NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-01-2025 3PM EST

Episode Date: January 1, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The FBI is calling the deadly truck attack in New Orleans' French Quarter an act of terrorism and now says the driver of that truck likely did not act alone. 42-year-old Shamsuddin Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, has been identified by the FBI as the suspect. He died in a shootout with police after authorities say he killed at least 10 people and injured 35 more by plowing his Ford pickup into pedestrians at high speed at around three o'clock in the morning. Here's FBI Special Agent in Charge Aletha Duncan.

We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible. We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates. That's why we need the public's help. We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates. That's why we need the public's help. We are asking if anybody has any interactions with Samsood Dimjavar in the last 72 hours that you contact us. The FBI is asking the public's help. We're asking anyone who has information, video or pictures to provide it to the FBI. Agents say they found an ISIS flag attached to the truck hitch, along with weapons and a potential explosive device.

Additionally, they say other IEDs were found in the French Quarter. Officials have now postponed college football's Sugar Bowl game between the University of Georgia and Notre Dame, which was to be played at the Superdome just a few blocks away. Minimum wage hikes take effect in 21 states today. NPR's Andrea Shue has the latest on wages in the U.S. The latest states to hit a $15 minimum wage are Delaware, Illinois, and Rhode Island. The new wage floors there and elsewhere are expected to raise the wages of more than 9 million people, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Women make up almost 60 percent of workers getting raises

on January 1st. Hispanic workers make up more than a third. Most full-time minimum wage earners are expected to earn about $400 more per year. Researchers say the additional earnings are meant to ensure workers don't lose ground as prices rise. But in many states, including those that follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, workers don't have that protection. Andrea Hsu, NPR News. Texas drivers no longer need to get an annual vehicle safety inspection. Pablo Arroz-Pena with member station KERA reports it's part of a new legislation the governor signed into law. Now it's up to the driver, not the state, to keep up with maintenance. Sergeant Billy Ray is with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

We urge people to still take care of their vehicles, still check your tires, make sure your brakes are working, headlights, tail lights, and mirrors are still safe before you drive. Emissions tests are still required in the most populous and fastest growing Texas counties. That's because the air quality in those counties doesn't meet the federal standards set by the EPA. I'm Paolo Arauspeña in Dallas. This is NPR News.

Russia hit Ukraine's capital, Kiev, early today with a drone attack that killed one person and injured six others while setting an apartment building on fire. This as Ukrainians brace for the new year. NPR's Brian Mann reports. Kiev's anti-aircraft weapons began to fire just before dawn as the buzz of Russian drones could be heard overhead. Russian attacks like this one have been part of daily life for Ukrainian civilians for nearly three years. 24-year-old Yaroslav Meschkov says he's not hopeful for peace in 2025. I think I don't have a lot of hopes.

Maybe that Ukraine will be existing next year and that will be great and that my friends will be alive. More young Ukrainians are being recruited to fight in the war as the country tries to remedy a desperate shortage of soldiers. Russia's army is making gains along the Eastern Front. Brian Mann, NPR News, Kyiv. Poland today assumes the presidency of the European Union for the next six months. Security is a top priority. Poland is seeking to add new sanctions to increase European economic pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine. The new Congress convenes this week. Speaker

of the House Mike Johnson is bidding for another term as speaker, but the margin is tight and he'll need his GOP majority to stick together. Earlier this week, President-elect Trump endorsed Johnson for the speakership in the 119th Congress. One of the first tasks of the new Congress will be to certify the results of the 2024 presidential election. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.