Top stories of 2025 year in review

The year 2025 is nearly at its end, and what a year it has been. We’ve seen tragedy, triumph, terror and celebration all within the last 12 months. We look back on the highs, lows and everything in between with the top stories of the year.JANUARYDC Midair CollisionOn Jan. 29, 67 people were killed when an Army Blackhawk helicopter collided with a commercial jetliner over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. Victims of the crash included a group of elite young figure skaters, their parents and coaches as well as four steamfitters from the Washington, D.C.-area.It was the nation’s deadliest aviation disaster in nearly a quarter century.A final report from the National Transportation Safety Board is not expected until 2026, but there likely will not be one single cause identified for the crash.Trump begins second termPresident Donald Trump returned to the White House on Jan. 20, becoming the first commander-in-chief sworn-in to a second non-consecutive term since Grover Cleveland in 1893.Within hours of taking the oath of office, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders, starting at his inauguration parade.He began signing executive orders and presidential actions onstage at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., as thousands of supporters cheered, melding the theatrics of his campaign rallies with the formal powers of the presidency. Among his orders was a freeze on the issuing of new regulations, asserted his control over the federal workforce and withdrew from the Paris climate agreement.New Orleans Terror AttackOn New Year’s Day, 14 people were killed and 35 people were injured after a man drove a truck into a crowd at Bourbon and Canal streets in New Orleans.After hitting the crowd, the 42-year-old suspect got out of the car and began firing at law enforcement. Shots were returned by law enforcement and the suspect was killed at the scene.The attack killed an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two and a former Princeton University football star, among others.FEBRUARYPlane flips onto Toronto runwayAlthough 21 people were injured, all 80 people on board a passenger jet survived a terrifying plane crash in February in Toronto.The passenger jet made a hard landing before it lost a wing, burst into flames and flipped onto its roof at Toronto’s airport. The jet’s alert system indicated a high rate of descent less than three seconds before touchdown, a preliminary report by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board said the following month.Deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy ArakawaHollywood mourned one of its giants in February when investigators said Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead in their New Mexico home. The 95-year-old acting icon and his 63-year-old wife, a pianist, were found in different rooms.The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s, the New York Times reported in 1989. Their causes of death were revealed the following month.MARCHWhat killed the Hackmans?Ten days after the couple was found dead in their home, authorities publicly confirmed what led to their deaths. Arakawa died from hantavirus a full week before Hackman died of heart disease. Authorities said the actor also showed severe signs of Alzheimer’s Disease and that he may not have been aware of his wife’s death. Trump executive orders on educationPresident Trump signed an executive order on March 20 to begin dismantling the Department of Education. During a White House ceremony for the signing, the president blamed the department for America’s lagging academic performance.The president campaigned on abolishing the department, claiming it has been overrun by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists” pushing a “woke agenda.” He has also expressed support for states assuming more responsibility for education.Deadly Spring stormsUnusually vicious and damaging weather across multiple U.S. states spawned violent tornadoes, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires in mid-March, leaving at least 39 people dead.APRILThe death of Pope FrancisPope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff, died on April 21 at the age of 88.The Vatican said Francis died of a cerebral stroke that put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.On Easter Sunday — one day before his death — Francis blessed thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treated them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause.Deadly shooting at Florida state Two people were killed and six others were wounded when a gunman opened fire at Florida State University on April 18. Police said a 20-year-old suspect — the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy — was shot and taken into custody.MAYThe election of Pope LeoCatholic cardinals broke with tradition on May 9 and elected the first American-born pope. Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost became the 267th pontiff to lead the Catholic Church.Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order who spent his career ministering in Peru, took the name Leo XIV.In his first words as Francis’ successor, uttered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo said, “Peace be with you,” and emphasized a message of “a disarmed and disarming peace” dialogue and missionary evangelization.The costs of eggsEgg prices in April fell by more than a dollar for the first time in months. Consumer Price Index data for the month shows the average price of dozen Grade A eggs was $5.12 in April, compared to a record high $6.23 in March. While the average price of eggs fell 12.7%, the steepest decline was in 2023.JUNEMinnesota lawmakers targetedA man who authorities say posed as a police officer and fatally shot a Democratic state lawmaker in her home in what Gov. Tim Walz called “a politically motivated assassination.” Authorities said the suspect also shot and wounded a second lawmaker.Democratic former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin address, about 9 miles away.A suspect was eventually captured and faces federal and state charges.Death of Anne BurrellCelebrity chef Anne Burrell was found dead in her New York home on June 17. The Food Network star was 55. Burrell was a legendary chef but was best known as one of the Food Network’s most popular stars, having appeared in several of the network’s series including “Worst Cooks in America,” “Iron Chef America,” “Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell” and “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” among many others.JulyDeadly flooding in TexasTwo 8-year-old sisters from Dallas who had just completed 2nd grade. A beloved soccer coach and teacher. An Alabama elementary school student away from home. These were a few of the dozens of victims lost in flash floods that devastated central Texas in July.The flooding originated from the fast-moving waters of the Guadalupe River, killing more than 100 people. Death of Hulk HoganHulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his cultural influence far beyond the ring, died on July 24 in Florida at age 71. