NewsChat: Daily Podcast with Jack Norton – News 12/27/24
Abandoned Christmas Baby, Gender Lawsuit Shuts Restaurant, Tennessee’s Demonic Bridge
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.
Listen to Today’s Broadcast
Abandoned Christmas Baby
This is NewsChat: your source for the Truth in today’s news. Today is Friday, December 27, 2024 and I’m your host Jack Norton from JackAndKitty.com.
On Christmas morning, a baby boy, around a month old, was found abandoned in a car seat on a road in Denver, Colorado. The baby, wearing only a diaper, was discovered in a median by a 911 caller who stopped to help. The infant was then taken to Children’s Hospital Colorado as a precaution. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office released photos of the car seat, including a tag indicating it was “for display only,” and appealed to the public for tips. Detectives also reviewed nearby surveillance footage during their investigation.
Later that day, the sheriff’s office confirmed it had made contact with the baby’s family. By evening, the parents, 42-year-old Jarvis Sims and 33-year-old Christina Thurman, were charged with felony child abuse. The sheriff’s office thanked the community for its quick response and help in sharing information, which played a key role in the investigation. The case remains under investigation.
What happened to this baby is heartbreaking, and it calls attention to the immense responsibility parents have to care for their children. The Bible makes it clear that children are a gift from God, as Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” Abandoning a child goes against that sacred trust and the love God commands us to show.
As Christians, we’re called to protect the vulnerable, something Jesus emphasized when He said in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” This abandonment is the opposite of the care and protection we are meant to provide. It’s a situation that calls for prayer, not only for the child’s healing but for the parents as well, that they may seek forgiveness and restoration.
Gender Lawsuit Shuts Restaurant
Lima Restaurant, a family-owned Peruvian eatery near Oakland, California, is closing its doors after a costly gender discrimination lawsuit over its weekly “Ladies Night” promotion. The promotion, which offered women half-price drinks, led to a lawsuit filed last year, claiming the discount was discriminatory.
Owner John Marquez explained that the legal fees from the case, combined with rising operational costs, have financially crippled the business, forcing it to shut down on New Year’s Eve after nearly a decade of service.
Most are not happy with closure, with many loyal patrons arguing that the promotion was harmless and didn’t discriminate against men. Similar lawsuits have targeted other businesses, including the Fresno Grizzlies minor league baseball team, highlighting the legal risks of gender-targeted promotions.
From a sensible Christian perspective, the closure of Lima Restaurant over a “Ladies Night” promotion is a clear example of government overreach and an unnecessary attack on small businesses. The promotion was designed to serve women, offering them discounted drinks in a positive and harmless way. To see a family-owned, mom and pop restaurant forced to shut down because of this lawsuit seems outrageous, especially when it’s clear there was no intent to discriminate against anyone.
Christians understand that businesses should treat all people with fairness and respect, but this lawsuit is a perfect example of how legal systems can be misused. Instead of focusing on real issues, it targets harmless actions, putting unnecessary strain on small business owners. Sometimes laws, meant to protect people, can be weaponized and used to drive businesses out of business. It’s a reminder that, occasionally, the focus on “equality” can result in damaging outcomes that harm good, hardworking Americans.
Tennessee’s Demonic Bridge
And now for something a bit spooky. Drummond Bridge in Briceville, Tennessee, is notorious for its chilling reputation as one of the most haunted places in the state. The abandoned railroad trestle, dating back to the 1800s, gained its eerie status due to its dark history.
In 1893, during the tumultuous Coal Creek War, Richard Drummond, a miner, was hanged on the bridge after killing a soldier. The war had begun as a dispute over miners’ wages, and tensions escalated when the Tennessee Coal Mining Company hired convict labor. After Drummond’s execution, stories spread that his ghost haunted the bridge, with reports of him pacing the trestle at midnight and gasping for breath.
The bridge’s haunted reputation has only grown over time, attracting paranormal investigators and curious visitors. Strange occurrences persist, including animals avoiding the area and people claiming to hear unsettling noises or see Drummond’s ghost. Despite its dilapidated state, Drummond Bridge remains a chilling reminder of Tennessee’s violent past and the restless spirits that seem to linger there.
With its chilling tales of ghostly apparitions and eerie occurrences, Drummond Bridge might seem like a spooky curiosity for some. But as believers, we must take a closer look at the spiritual forces at work.
The Bible makes it clear that we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities of the unseen world (Ephesians 6:12). The spirits that reportedly haunt Drummond Bridge are not just echoes of the past—they are demonic forces that thrive on fear, pain, and confusion.
The Bible does not leave room for “friendly ghosts” or lingering souls of the departed. Instead, it warns us about the dangers of dabbling in the supernatural. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, God explicitly commands His people to avoid practices which open the door to demonic influence. When people engage with haunted places, they are often unknowingly inviting dark forces into their lives, and these forces can deceive, torment, and even possess.
As Christians, we are called to confront evil in the name of Jesus Christ. The Bible assures us that the name of Jesus holds ultimate authority over every demonic force. No spirit, no matter how terrifying or powerful it may seem, can stand against the might of our Savior (Luke 10:19). So, while the stories surrounding Drummond Bridge may send shivers down our spines, they should also remind us that the battle for our souls is real—and Jesus has already won it. Instead of fearing the unknown, we must be vigilant in prayer, calling on the name of Jesus to protect us from the forces of darkness that still roam the earth.
In the end, the true victory is not found in the thrill of ghost-hunting or the terror of haunted places—it is found in the peace that comes from knowing Christ is with us, guarding us against all evil, and reminding us that death and the grave have no power over those who are in Him.
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 weekend – be sure to enjoy the last few days of 2024, it’s been a great year – and I know 2025 will be even more abundant for us all. 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 Kitty Norton, with additional research by our 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, here’s something for you to think about: why can’t hedgehogs just share the hedge?
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
We value your feedback! Did you find this article informative, inspiring, or thought-provoking? Leave a comment below and join the discussion. We appreciate your opinion and look forward to hearing from you!
