"Maybe it was fate"

Gabrielle Giffords gets a "little bit better every day," Mark Kelly tellsNational Prayer Breakfast

Houston-based astronaut Mark Kelly told an audience at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., this morning that his wife, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, "gets a little bit better" every day.

While his wife recovers in Houston at The Institute of Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR), Kelly said he had found inspiration in her "miraculous" survival after she was shot in the head in front of a Tucson supermarket on Jan. 8.

"The last month has been the hardest of my life and the hardest time of my family's life," Kelly said. "We're not the only ones... The shooting has cost other families dearly. Gabby's community in Tucson, my community in Tucson, the people of Tucson are suffering deeply - but suffering together."

Kelly went on to say that he didn't believe the tragedy was a random one, and that he had shared that newfound belief with his recovering wife.

During the event's closing prayer, Kelly said of the tragedy, "Maybe it was fate."

Although he didn't go into detail about the speed or scope of Giffords' recovery, he said that "Every day, she gets a little better. That's a great sign, the slope of that curve is very important."

President Obama was the featured speaker at the breakfast, where he offered a rare glimpse into his faith and offered prayers for the United States as well as the people of Egypt.

Watch President Obama touch on his personal faith:

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Sobering statistic

Texas ranks as one of the deadliest states for New Year’s crashes

Courtesy

Be sure to arrange a safe ride home on New Year's Eve.

At more than 314,000 miles, Texas boasts the largest system of public roads among the 50 states. It also holds the unfortunate distinction of being one of the deadliest states for New Year’s car accidents.

An analysis of 2014-2023 traffic data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows Texas is the ninth worst state for traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

During the 10-year period covered by the analysis, commissioned by AutoAccident.com, Texas tallied 280 traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — the highest total of any state. The 280-person toll in Texas works out to 9.61 deaths per one million residents, a rate that’s 37 percent above the national average of 6.99 deaths per one million residents.

The analysis reveals that nearly three-fourths (64 percent) of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traffic deaths in Texas were drivers, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) were pedestrians, and 16 percent were passengers.

“New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights on American roads,” says Edward Smith, managing attorney at AutoAccident.com, a personal injury law firm.

“With impaired driving incidents spiking during holiday celebrations, every driver has a responsibility to make smart choices that protect themselves and others sharing the road,” Smith adds. “Even in states with strong safety records, one preventable death is too many.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 2,000 drunk driving-related crashes happened during the 2024 holiday season. Last year, December ranked as the No. 1 month in Texas for wrecks caused by drunk drivers.

“The holidays are a wonderful time to be with family, and yet they can also be a painful reminder for those who have lost loved ones to preventable crashes,” says Marc Williams, executive director of TxDOT. “Let’s make a new holiday tradition to drive like a Texan: kind, courteous, and safe. That means always getting a sober ride.”

TxDOT offers these four tips for staying safe on the roads as the calendar switches from 2025 to 2026:

Designate a sober driver before the celebrations start.
Ask a sober relative or friend to pick you up if you’re too tipsy to drive.
Use public transit or rideshare services.
Stay off the roads until you’ve sobered up.

traffic fatalities crime holidays new year's day new years eve traffic