Shark Scoop- December 15, 2025

Isabela Rangel
1 day ago
4 min read

BY: ISABELA RANGEL / MANAGING EDITOR

Shark Scoop is a weekly roundup of five stories that examine developments in local, national, and global news, as well as a top headline in entertainment and sports.

High Influx of Flu Cases in New York City

The New York Times has reported an alarming amount of flu cases in the past month, reaching around 10,000 laboratory-reported cases of the illness by November.

New York City, as well as surrounding areas in Long Island and New Jersey, have been experiencing some of the highest levels of flu-like illness in the United States. Recent statistics from the New York State Department of Health show a spike in nearly 1,400 flu hospitalizations across the state in just the last week.

These reports come after an unusual rise in cases from the previous 2024-2025 season, with the CDC classifying last year “high severity” for the first time since 2017.

Despite the viruses’ rapid spread, health officials suggest vaccinations as the best preventative measure, assuring that it is never too late to get this season’s flu shot.

“It’s never too late to get vaccinated,” confirmed Dr. Bruce Farber, who works with the Northwell Division of Infectious Diseases. “It may not prevent you from getting the flu, but it has shown good efficacy in preventing you from being hospitalized, preventing you from dying,” Farber said.

Mass Shooting at Brown University, Killing Two Students

The gunman responsible for a mass shooting at Brown University on December 13 remains at large after killing two students and injuring nine others in a lecture hall during their finals week.

Authorities have released footage of the shooter in the days following the attack, releasing several clips on Monday of an individual in all black walking down the street moments before the attack. A person of interest was detained early in the case, but has since been released, as evidence now points in a different direction, according to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

The gunman opened fire in a classroom around 4 p.m. at the eastern end of Brown’s campus. Students Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov were killed in the attack, with another student in critical condition in a hospital. Seven other students injured are now in stable condition, while another has since been discharged from the hospital.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, this shooting brings the year’s number of mass shootings in the US to a staggering 389 cases.

Suspect Charged for Bondi Beach Shooting in Australia

The surviving Bondi Beach shooting suspect was charged on Wednesday with 59 offenses, according to Australian officials.

Naveed Akram, 24, was charged after carrying out what is alleged to be an Islamic State-inspired attack on a Hanukkah celebration with his father, Sajid Akram. Sajid Akram was shot by responding police officers and died at the scene. Naveed Akram was in critical condition, also shot by police, and stabilized in the hospital before receiving his charges.

The two attackers opened fire on the crowd at around 6:47 p.m., just after fatally shooting two people who attempted to stop one of the gunmen from exiting his car with the weapon. As they moved towards the crowd, a courageous bystander is shown in the video tackling one of the gunmen and disarming him. Footage of the attacks later shows one of the gunmen being shot dead by officials, while the other shooter continues to fire from a nearby bridge. At 7:37 p.m., police announced that two people were in custody at the scene.

Later that night, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared the shooting a terrorist incident, calling it “an act of pure evil.”

Among the 59 charges included terrorism, 15 counts of murder, and 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

Rob And Michelle Reiner Found Dead In Their California Home

Actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, were found dead in their home Sunday night in what appeared to be a stabbing, according to investigators.

The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested hours after the Reiners were found and charged on Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder for the killing of his parents.

Rob Reiner was a celebrated Hollywood actor and director, contributing to films like Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), and When Harry Met Sally.. (1989). Reiner met his wife, Michelle, while directing When Harry Met Sally, and the two got married in 1989.

Jake Paul To Take On Former Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua

Internet personality and boxer Jake Paul is set to face off against former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a match held at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Friday Night.

Paul’s journey into the UFC world of fighting is one questioned by many, with his record of 12 wins and 1 defeat called “somewhat misleading” by CNN Sports, after pointing out that Paul’s fights are often against former UFC fighters who are past their prime. Others believe that there is very little chance of Paul defeating the two-time unified heavyweight champion.

The event will be aired exclusively on Netflix, similar to another one of Paul’s highly publicized matches against Mike Tyson, which brought in around 108 million viewers to the site.