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Severe storms impact North Georgia

By
Tyler Penland
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Cover image by Jennifer Kempey showing storms as they entered Habersham around 7:20PM.

 

A line of strong to severe storms crossed North Georgia from 6-8 PM on Tuesday evening.

Strong winds of up to 60 MPH and small hail, along with torrential rain and frequent cloud to ground are possible with these storms as they push east.

Scattered power outages were reported. In the immediate aftermath, some 72,000 Georgia Power customers and EMC members were left without electricity across the state. Many of those were in Northeast Georgia, where, as of early Wednesday, June 18, around 3,100 homes and businesses remained without power. Most of those outages were in Rabun County.

RELATED Cleanup continues in Habersham after Tuesday’s storm

Short severe summer storm

Wind gusts of 30-40 MPH were common across much of Hall, Habersham, Banks, Jackson, eastern Dawson, southern Lumpkin, and southern White Counties. A weather station in the Brookwood area of Hall County recorded an unofficial gust of 47.9 MPH, with the station at WRWH in Cleveland and another station in Clermont both recording a maximum wind gust of 38.7 MPH as the line moved through.

Emergency management reported a tree down on 115 East near Cleveland, which backed up traffic. An additional tree was reported down on Pine Trail south of Dahlonega.

Sabrina Lynn Stephens of Alto got this eerie shot of the storm’s clouds as they moved through.

Heavy rainfall fell with 1/4-1/2″ falling in as little as 15 minutes. No major flooding was reported, but some ponding of water on roadways occurred as drainage struggled to keep up with the heavy rain rates.

Back-to-back Cats: Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions by beating the Oilers in 6 games

By
Stephen Whyno
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Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk helps raise the Stanley Cup trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Stanley’s stay in South Florida is getting extended.

The Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the final on Tuesday night, becoming the NHL’s first back-to-back winners since Tampa Bay in 2020 and ’21 and the third team to do it this century.

Sam Reinhart scored four goals, becoming just the sixth player in league history and first since Maurice Richard in 1957 to get that many in a game in the final. His third to complete the hat trick sent rats, along with hats, flying onto the ice. Matthew Tkachuk, one of the faces of the franchise, fittingly scored the Cup clincher.

More rats were part of the victory celebration when the clock hit zeroes. Panthers players mobbed in the corner, while the Oilers watched in dismay.

“Good evening, South Florida,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said before presenting the trophy to captain Aleksander Barkov. “It feels like we just did this.”

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced, closing the door on a rematch with the same end result. The only goal came from fellow Russian Vasily Podkolzin in garbage time, long after the outcome was decided and the NHL put a bow on a remarkable season that included Alex Ovechkin’s milestone as the all-time leading goal scorer and Olympics-like buzz around the 4 Nations tournament in February.

There were chants of “We want the Cup!” as the final moments ticked away. The Panthers already had it.

Now they get to keep it.

“This is as good as the first one,” Reinhart said. “We learned some lessons. We stayed on the gas, foot on the pedal, and obviously the result speaks for itself.”

Not long after the Lightning made three trips to the final in a row, Florida has done the same and now has the makings of a dynasty. The Panthers have won 11 of 12 playoff series since T kachuk arrived by trade and Paul Maurice took over as coach in the summer of 2022.

“We’ve got to be a dynasty now,” Tkachuk said. “Three years in a row finals, two championships. This is a special group.”

The only time they have been on the wrong side of a handshake line was the final in Vegas in 2023, only after several key players were banged up and gutting through significant injuries.

From the core of Tkachuk, Reinhart, Barkov and Sam Bennett on down the roster, they were much healthier this time around and were boosted by key trade deadline additions Brad Marchand and Seth Jones. Bennett led all goal-scorers this postseason with 15, and Marchand had six in the final alone.

Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Barkov handed the Cup to first-time champion Nate Schmidt, and all the others winning it for the first time got it soon after.

