Good evening. We begin with breaking news at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island: multiple people were shot and at least two people were killed while students were taking final exams. The campus was put on lockdown and shelter-in-place orders were in effect as police searched an engineering and physics building. Authorities described the suspect preliminarily as a male dressed in black; as of broadcast no suspect was in custody and local, state, FBI and ATF investigators were working the scene. University officials said the attack wounded additional people who were hospitalized. Community leaders and university administrators asked for prayers for the families of the victims as the investigation continued.
Overseas, the Pentagon reported a deadly ambush in Palmyra, Syria: a lone gunman attacked a joint patrol and killed two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian working as an interpreter; three U.S. service members were wounded. U.S. officials said the attacker may have been an ISIS infiltrator who had joined a local security force; U.S. forces engaged and killed the attacker. President Trump pledged retaliation, and Pentagon spokespeople said U.S. troops in Syria were conducting counter-ISIS and counterterrorism operations as part of an international coalition.
In aviation news, a United Airlines Boeing 777 bound for Tokyo returned to Dulles Airport after losing an engine during takeoff. The aircraft dumped fuel and landed safely after about 44 minutes in the air. Emergency crews responded to small brush fires near the runway. No injuries were reported and passengers deplaned normally. The FAA opened an investigation into the engine failure; aviation experts stressed that long-haul jets are certified to handle single-engine operations.
Severe weather affected much of the country. A blast of Arctic air from Canada brought single-digit temperatures and dangerous wind chills, prompting winter alerts across parts of the Midwest and East. Meteorologists warned some locations could see wind chills near 40 below zero. In the Pacific Northwest, record rains triggered catastrophic flooding, widespread evacuations and aerial rescues. Washington state declared a state of emergency after rivers reached record heights; tens of thousands remained under evacuation orders. Officials warned more storms could arrive, hampering cleanup and raising fresh flood and landslide risks.
At home, the Heisman Trophy went to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who became the first player from Indiana University to win the award honoring college football’s top player.
On the slopes, 41‑year‑old Lindsey Vonn nearly won again on the World Cup circuit, finishing a close second in the downhill at St. Moritz, Switzerland—remarkable as she skis with a partial knee replacement.
In entertainment and culture, Lionel Messi’s paid appearance in Kolkata, India, drew chaos when he made only a brief on-stage appearance. Thousands of fans, some of whom had paid for tickets, became angry; seats were ripped out and fans stormed the field. Event organizers said the incident was deeply disturbing, and local officials detained the promoter.
We look back and celebrate the career of Dick Van Dyke, who turned 100. The Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-winning performer rose from radio and Broadway to television and film—winning a Tony for Bye Bye Birdie, starring in The Dick Van Dyke Show and dancing across rooftops in Mary Poppins. Van Dyke overcame personal struggles, continued performing into his late 90s, and recently won another Emmy for a guest role. He attributes his longevity to dancing, singing and “just keep moving.”
Also tonight: a review of China’s controversial embassy plans in London, concerns from intelligence officials about security risks tied to a proposed large diplomatic compound; sports and lottery updates, including a Powerball jackpot topping $1 billion; and other national and international headlines.
That is the CBS Weekend News. Good night.
