NewsChat: Daily Podcast with Jack Norton – News 1/27/25
Girl Vanishes at Motel 6, Phone-Addicted Mom Charged After Toddler Drowns, Brother Kills Sister
WINONA, MN – Tune in daily to NewsChat, the podcast that brings you the truth in news. Hosted by Jack Norton, this show delivers honest, straightforward reporting on the day’s top stories, paired with a thoughtful, sensible take. Presented by the Jack and Kitty News Network in association with Voices of Faith Ministries, NewsChat keeps you informed with clarity, integrity, and honest insights. Stay updated with news that matters and perspectives that guide.
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Girl Vanishes at Motel 6
This is NewsChat: your source for the Truth in today’s news. Today is Monday, January 27, 2025 and I’m your host Jack Norton from JackAndKitty.com.
A 12-year-old girl from Minnesota, Jae’ana Payne, has been missing for over two weeks.
Authorities say she left home on January 9 and was last seen at a Motel 6 in Roseville.
Jae’ana is described as being five feet tall, weighing 85 pounds, with long black braided hair and brown eyes. She’s black.
At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a red hoodie with black writing, jeans, and UGG boots.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has issued an appeal for public assistance in locating her.
As the search for Jae’ana continues, authorities are urging anyone who might know anything to contact the West St. Paul Police Department at 651-322-2323 or dial 911.
This heartbreaking story calls for a response grounded in faith and hope.
As Christians, we are reminded of God’s deep concern for the lost, reflected in Jesus’ parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one sheep that has gone astray (Luke 15:4).
Just as the shepherd tirelessly searches, we too should lift Jae’ana Payne in prayer, asking for her protection and safe return, while also supporting efforts to locate her.
In moments like this, we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering comfort and encouragement to the family and joining in the search in any way we can.
Proverbs 31:8 urges us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
This means standing together as a community, advocating for Jae’ana, and trusting that God’s light will shine even in the darkest situations.
Phone-Addicted Mom Charged After Toddler Drowns
A heartbreaking case out of Texas has led to the indictment of Jessica Weaver, a 35-year-old mother from Indiana, nearly two years after the drowning of her 3-year-old son, Anthony.
The tragedy occurred in May 2023 at Camp Cohen Water Park in El Paso, Texas.
Witnesses claim Weaver was engrossed in her phone and failed to supervise her son, who was in a 4-foot-deep pool without a life jacket.
Despite efforts by lifeguards to save him, Anthony was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Weaver has been charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, with prosecutors alleging she ignored waterpark rules, failed to stay in the water with her son, and neglected to provide or seek CPR.
Weaver has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of El Paso and the water park, blaming their staffing and lifeguard training. Keep in mind witnesses saw her glued to her phone, filming TikToks and ignoring her child completely.
3 years old. I can’t even right now. I mean, what am I supposed to say right now?
Aren’t you just sick of stories like this? Stories like this make me want to stop doing thjis show. Are you like me? Sometimes do you just want to escape from it all?
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Friends, I can’t believe this story of the mom so selfishly glued to her phone that she could neglectfully allow her precious little three year old boy to drown at a water park! A water park, I mean, come on – that’s a sanctuary for family fun!
I see this story as a powerful warning about the consequences of neglecting the sacred responsibility of parenthood.
The Bible teaches us that children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3), entrusted to parents to nurture, guide, and protect.
When that trust is broken through selfishness or inattention, the results can be devastating. The actions described in this story should stir righteous indignation.
Friends, this world is full of distractions—phones, entertainment, and personal pursuits—but woe to those who let these things take precedence over their God-given responsibilities of protecting and parenting the innocent lives of children.
Brother Kills Sister and Asks Mom for Hug
A Wyoming man, 26-year-old Vincent Hackett, has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting his sister, 33-year-old Haleigh Martinez, during a heated argument.
The incident occurred on January 20 at their family home in Gillette.
Police say Hackett shot Martinez in the face after locking her out of the house during a confrontation about her lifestyle.
After the shooting, Hackett reportedly approached his mother, saying, “Give me a hug, because I’m going to jail.”
Martinez was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries.
Hackett is being held on a $750,000 cash-only bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 30.
This story is a sobering reflection on the consequences of anger and broken relationships.
The Bible teaches us in James 1:19-20 to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
When anger is left unchecked, it can lead to destructive actions that deeply harm others and ourselves.
As Christians, we are called to pursue peace and reconciliation within our families, even when relationships are strained.
While justice must take its course, we should also pray for healing for the family and for all involved to find redemption and peace in Christ.
Thanks for listening to NewsChat – now if the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll see you again tomorrow morning. I hope you have a great Monday – I love Mondays. It’s a fresh start. Every day is truly a gift, so use it wisely, friends. Remember, Jesus loves you and you deserve to feel good today! Take care.
NewsChat is a co-production from the Jack and Kitty News Network and Voices of Faith Ministries, visit us at JackAndKitty.com. Have a news tip, prayer request or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@jackandkitty.com. NewsChat is written and produced by my wife Kitty Norton, with additional research by our team of news reporters Maria Garcia, Todd Johnson, Thomas Miller and Emma Smith. It is recorded and hosted by me, Jack Norton and edited by Todd Johnson. Music composed and performed by Jack and Kitty Norton.
Finally, what do you call a broken can opener? A can’t opener.
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