“It’s amazing to be able to be here,” Schmidt said. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

Getting depth contributions from throughout the lineup allowed them to overpower Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers, who struggled with Florida’s ferocious forecheck and switched goaltenders multiple times in the final. Stuart Skinner got the nod in Game 6 and was again done in by mistakes in front of him that ended with the puck in the net behind him and had his own blunder on Reinhart’s second goal.

McDavid tried to take over but was again stymied by Barkov, Jones and Bobrovsky. He finished with seven points in his second career trip to the final, again denied his first title.

The Panthers spent more time leading during this Stanley Cup Final than any previous team in history, 255:49 minutes in all.

“We lost to a really good team,” McDavid said. “Nobody quit, nobody threw the towel in, but they’re a heck of a team. They’re back-to-back Stanley Cup champions for a reason.”

Canada’s Stanley Cup drought reached 31 seasons and 32 years dating to Montreal in 1993. Teams in the U.S. Sun Belt have won it five of the past six times, four of them in Florida.

This run through Tampa Bay in five games, Toronto in seven, Carolina in five and Edmonton in six showed how clinical the Panthers have become under Maurice, who has coached more NHL games than everyone except Scotty Bowman and is now a two-time champion.

So is Marchand, who last hoisted the Cup in 2011 with the Boston Bruins. The 14-year gap is the third-longest in league history, just shy of 16 for Chris Chelios from 1986 to 2002 and 15 for Mark Recchi from ’91 to ’06.

“It’s incredible,” Marchand said. “It’s a feeling you can’t really describe. Seeing the family and everyone up there and everyone that supported me and helped me get to this point, words can’t put this into reality how great it feels. Such an incredible group.”

Riley’s sacrifice fly in 10th inning caps Braves’ comeback for 5-4 win over Mets

By
Charles Odum
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Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson (28) hits a single RBI in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Riley hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to deep center field in the 10th inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 comeback win over the New York Mets on Tuesday night.

Marcell Ozuna tied the score with a three-run double in the eighth, and the Braves rebounded from a 10-1 loss at home Sunday to lowly Colorado. Atlanta has won four of five.

New York, which leads the NL East, has dropped four in a row for the first time this season.

Luke Williams opened the bottom of the 10th on second as the automatic runner. He scampered to third on a wild pitch from Huascar Brazobán (3-2) when catcher Francisco Alvarez made an ill-advised throw to second with Williams hung up between bases. Brazobán walked Matt Olson to load the bases, and Riley’s flyball allowed Williams to score easily.

Raisel Iglesias (4-5) pitched a perfect inning for the win.

Tyrone Taylor homered and drove in three runs, and Juan Soto also homered as the Mets built a 4-1 lead.

Soto singled in the ninth off Dylan Lee but was doubled off first base after Ronald Acuña Jr. caught Pete Alonzo’s drive at the right-field wall.

The first pitch was delayed 56 minutes by rain.

Key moment

The Braves loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth with three singles off starter David Peterson and reliever Reed Garrett. Olson struck out against Garrett, and Riley hit a pop fly to shallow right field before Ozuna’s double off Garrett tied the game.

Key stat

According to research from the Elias Sports Bureau provided by the Braves, their 71st game of the season was the latest they’ve played their first game against a division opponent in 25 years. During the 2000 season, they played their first game against the Montreal Expos in their 76st game.

Up next

Braves left-hander Chris Sale (4-4, 2.79 ERA) will face Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn (0-0, 6.75) on Wednesday night. Sale had his scheduled start Sunday against Colorado pushed back so he would be available against the Mets.

