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The Short List

Wed Dec 17 2025

Phaedra Trethan | National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hello! I'm Phaedra Trethan, marveling at the immense talent of USA TODAY Network photojournalists. 📸 🤩

In Wednesday's news:

•	A Colorado hockey mom found something amiss at a local youth league. She was shocked at what happened when she reported it.
•	Nick Reiner, accused of killing his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, appeared in court.
•	President Trump initially said a new White House ballroom would cost $200 million. Now his estimate has changed — dramatically.

But first: Is "Home Alone" the ultimate Christmas movie ? (My vote goes to "A Christmas Story," not that anyone asked.) 🎄 📽️ 📺

'This is what happens when you speak up'

Brooke Wilfley, a Denver-area hockey mom, raised concerns that the president of her local youth hockey governing board was secretly routing Colorado Amateur Hockey Association's money through his private company. She reported the mismanagement and conflict of interest — instead, she was threatened with legal action, an investigation and penalties that could affect her kids and their teammates.

In the face of the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association's threats, Wilfley didn't back down. But it cost her: reputational damage, more than $100,000 in legal bills and three years she can't get back.

Brooke Wilfley, a hockey mom who runs a Denver-area hockey club and school, discovered conflicts of interests involving the Colorado Amateur Hockey Association president. When she reported them to the nonprofit board and USA Hockey, she experienced months of legal threats and retaliation.

Michael Ciaglo, for USA TODAY

Reiners' son in court

Nick Reiner, accused in the murders of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Renier, made a brief court appearance Wednesday. His attorney, Alan Jackson, told reporters outside a courthouse on Tuesday that Reiner "has not been medically cleared" to appear in court. When he'll be arraigned, and what the Reiners' other children said about the tragedy.

•	Photos: The Reiner family through the years.
•	Watch: Rob Reiner's most iconic films

Defence attorney Alan Jackson arrives at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Centre, where his client Nick Reiner is set to appear in court after being charged over the death of his parents, director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, in Los Angeles, Dec. 17, 2025.

Daniel Cole, Reuters

Real quick

•	Health crises and caregiving sent this family of five from stability to homelessness. It's a distressingly common occurence.
•	The Oscars are moving away from ABC. Where they'll air indicates the massive shifts taking over entertainment.
•	Hundreds of thousands remain without power in Washington after the region was pummeled by heavy rains and flooding.
•	The FBI hopes new video could provide a break in the pursuit of the Brown University shooter.

Ballroom costs balloon

First it was $200 million. Then $300 million.

Now President Trump said the price of the White House ballroom — whose construction continues despite an ongoing court fight to stop it — will be $400 million, double the initial estimate. Trump says the controversial project will be funded by private donors.

•	In other White House decor news: Trump added some, um, notes to his predecessors' plaques.
•	Watch: The Trump Administration added more countries to its travel ban.
•	A major climate research hub will be dismantled.

The East Wing of the White House is being demolished for the construction of President Donald Trump' s proposed ballroom at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1, 2025.

Annabelle Gordon, REUTERS

Planes, trains and automobiles ✈️ 🚈 🚗

It's almost time to hit the roads, rails and skies for anyone who's going home — or getting away — for the holidays. We've covered a lot of ground to help you plan your trip and save your sanity.

•	The holidays are a time for family! That doesn't make it any easier to travel with them.
•	Watch: Travel tips to keep you calm, cool, collected and kind. 🧘🏽
•	The airports with the most flight delays, and the least. 🛫
•	The best and worst days to drive over the holidays. 🚗 🚙

A break from the news

•	New Yorkers love a good bagel. Alllll of them. 🐀 🥯 🐀
•	Love that song you heard on an Instagram reel or post? Here's how to add it to your playlist. 🎵 🎶 🎵
•	Is it too early to look forward to New Year's Eve? We don't think so. 🎉 🥳

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and what you'd do with $1.25 billion (she certainly has a lot of ideas: a house at the Jersey Shore with a big library, travel, charity, early retirement...) Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.