NewsChat: Daily Podcast with Jack Norton – News 1/9/25
Woman Uses Hot Takis for Arson, Bank Robber Waits in Lobby for Cops, Stuck Driver Follows GPS To Ski Run
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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Woman Uses Hot Takis for Arson
This is NewsChat: your source for the Truth in today’s news. Today is Thursday, January 9, 2025 and I’m your host Jack Norton from JackAndKitty.com.
In a bizarre case out of Missouri, Patricia Faye Williams, 43, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to arson. What makes this so strange?
Well, in 2023, Williams set fire to a Greene County home using Hot Takis tortilla chips. I guess she took the ‘hot’ in hot takis literally.
Witnesses reported seeing Williams pour gasoline in the laundry room and ignite the chips before tossing the flaming bag onto the gasoline-soaked clothes.
Fire investigators confirmed the use of gasoline as an accelerant and even conducted a test showing Takis chips could support a flame due to their high grease content.
Williams initially pleaded not guilty but changed her plea before her trial began in January 2025.
She admitted to purchasing $2 of gasoline and was captured on surveillance video making the purchase.
After the fire, Williams was arrested and held in jail without bond, facing multiple charges.
Her actions now leave her with a 12-year sentence for the arson crime.
Friends, this is a tragic example of how unchecked anger, poor decisions, and disregard for others can lead to devastating consequences.
In the Bible, we are called to love our neighbors and seek peace (Matthew 22:39).
Arson, particularly when it endangers lives and property, obviously goes against the command to protect and care for others.
And I’m pretty sure if the Lord had an 11th commandment it would be: Thou Shalt Not Waste Hot Takis, Thou Shalt Give Them to Pastor Jack instead.
Just kidding. Seriously though, Williams’ actions not only caused harm to those affected by the fire but also put her own life in jeopardy.
Scripture teaches about the power of our actions and words, warning us that we will face the consequences of our choices (Galatians 6:7).
While justice is important, the Bible also encourages forgiveness and redemption. Thank God for offering grace and for the possibility of personal transformation. Ok, now I’m hungry.
Bank Robber Waits in Lobby for Cops
A 45-year-old man in Butte, Montana, was arrested after robbing a Wells Fargo bank and then calmly waiting in the lobby for police to arrive.
The suspect entered the bank just before 11 a.m. on January 7, demanded cash from a teller, and was handed money.
Here’s where things get a bit wacky. Instead of fleeing, he stayed inside the bank, prompting employees to call authorities.
When police arrived, the man was arrested without resistance, and there were no weapons involved.
Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester spoke about the unusual situation, noting that the suspect seemed to have second thoughts or possibly felt guilt.
Sheriff Lester said: “He did demand money from the teller originally and took the money, but then… he decided to sit down and wait for police.”
The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Friends, this unusual bank robbery story caused me to reflection on the human condition and the power of conscience.
The suspect’s decision to wait for the police after committing the crime seems to show an inner conflict or a moment of conviction.
The Bible teaches that God’s law is written on our hearts (Romans 2:15), and it’s possible the suspect experienced a moral struggle after carrying out the robbery.
It might be a humorous news story, but it’s easy to imagine how guilt could have set in, leading him to stay put rather than attempt to flee.
In 1 John 1:9, we are reminded that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us.
While this man may not have explicitly confessed, his actions suggest a moment of self-awareness or remorse.
Even in moments of failure, God’s grace offers forgiveness, and we are called to extend compassion and hope to others, knowing that we all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Stuck Driver Follows GPS To Ski Run
A Colorado driver found himself in an unexpected situation when he followed GPS directions to Keystone Resort and ended up with his car stuck at the bottom of a ski run.
The Audi hatchback was stranded overnight at the popular ski run, about an hour outside of Denver.
The driver, who had left a note on the windshield, went skiing the next day, while someone else called the sheriff’s office.
Since the car wasn’t blocking a road, no citation was issued.
Friends, this story offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of using the wisdom and discernment that God has given us.
While technology like GPS and Siri can be incredibly helpful, it’s crucial that we don’t blindly rely on these tools without using our own judgment and common sense.
God has gifted us with the ability to think critically and make wise decisions in every situation, and that includes navigating unfamiliar places.
Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding.
This doesn’t mean we disregard technology, but it reminds us to use it wisely and not let it override our ability to assess and make decisions.
As Christians, we are called to balance the convenience of modern technology with God-given wisdom, ensuring we don’t let it replace our ability to think and act responsibly.
So the next time GPS leads you off the road and on to a ski run, take a Bible break or at least – say a quick pray to the man with the ultimate roadmap.
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 day today – as for me, I’m off to buy some hot takis, but I will avoid gasoline. 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 producted 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.
By the way, I forgot to tell you, I ordered a chicken and an egg from Amazon – and I’ll let you know.
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