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon.AugustThe Trump-Putin summitThe much-anticipated August summit between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin began with a warm welcome and a flyover by screaming jets at a U.S. military base in Alaska but ended with a thud after they conceded that they had failed to reach any agreements on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war. After about 2 1/2 hours of talks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, the two men appeared before reporters for what had been billed as a joint news conference — but they took no questions.Putin, welcomed into the U.S. after being shunned by Western allies since early 2022 for ordering the invasion of Ukraine, thanked Trump for hosting the meeting and suggested with a chuckle that the next time the two sit down it could be in Moscow.Minneapolis Catholic school shootingTwo children were killed and 17 people were injured when a shooter opened fire during Mass at a Catholic school in Minneapolis during the first week of classes. Fourteen of the injured are children.The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.SeptemberThe Assassination of Charlie KirkCharlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 at a Utah college event.The assassination drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.A 22-year-old suspect was arrested after a manhunt. He faces a charge of aggravated murder and is expected to go on trial in May. Pennsylvania police officers ambushedFive police officers were shot, and three of them were killed while serving a warrant at a farm on Sept. 23. The Northern York County Regional Police Department says the three slain officers — Det. Sgt. Cody Becker, 39; Det. Isaiah Emenheiser, 43; and Det. Mark Baker, 53 — worked for their department.The suspect later died during a shootout with law enforcement.OctoberFederal Government ShutdownThe federal government was thrown into a shutdown on Oct. 1, as Democrats held firm to their demands to salvage health care subsidies that President Trump and Republicans in Congress have dismissed as something to possibly discuss later.The shutdown magnified partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions — including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers — to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands.The Republican president blamed the situation on Democrats and suggested voters shouldn’t reward the party during next year’s midterm elections.After a record 43 days, Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks.Death of Diane KeatonThe Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” films and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation died on Oct. 11 at the age of 79.A family statement said Keaton died from pneumonia. She charmed generations for decades thanks in part to a longstanding collaboration with filmmaker Nancy Meyers.She played a businessperson who unexpectedly inherits an infant in “Baby Boom,” the mother of the bride in the beloved remake of “Father of the Bride,” a newly single woman in “The First Wives Club,” and a divorced playwright who gets involved with Jack Nicholson’s music executive in “Something’s Gotta Give.”Tennessee factory plant blastA massive blast at a Tennessee explosives plant killed 16 people, leveled the building and was felt more than 20 miles away began in an area where workers used kettles to produce a mixture of explosives and set off other explosives stored nearby.The Oct. 11 explosion left a smoldering wreck of twisted and charred metal and burned-out vehicles at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant, which supplies and researches explosives for the military.November14 killed in UPS plane crashA UPS plane crashed at Louisville’s international airport on Tuesday, causing an explosion, dangerous plumes of smoke and a sprawling fire. Three pilots on the plane were killed along with 11 more people on the ground near Muhammad Ali International Airport.Federal investigators said there was evidence of cracks in the left wing’s engine mount.Listeria-contaminated pasta recall Nine different ready-to-eat pasta dishes sold at popular grocery chains have been recalled due to Listeria contamination.The recalled products have been found in 18 states and are linked to six deaths, 25 hospitalizations and 27 illnesses.DecemberBrown University shootingTwo people were killed, nine were injured when a gunman opened fire inside an auditorium-style classroom on the campus of Brown University. The two victims killed were identified as freshman student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, and sophomore Ella Cook.A days-long manhunt led to the discovery of the suspected gunman, who took his own life inside a storage facility in New Hampshire. Authorities also tied the suspect to the shooting death of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor earlier in the week. Bondi Beach massacreA 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor and a young French national were among at least 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire on families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, an attack that police have declared a terrorist incident. Those killed were aged between 10 and 87 years old. It was Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. One gunman, a 50-year-old man, was fatally shot by police. The other shooter, his 24-year-old son, was wounded and was being treated at a hospital. He was later charged with 15 counts of murder and dozens of other offenses. Killing of Rob Reiner The son of a comedy giant who became one himself as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation with movies such as “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” he was fatally stabbed along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner in their home on Dec. 14.The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, faces murder charges in the deaths of his parents.The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report

