in the French Quarter to celebrate New Year’s Eve. There have been large crowds in aside from to the NYE festivities as the Sugar Bowl college football game between Georgia and Notre Dame is talking place Wednesday night.

Statement from the FBI

“This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others,” the FBI’s official statement reads. “The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism.”

New Orleans’ mayor, Latoya Cantrell, also referred to the incident as a terrorist attack and said they have been in conversations with the White House.

“President Biden called New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell this morning to offer full federal support following the horrific news that a driver killed and injured dozens of individuals in New Orleans overnight,” says a statement from President Joe Biden. “The President has been briefed on the latest developments by senior FBI and DHS leadership and his homeland security team, and he will continue to be briefed on this incident throughout the day. FBI is leading the investigation and is working closely with local and state officials.”

‘Hellbent on creating the carnage that he did’

New Orleans police said that this was an intentional act and that the suspect wanted to create “carnage.”

 “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” said Anne Kirkpatrick, superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department, as WDSU reported. “He was hellbent on creating the carnage that he did.” WDSU also noted that officials have asked the public to avoid this area of Bourbon Street until further notice while the investigating is going on.

The two police officers were also shot in the attack and are in stable condition, per WDSU. Officials have also been discovering “at least one suspected improvised explosive device at the scene.”

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As the New Year approaches, people worldwide embrace traditional superstitions to bring luck, love and prosperity into their lives. From eating a dozen grapes to smashing plates and holding off on doing laundry, some people are superstitious about good fortune.

Residents across Puerto Rico face the prospect of ending 2024 without electricity, as a major blackout has hit the island. The power outage, caused by technical problems within the island’s aging power grid, is the latest example of Puerto Rico’s aging and fragile infrastructure failing. The situation has renewed frustrations among Puerto Ricans, who were told that privatization and upgrades would improve the island’s energy structure.

A solar storm could add excitement to New Year’s Eve, with the northern lights expected to light up the skies across several northern U.S. states as celebrations unfold nationwide, just in time for the new year.

The northern lights can be seen between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The New York Times reported that, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Americans may have seen the northern lights early Tuesday morning or late night on New Year’s Eve.

If viewers miss the show on Tuesday, they have another chance to see the lights after sundown on New Year’s Day.

Here’s everything you need to know about the northern lights — how they occur and where in the U.S. you can catch the stunning display.

What are the northern lights?

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are bursts of color that occur when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere at increased speeds up to 45 mph, Space.com reported. This phenomenon can only be seen in the Northern Hemisphere, compared to those in the Southern Hemisphere called aurora australis.

“These particles are deflected towards the poles of Earth by our planet’s magnetic field and interact with our atmosphere, depositing energy and causing the atmosphere to fluoresce,” Billy Teets, the director of Dyer Observatory at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, told the outlet in November.

The phenomenon is also due to the sun’s 11-year activity cycle, which triggers solar storms. As a result, the northern lights are at their brightest, making them easier to see in the sky, per Space.com.

This marks the third time the Northern Lights have been visible in the U.S. across the Northern Hemisphere

According to The Associated Press, the NOAA issued a rare geomagnetic storm warning in May; it was the strongest storm in over two decades, and it resulted in a light display across the Northern Hemisphere. Another powerful storm happened along the Arctic Circle in October, with auroras popping up in places like Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.

Where can you see the northern lights?

The auroras can be seen this week in Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa and New York will also be able to see it, per AP.

Akouvi Adjessom, the mother of Randall Adjessom, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against SWAT police for fatally shooting her son. 

According to ABC News, the 16-year-old was shot during a no-knock warrant raid in Mobile, Alabama, after being woken up by forced entry. Just after 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2023, police broke down the front door of his home, where Adjessom’s mother, aunt, grandmother and three sisters — two of whom were minors — were also there.

Police in Alabama shot and killed a 16-year-old boy in his own home during a no-knock raid in the middle of the night.Body camera footage allegedly shows Randall Adjessom raising his hands and backing away just before an officer opened fire. He was left bleeding on the floor… pic.twitter.com/uEVWAmd46Z— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) December 26, 2024

“They’re supposed to be peace officers, aren’t they? How many more young Black boys like Randall have to be buried following police brutality before the MPD’s legendary culture of unchecked excessive force is finally put to rest,” the teen’s mom said in a statement on Monday.

Per the complaint, citing sealed bodycam footage, Adjessom emerged from his bedroom pointing a gun at officers but put up his hands when he realized they were law enforcement.

Police were there to execute a warrant against Adjessom’s older brother, who was suspected of marijuana possession and distribution but did not live at the home.

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According to a report following an investigation into Adjessom’s death, “the officer who shot him complied with the city’s use of force because Adjessom was armed and posed a threat,” ABC News mentioned. While it didn’t specify whether Adjessom retreated when he was shot, the report said officers had a “preconceived notion” that Adjessom’s family was dangerous. However, “there was no indication that any of the occupants had violent histories, and the target’s only felony was for marijuana.”

Per ABC News, an unnamed officer shot Adjessom four times within 11 seconds of entering the home. According to the suit, after he was shot, Adjessom didn’t receive medical attention until 50 minutes after he arrived at an emergency room eight minutes away.

The outlet reported that attorneys for Adjessom’s mother called his death an “unquestionably foreseeable and preventable tragedy.” Unspecified damages are sought in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Mobile against the city and the officers involved.

As 2025 begins, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is gearing up to distribute payments for the new year. Here’s a breakdown of when you can expect your Social Security checks based on your birthdate and other qualifications.

Who receives Social Security payments and when?

Recipients of Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor (RSDI) benefits will see their payments on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month—provided they filed claims after May 1, 1997. Meanwhile, those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for disabilities or low-income status will generally get their checks on the 1st of the month.

However, if the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, payments are sent on the preceding weekday. For January 2025, this means SSI payments will go out on New Year’s Eve since January 1 is a holiday, according to Live Now Fox (via Yahoo News).

January Payment Schedule: Important Dates

If you’re wondering when your check will arrive, here’s the full breakdown for January:

For SSI Beneficiaries: Payments will arrive on Dec. 31, 2024.

For RSDI Beneficiaries Who Filed Before May 1997: Payments will arrive on Jan. 3.

For RSDI Beneficiaries Based on Birthdate:

Born between the 1st and 10th: Jan. 8

Born between the 11th and 20th: Jan. 15

Born between the 21st and 31st: Jan. 22

What about February?

SSI payments for February will arrive early—on Jan. 31—because the 1st of the month lands on a Saturday.

What to do if your payment is delayed

If you don’t receive your electronic payment on the scheduled date, the SSA recommends contacting your bank or financial institution to check for delays. Sometimes, the administration may experience delays in posting payments.

If the issue persists, you can reach out to the Social Security Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office.

“We will review the case, and if the payment is due, we will replace it,” the SSA states on its website.