Georgia PSC primary election results

By
Staff Report
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On Tuesday, Georgia voters wrapped up three weeks of voting in the statewide Public Service Commission primary. With all of the state’s counties reporting, here are the complete unofficial results:

PSC – District 2 – Republican Primary

Tim Echols (I)
75.81%
47,835 votes

Lee Muns
24.19%
15,263 votes

PSC – District 2 – Democratic Primary

Alicia M. Johnson
100.00%
125,292 votes

PSC – District 3 – Republican Primary

Fitz Johnson (I) – unopposed
100.00%
54,451 votes

PSC – District 3 – Democratic Primary

Peter Hubbard
33.32%
41,832 votes

Robert Jones
20.63%
25,898 votes

Keisha Sean Waites
46.04%
57,800 votes

Stacey Lee Rowland

By
Now Habersham
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Stacey Lee Rowland, age 52, of Baldwin, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025.

Born on July 13, 1972, in Royston, he was a son of the late Robert Lee and Barbara Ann Sorrow Rowland. Stacey was employed with SK Battery and was a member of Calvary Temple Church. He will be remembered for his love of his family, especially his grandchildren, and for his strength in his faith. In his spare time, he enjoyed the outdoors, particularly a good fishing trip.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Tracey Edward Rowland.

Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Amanda Lewallen Rowland; sons and daughter-in-law, Cory Lee Rowland and Dillin Rowland (Larae); grandchildren, Greigh Lee Rowland, Charleston Diane Rowland, and Ben Knox Rowland; brother, Robert Mitchell “Mickey” Rowland; and sister and brother-in-law, Gail Rowland Lewis (Arlen).

Funeral services are 2 pm on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church, with Elder Terrell Simmons and Elder Chris Segars officiating. Interment will follow in Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the funeral home.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandmcentire.com.

McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

Habersham EMA Director set for ‘end of watch’ after nearly 20 years

By
Chaz Mullis
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Habersham County EMA Director Lynn Smith, second from right, is preparing to retire. With her are, from left, Belinda Konarski, Melanie Bellinger, Smith, and Elizabeth Alewine. (Habersham County/Facebook)

Habersham County’s Emergency Management Agency director is set to give her final all-call. Lynn Smith was recognized on her retirement during the county’s Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday. Smith has been serving Habersham residents since 2006.

“She’s been an outstanding person to work with,” said City Manager Tim Sims. “She leads a really good group.”

Smith started her career at the South Georgia 911 Center as a secretary, where she steadily rose from dispatcher to director. “When the chance came to move to North Georgia, Lynn embraced the new chapter both personally and professionally,” Sims said. “She’s built the agency from the ground up, earned her bachelors degree while working full time, supported her son through college, and even went through testing to be a possible organ donor for her mother.”

The retired EMA director was named Director of the Year by the Georgia Emergency Communication Conference in 2011, 2018, and 2024. The director is chosen out of all 159 counties in the state.

Smith served two terms as president of the Georgia Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and currently serves on the Board of Officers. She’s responsible for Habersham’s new 911 dispatch radio tower system, which is soon to be in operation after 5 years of planning.

The Habersham County Commission honored Lynn Smith at its meeting Monday night, June 16, 2025. From left, Habersham County Manager Tim Sims, Commission Chair Jimmy Tench, Smith, Commissioners Dustin Mealor, Ty Akins, Bruce Harkness, and Kelly Woodall. (Habersham County/Facebook)

“We hope that she will make the first call on the new system,” County Commissioner Bruce Harkness said. “She has spearheaded that whole program. With her leadership, Habersham County is gonna be in the modern era.”

Sims predicted that the search for a new EMA director will begin later this summer. Meanwhile, E-911 Assistant Director Melanie Ballinger is being considered for the interim position.

When asked about the position, Ballinger said she looks forward to the new direction. “I don’t foresee anything changing in the department as a whole because everything is running smoothly. It’s gonna be different without her here.”

Ballinger had worked with Smith for 19 years.

“[Smith] has been awesome to learn from. She’s a leader, she’s a good mentor, she brought in a wealth of experience with her and laid the groundwork for what we are now,” she said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem taken to hospital after allergic reaction

By
Associated Press
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a news conference regarding the recent protests in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was taken to the hospital on Tuesday after experiencing an allergic reaction, her spokeswoman said.