The year 2025 is nearly at its end, and what a year it has been. We’ve seen tragedy, triumph, terror and celebration all within the last 12 months. We look back on the highs, lows and everything in between with the top stories of the year.

JANUARY

DC Midair Collision

On Jan. 29, 67 people were killed when an Army Blackhawk helicopter collided with a commercial jetliner over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

Victims of the crash included a group of elite young figure skaters, their parents and coaches as well as four steamfitters from the Washington, D.C.-area.

It was the nation’s deadliest aviation disaster in nearly a quarter century.

A final report from the National Transportation Safety Board is not expected until 2026, but there likely will not be one single cause identified for the crash.

Trump begins second term

President Donald Trump returned to the White House on Jan. 20, becoming the first commander-in-chief sworn-in to a second non-consecutive term since Grover Cleveland in 1893.

Within hours of taking the oath of office, Trump signed a flurry of executive orders, starting at his inauguration parade.

He began signing executive orders and presidential actions onstage at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., as thousands of supporters cheered, melding the theatrics of his campaign rallies with the formal powers of the presidency. Among his orders was a freeze on the issuing of new regulations, asserted his control over the federal workforce and withdrew from the Paris climate agreement.

New Orleans Terror Attack

On New Year’s Day, 14 people were killed and 35 people were injured after a man drove a truck into a crowd at Bourbon and Canal streets in New Orleans.

After hitting the crowd, the 42-year-old suspect got out of the car and began firing at law enforcement. Shots were returned by law enforcement and the suspect was killed at the scene.

The attack killed an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two and a former Princeton University football star, among others.

FEBRUARYPlane flips onto Toronto runway

Although 21 people were injured, all 80 people on board a passenger jet survived a terrifying plane crash in February in Toronto.

The passenger jet made a hard landing before it lost a wing, burst into flames and flipped onto its roof at Toronto’s airport.

The jet’s alert system indicated a high rate of descent less than three seconds before touchdown, a preliminary report by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board said the following month.

Deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

Hollywood mourned one of its giants in February when investigators said Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead in their New Mexico home. The 95-year-old acting icon and his 63-year-old wife, a pianist, were found in different rooms.

The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.

Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s, the New York Times reported in 1989.

Their causes of death were revealed the following month.

MARCHWhat killed the Hackmans?

Ten days after the couple was found dead in their home, authorities publicly confirmed what led to their deaths.

Arakawa died from hantavirus a full week before Hackman died of heart disease. Authorities said the actor also showed severe signs of Alzheimer’s Disease and that he may not have been aware of his wife’s death.

Trump executive orders on education

President Trump signed an executive order on March 20 to begin dismantling the Department of Education. During a White House ceremony for the signing, the president blamed the department for America’s lagging academic performance.

The president campaigned on abolishing the department, claiming it has been overrun by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists” pushing a “woke agenda.” He has also expressed support for states assuming more responsibility for education.

Deadly Spring storms

Unusually vicious and damaging weather across multiple U.S. states spawned violent tornadoes, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires in mid-March, leaving at least 39 people dead.

APRILThe death of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff, died on April 21 at the age of 88.

The Vatican said Francis died of a cerebral stroke that put him into a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.

On Easter Sunday — one day before his death — Francis blessed thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treated them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause.

Deadly shooting at Florida state

Two people were killed and six others were wounded when a gunman opened fire at Florida State University on April 18. Police said a 20-year-old suspect — the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy — was shot and taken into custody.

MAYThe election of Pope Leo

Catholic cardinals broke with tradition on May 9 and elected the first American-born pope. Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost became the 267th pontiff to lead the Catholic Church.

Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order who spent his career ministering in Peru, took the name Leo XIV.

In his first words as Francis’ successor, uttered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo said, “Peace be with you,” and emphasized a message of “a disarmed and disarming peace” dialogue and missionary evangelization.

The costs of eggs

Egg prices in April fell by more than a dollar for the first time in months. Consumer Price Index data for the month shows the average price of dozen Grade A eggs was $5.12 in April, compared to a record high $6.23 in March. While the average price of eggs fell 12.7%, the steepest decline was in 2023.

JUNEMinnesota lawmakers targeted

A man who authorities say posed as a police officer and fatally shot a Democratic state lawmaker in her home in what Gov. Tim Walz called “a politically motivated assassination.” Authorities said the suspect also shot and wounded a second lawmaker.

Democratic former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin address, about 9 miles away.

A suspect was eventually captured and faces federal and state charges.

Death of Anne Burrell

Celebrity chef Anne Burrell was found dead in her New York home on June 17. The Food Network star was 55.

Burrell was a legendary chef but was best known as one of the Food Network’s most popular stars, having appeared in several of the network’s series including “Worst Cooks in America,” “Iron Chef America,” “Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell” and “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” among many others.

JulyDeadly flooding in Texas

Two 8-year-old sisters from Dallas who had just completed 2nd grade. A beloved soccer coach and teacher. An Alabama elementary school student away from home. These were a few of the dozens of victims lost in flash floods that devastated central Texas in July.

