The Evening: F.B.I. said New Orleans attacker acted alone

Also, Johnson is trying to unite Republicans behind him.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 2, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Thursday. The New Orleans truck attack Johnson's speakership bid Plus, eat better in 2025 Security outside the Superdome in New Orleans today. Edmund D. Fountain for The New York Times Investigators said the New Orleans attacker acted alone The F.B.I. said today that it was confident that the man who plowed a truck into a New Year's crowd in New Orleans, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens more, had no accomplices. The attacker was captured on surveillance video placing explosives in the city's French Quarter, but the explosives never went off, officials said. Investigators identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, of Beaumont, Texas. He served eight years in the military and deployed to Afghanistan. He said in a video posted online that he had joined the Islamic State terrorist group and had originally planned to hurt his relatives and friends. Jabbar was killed in a gunfight with police. Here's what else we know about him. The attack killed a woman set to begin nursing school, a father of two and a former college football player, among others. This is what we've learned so far about the victims. This afternoon, the city sought to move forward. Less than a mile away from the site of the attack, tens of thousands of fans gathered at the Superdome for the rescheduled Sugar Bowl, and observed a moment of silence before the kickoff. Bourbon Street, the location of the attack, reopened and within hours it was buzzing again. "I don't know that the magnitude of the whole thing really sets in yet," a bar owner there said. Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol. Pete Kiehart for The New York Times Mike Johnson is trying to unite Republicans behind him Before Congress can do anything this year — including certify the election results — the House must elect a speaker. That process begins tomorrow, and it might not be easy. Speaker Mike Johnson will probably need the support of almost every Republican to continue in his role, and he's already lost at least one vote. So far, no one appears to be in a position to challenge Johnson, but he is facing resistance from hard-right members of his party. If no one is able to win a majority, the House could face an arduous deadlock. An image provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department of the exploded Tesla Cybertruck. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Driver identified in the truck explosion in Las Vegas The authorities identified the man who was driving a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas yesterday as Matthew Livelsberger, an Army master sergeant who had been on leave from active duty. Officials said Livelsberger shot himself in the head immediately before the vehicle was engulfed by fire. The F.B.I. said it had not found a connection between the explosion and the truck attack in New Orleans early on New Year's Day. The police are still working to determine exactly what happened, and what the motivation was for the episode, which injured seven people. Here is what we know so far. A gathering in Tel Aviv yesterday of Israelis calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza.  Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Gaps persist in Gaza cease-fire talks Last month, officials from Israel and Hamas said that they had made progress toward a deal to end the war in Gaza and free the remaining hostages. Since then, however, it appears the two sides have made little headway, making it more likely that President Biden will leave office without a deal. The future of the talks is uncertain. But a delegation of Hamas negotiators met today with Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss a path to a cease-fire. The Israeli government also said today that it would send a midlevel delegation to attend another round of talks in Qatar. Elsewhere in the region, the Palestinian Authority said that it would temporarily bar Al Jazeera, accusing the broadcaster of "interfering in internal Palestinian affairs." More top news Weather: A burst of Arctic air is expected to cover large swaths of the U.S., bringing colder temperatures starting this weekend. Court: A panel of judges struck down federal net neutrality rules, ending a nearly two-decade effort to regulate internet providers like utilities. Business: Tesla's annual sales fell for the first time in 2024 as the market for electric vehicles became more competitive. Trade: The U.S. is considering a ban on Chinese drones, citing national security concerns. New York: Federal agents searched the home of Jeffrey Maddrey, the former chief of department for the New York Police Department. Politics: President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 people, including the former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney. Kenya: A half-ton piece of space junk fell onto a village, causing no injuries but frightening residents. Alcohol: Officials in other countries are warning about its health hazards, but Americans are still told that moderate drinking is safe. TIME TO UNWIND Andrew B. Myers Five days to help you eat better in 2025 Ultraprocessed foods are commonly defined as anything made with artificial flavors and dyes. Scientists have linked them to health issues like heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and depression. If you're interested in figuring out what's in these foods, and how to cut back on them, my colleagues on the Well desk can help. Starting on Monday, they are kicking off a week of evidence-based tips to better understand ultraprocessed foods. Don't worry. This won't require a dramatic overhaul of your diet. You can sign up for the five-day challenge here. Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. James Mangold/Searchlight Pictures What do Dylanologists think of his new biopic? James Mangold's new film, "A Complete Unknown," traces the dramatic early years in the career of one of American pop culture's most enduring yet perplexing figures: Bob Dylan, played by Timothée Chalamet. We asked two Dylan experts what they thought of the movie. "I was pleasantly surprised," one said. Josefina Santos for The New York Times Dinner table topics A big shift: Zoe Saldaña, the star of "Emilia Pérez," is done holding herself back. 20 years of "Places to Go": We looked back at two decades of The Times's annual travel list. Cash crop: A growing cadre of American farmers are cultivating saffron for profit, or simply pleasure. Upcoming art: Our critics shared what they're most looking forward to in 2025. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: This Italian wedding soup is comforting and easy. Watch: Here are 27 shows to look forward to this winter. Read: "The Waiting Game" tells the vivid story of the women who served Henry VIII's queens. Listen: Check out the tracks our classical music critics are listening to. Plan: These European exhibitions are worth traveling for in 2025. Gaze: Sync your calendar with the solar system. Hunt: Which New York rowhouse would you buy with a $3 million budget? Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. ONE LAST THING Craig Bernard for The New York Times London's rowdiest winter party? It's all about darts. For the past few weeks, thousands of rollicking fans have poured into a Victorian-era venue in London to witness the World Darts Championship. For many, it has become a beloved holiday tradition: The beer flows freely, the mood is celebratory and the crowd wears costumes — nuns, bananas, traffic cones and more — to support the players through a bit of humor. But it's not just a giant party. Professional darts has transformed over the last two decades from a pastime practiced in musty pubs by middle-aged men to an international phenomenon. Have a high-spirited evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. 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