“She is alert and recovering,” said the statement from department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, who said the hospital treatment was out of an “abundance of caution.” Noem, 53, heads a sprawling department with roughly 260,000 employees handling immigration enforcement, airport security, disaster response and other matters.

She has been among the more high-profile members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, traveling extensively and maintaining a robust social media presence.

She is often the public face of his mass deportation effort, frequently goes out on immigration enforcement operations and has appeared in commercials encouraging immigrants in the country illegally to voluntarily leave the U.S.

She held a press conference last week in California where U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, was forcibly removed as he tried to speak to Noem about immigration raids. Padilla recalled the incident during an emotional speech from the Senate floor Tuesday.

Homeland Security said the Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the secretary, “thought he was an attacker.” They also accused Padilla of “disrespectful political theater.” Video of the incident shows a Secret Service agent on Noem’s security detail grabbing Padilla by his jacket and shoving him from the room. In the hallway outside he was forced to the ground and handcuffed.

Noem told Fox LA afterward that she had a “great” conversation with Padilla after the scuffle, but called his approach “something that I don’t think was appropriate at all.”

Before being tapped to head Homeland Security, Noem was a two-term governor of South Dakota, a former member of Congress and a staunch Trump supporter.

She has said she specifically asked Trump for the Homeland Security portfolio because she knew it dealt with Trump’s top priorities.

Earlier this year Noem’s purse was stolen on Easter Sunday while she was out to dinner with her family. The purse reportedly contained about $3,000 in cash, her keys, driver’s license, passport and Homeland Security badge. The Homeland Security Department said Noem had cash in her purse to pay for gifts, dinner and other activities for her family on Easter.

A suspect was later arrested in connection with the theft and has been charged in federal court with aggravated identity theft, robbery and fraud.

By Rebecca Santana and Eric Tucker

Georgia Lawmakers agree to study costs of proposed changes to public employee pensions

By
Jeff Dantre
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(Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Lawmakers in Georgia have agreed to begin a study of the costs of numerous changes to pension plans for teachers, police, and other state employees. The AJC reports the House Retirement Committee on Monday agreed to authorize actuarial studies of the costs of eight bills affecting the pensions of various state employees. Once the costs are known, the bills would be considered in next year’s legislative session.

Among the proposals is House Bill 981, which would increase the employee contribution to the Georgia State Employees’ Pension and Savings Plan to 3% of their pay, up from 1.25%. The board that oversees the program would be authorized to set employee contributions as high as 4%. But the payout for employees would also rise to 1.5% of salary for each year of service beginning in July 2026, up from 1% currently.

House Bill 372 would renew a program to rehire public school teachers through 2030, but determine the actual impact of the program. Other proposed changes affect state police officers, legislators, and certain judges.

This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with WUGA

Baby of Georgia woman on life support has been delivered through cesarean section, family says

By
Ross Williams
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Supporters of Adriana Smith, the brain-dead pregnant Georgia woman being kept on life support, released balloons at an event marking what would have been Smith’s 31st birthday on June 15 at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

(Georgia Recorder) — The brain-dead pregnant woman who became a flashpoint in the national debate over reproductive rights and Georgia’s six-week abortion ban has delivered her baby, her family has announced.

Doctors told the family of 30-year-old mother and nurse Adriana Smith she had no chance of recovery after a series of blood clots in her brain left her brain dead in mid February, when she was about two months pregnant. Smith has been kept on life support since then to support the pregnancy.

The baby, Chance, was delivered Friday by emergency cesarean section and taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. Smith’s mother, April Newkirk, told 11Alive News the child was born prematurely weighing one pound 13 ounces.


 

April Newkirk, mother of Adriana Smith, the brain-dead pregnant Georgia woman being kept on life support, serves slices of birthday cake at a somber event marking what would have been Smith’s 31st birthday on June 16 at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Newkirk said she is calling for prayers for her grandson’s safety and health.