The flooding originated from the fast-moving waters of the Guadalupe River, killing more than 100 people.

Death of Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his cultural influence far beyond the ring, died on July 24 in Florida at age 71.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon.

AugustThe Trump-Putin summit

The much-anticipated August summit between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin began with a warm welcome and a flyover by screaming jets at a U.S. military base in Alaska but ended with a thud after they conceded that they had failed to reach any agreements on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

After about 2 1/2 hours of talks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, the two men appeared before reporters for what had been billed as a joint news conference — but they took no questions.

Putin, welcomed into the U.S. after being shunned by Western allies since early 2022 for ordering the invasion of Ukraine, thanked Trump for hosting the meeting and suggested with a chuckle that the next time the two sit down it could be in Moscow.

Minneapolis Catholic school shooting

Two children were killed and 17 people were injured when a shooter opened fire during Mass at a Catholic school in Minneapolis during the first week of classes. Fourteen of the injured are children.

The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

SeptemberThe Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 at a Utah college event.

The assassination drew bipartisan condemnation, but a national reckoning over ways to prevent political grievances from manifesting as deadly violence seemed elusive.

A 22-year-old suspect was arrested after a manhunt. He faces a charge of aggravated murder and is expected to go on trial in May.

Pennsylvania police officers ambushed

Five police officers were shot, and three of them were killed while serving a warrant at a farm on Sept. 23.

The Northern York County Regional Police Department says the three slain officers — Det. Sgt. Cody Becker, 39; Det. Isaiah Emenheiser, 43; and Det. Mark Baker, 53 — worked for their department.

The suspect later died during a shootout with law enforcement.

OctoberFederal Government Shutdown

The federal government was thrown into a shutdown on Oct. 1, as Democrats held firm to their demands to salvage health care subsidies that President Trump and Republicans in Congress have dismissed as something to possibly discuss later.

The shutdown magnified partisan divisions in Washington as Trump took unprecedented unilateral actions — including canceling projects and trying to fire federal workers — to pressure Democrats into relenting on their demands.

The Republican president blamed the situation on Democrats and suggested voters shouldn’t reward the party during next year’s midterm elections.

After a record 43 days, Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night, ending a record 43-day shutdown that caused financial stress for federal workers who went without paychecks, stranded scores of travelers at airports and generated long lines at some food banks.

Death of Diane Keaton

The Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” films and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation died on Oct. 11 at the age of 79.

A family statement said Keaton died from pneumonia.

She charmed generations for decades thanks in part to a longstanding collaboration with filmmaker Nancy Meyers.

She played a businessperson who unexpectedly inherits an infant in “Baby Boom,” the mother of the bride in the beloved remake of “Father of the Bride,” a newly single woman in “The First Wives Club,” and a divorced playwright who gets involved with Jack Nicholson’s music executive in “Something’s Gotta Give.”

Tennessee factory plant blast

A massive blast at a Tennessee explosives plant killed 16 people, leveled the building and was felt more than 20 miles away began in an area where workers used kettles to produce a mixture of explosives and set off other explosives stored nearby.

The Oct. 11 explosion left a smoldering wreck of twisted and charred metal and burned-out vehicles at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant, which supplies and researches explosives for the military.

November14 killed in UPS plane crash

A UPS plane crashed at Louisville’s international airport on Tuesday, causing an explosion, dangerous plumes of smoke and a sprawling fire. Three pilots on the plane were killed along with 11 more people on the ground near Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Federal investigators said there was evidence of cracks in the left wing’s engine mount.

Listeria-contaminated pasta recall

Nine different ready-to-eat pasta dishes sold at popular grocery chains have been recalled due to Listeria contamination.

The recalled products have been found in 18 states and are linked to six deaths, 25 hospitalizations and 27 illnesses.

DecemberBrown University shooting

Two people were killed, nine were injured when a gunman opened fire inside an auditorium-style classroom on the campus of Brown University.

The two victims killed were identified as freshman student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, and sophomore Ella Cook.

A days-long manhunt led to the discovery of the suspected gunman, who took his own life inside a storage facility in New Hampshire.

Authorities also tied the suspect to the shooting death of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor earlier in the week.

Bondi Beach massacre

A 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor and a young French national were among at least 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire on families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, an attack that police have declared a terrorist incident.

Those killed were aged between 10 and 87 years old. It was Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.

One gunman, a 50-year-old man, was fatally shot by police. The other shooter, his 24-year-old son, was wounded and was being treated at a hospital. He was later charged with 15 counts of murder and dozens of other offenses.

Killing of Rob Reiner

The son of a comedy giant who became one himself as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation with movies such as “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” he was fatally stabbed along with his wife Michele Singer Reiner in their home on Dec. 14.

The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, faces murder charges in the deaths of his parents.

The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report