“Right now, we don’t know everything, because it’s so early. So they can’t tell everything,” she said. “Prayer changes things. And we just hope and pray that he’s OK.”

Newkirk told 11Alive that her daughter would be taken off life support Tuesday afternoon.

Smith became a flashpoint in the debate over reproductive rights and Georgia’s six-week abortion ban after family told news outlets that doctors told them that while she had no chance of recovery, Smith’s organs would be kept functioning so as not to violate Georgia law.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has said the law does not require such action.

“There is nothing in the LIFE Act that requires medical professionals to keep a woman on life support after brain death,” he said in an earlier statement. “Removing life support is not an action ‘with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy.’”

Newkirk said she is frustrated that Smith sought care for the blood clots that would go on to take her life. She said her daughter was released from the hospital without proper testing.

“All women should have a choice about their bodies. And I think I want people to know that [Adriana] was a nurse, an RN. The same field that she worked in is the same people who failed her. Can you understand what I’m saying? They didn’t go that extra mile, Not even that extra mile. They didn’t even do a CT scan on her. That would have detected it.”

Adriana Smith’s birthday cake, June 16 at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Newkirk was on hand Sunday along with other family members and supporters gathered for a somber celebration of Smith’s 31st birthday at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Several dozen people sang happy birthday and released white balloons into the sky. Smith’s mother helped serve slices of pink strawberry cake in the sanctuary as children laughed and shrieked in play behind the pews.

Smith’s family did not speak to the press and did not mention Chance’s birth at the time, but organizers invited members of the media to a rally in the church sanctuary following the private event.

Well-wishers and activists warded away the Georgia heat with “Black Lives Matter” fans as health care and abortion rights advocates spoke in front of an altar stacked with sunflowers and yellow and white roses between pillars of blue and pink birthday balloons.

Among them was Allison Coffman, executive director of the Amplify Georgia Collaborative, a reproductive rights group.

“Adriana Smith did not mean to die. She knew something was wrong, and she went to the hospital, and she was denied care,” Coffman said. “Unfortunately, this is not a unique story. Pregnant people across Georgia are receiving denied, delayed, and distorted care.”

Georgia Republicans choose new Senate leaders to replace those seeking higher office

By
Jeff Amy
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Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas is the chamber's newly elected majority leader. He succeeds Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) who stepped down from his Senate leadership role because he is running for lieutenant governor. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s Republican state senators chose new leaders Tuesday after rules required the chamber’s former leaders to step down because they’re running for higher office in 2026.

Republicans, who hold a 33-23 majority in Georgia’s upper chamber, nominated Sen. Larry Walker III of Perry as president pro tem and elected Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas as majority leader.

Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Macon stepped down as president pro tem, the second-highest ranking post in the Senate, because he’s running for lieutenant governor.

The full Senate will have to vote on whether to elect Walker when it next meets, which is scheduled to be in January, but Walker will win the office with the support of the majority party. Until then the office will be vacant.

Former Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) is running for lieutenant governor. (Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

Anavitarte becomes the majority leader as of Tuesday because that post only requires a vote of Republicans. He had been the majority caucus chair. Like Kennedy, Sen. Steve Gooch of Dahlonega had to step down because he’s running for lieutenant governor.

Republicans enacted a rule that senators could not hold a leadership position and run for higher office after 2022, when then-President Pro Tem Butch Miller, a Gainesville Republican, ran for lieutenant governor while serving as the chamber’s highest ranking member against Burt Jones, then a senator from Jackson who held no leadership position.

Miller forced votes on a number of bills to try to appeal to Republican voters, making a number of senators uncomfortable, even though Miller and Jones did not come into open conflict on the Senate floor. Miller lost the Republican primary to Jones, who was elected lieutenant governor in 2022.

David Shafer, who served as president pro tem from 2013 to 2018, voluntarily stepped down from the post when he made an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor that year.

Along with the lieutenant governor, Walker and Anavitarte will be steering a chamber where a large number of senators may be seeking higher office. Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta is running for governor and Jones is expected to seek the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp, who can’t run again after two terms.

Five senators have expressed interest in running for lieutenant governor, with Republicans Blake Tillery of Vidalia and Greg Dolezal of Cumming eyeing the GOP race along with Gooch and Kennedy. Sen. Josh McLaurin is running as a Democrat.

Two Republicans are running for attorney general — Sens. Bill Cowsert of Athensand Brian Strickland of McDonough. And Democrat Emanuel Jones has announced he’s running for Congress.

State tax rebates hitting bank accounts

By
Staff Report
-

Georgians are starting to see some bonus bucks roll in—just in time to cover bills or upgrade those summer vacation plans.

Back in April, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that a surplus tax refund was on the way, and now, some taxpayers are finally seeing that promise fulfilled. According to 11Alive, several recipients reported receiving their refunds this week, and social media is buzzing with similar reports. The state expects most payments to be processed between now and June 26.

How much can you expect?

Refund amounts vary based on your filing status:

  • Up to $250 for single filers or those married filing separately

  • Up to $375 for heads of household

  • Up to $500 for married couples filing jointly

Who qualifies?

To be eligible for the Georgia Surplus Tax Refund, you must:

  • Have filed your 2023 and 2024 Georgia Individual Income Tax Returns by May 1, or by Oct. 15 if you filed for an extension

  • Have owed state income taxes for 2023

  • Be a Georgia resident, part-year resident, or nonresident who filed Georgia taxes

Want to check your eligibility?

Visit the Georgia Tax Center at gtc.dor.ga.gov to check your refund status. You’ll need:

  • Your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

  • Your Federal Adjusted Gross Income from your 2023 Georgia tax return (Form 500 – Line 16 or Form 500EZ – Line 4)

So, if you haven’t seen your refund yet, keep an eye on your account—it could be on the way any day now.

Georgia man indicted for threatening U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer

By
Juan Salinas II
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U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. June 6, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN (States Newsroom) — A 25-year-old Georgia man was arraigned Monday in Atlanta on charges of making threats across state lines against Texas Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, federal prosecutors announced.

A federal grand jury last week indicted Robert Davis Forney, of Duluth, Georgia, for allegedly leaving voicemails at Fischer’s office and Cruz’s. Prosecutors say he threatened “sexual violence” against both senators, Cruz on Jan. 9 and Fischer on Jan. 10. Authorities say Forney left multiple voicemails threatening “sexual violence” against Cruz and his family.

“Threatening our elected officials and their families is an act of violence that undermines our entire democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, who oversees federal prosecutions in north Georgia. “Political discourse and disagreements never justify resorting to vile attacks against our nation’s leaders.”

The Justice Department prosecution comes on the heels of the successful manhunt that ended Sunday for a Minnesota man who allegedly assassinated a Minnesota lawmaker and shot another.

The increase in political violence follows a 2024 in which violent threats against lawmakers reached a record high for the second consecutive year.

President Donald Trump, a Republican, survived two assassination attempts during his bid to return to the White House. This year, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, had an arsonist attack the Governor’s Mansion, and two Israeli Embassy staffers were killed in Washington, D.C.

A Fischer spokesperson said Tuesday that threats to lawmakers are common and that U.S. Capitol Police took appropriate action on the matter. The FBI and Capitol Police are investigating.

“The senator appreciates Nebraskans’ concerns and their kind words,” the Fischer spokesperson said. “She is continuing to do her job on their behalf.”

Congressional staffers in recent years have reported increases in the number of angry calls from the public. Most calls from the public to congressional representatives and senators are answered by young staffers who are often college-aged.

“Targeting public officials with threatening messages is a serious federal crime,” said Paul Brown, the FBI Atlanta special agent in charge. “There is no place for political violence or threats of violence in the United States. We will not hesitate to arrest and charge others who engage in similar criminal conduct.”

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