NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-01-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: January 1, 2025

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Noor Ram, NPR News. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Ram. A pickup truck drove into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans earlier this morning during a New Year's celebration. Police say at least 10 people were killed and at least 35 others were injured. Police Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick says this was not an accident. It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace and it was very intentional behavior.

This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could. It was not a DUI situation. This is a more complex and more serious based on the information we have right now. Police have not provided any information yet on the suspect or emotive. The FBI has now taken charge of the investigation. On New Year's Day, many new laws take effect across the country. Twenty-one states are raising the minimum wage, affecting more than nine million people. It's estimated now a third of workers live in states

with a minimum wage of $15 an hour or more. Many states don't have a minimum wage at all. The federal minimum is $7.25 an hour. New laws are now in effect in California, designed to curb crime in the state. Megan Miskofsky with CAP Radio reports from Sacramento. Together, the new California laws make it easier to combine similar crimes and charges, even across jurisdictions.

They also raise penalties for felonies, including for damage done during retail theft. And they make it a crime to break into an unlocked car and add new requirements for third-party sellers on websites like Amazon. Democrats proposed many of the new crime laws after a measure increasing penalties and treatment requirements for theft and drug-related crimes made it to the ballot. That passed with 70 percent of voters in support. For NPR News, I'm Megan Meyskofsky. There is no end in sight to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza that began nearly 15 months ago with Hamas's ambush of southern

Israel. The New Year has brought more attacks between Hamas and Israel. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv. At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, air raid sirens wailed in southern Israel as Hamas fired two rockets across the border. They caused no damage or injuries. Hamas said it was avenging Israeli strikes killing civilians.

Israel's military ordered residents of a part of central Gaza to evacuate, warning it would strike where rockets had been fired. On New Year's Day, Israeli strikes have killed more than a dozen people, including children, according to Gaza health officials. There were some New Year's Eve parties in Israel where there's an attempt at normalcy

despite Israeli hostages held in Gaza. In the Palestinian city of Ramallah, the New Year mood was muted because of the war. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News in Washington. Chief Justice John Roberts issued his annual report on the judiciary yesterday. He said the courts are under threat from intimidation, disinformation, and the possibility of defiance from public officials. He said the other branches of government must be willing to enforce even unpopular decisions. Roberts also noted an increase in violent threats and online intimidation directed at judges. The moon may be getting a lot of visitors from Earth in 2025. As Joe Palca reports, several missions are set for launch in the next two months.

The missions include landers, rovers, and orbiters. Firefly Aerospace has a lander mission called Blue Ghost. It's carrying several payloads, including Lunar Planet Vac, a device that will suck up lunar dust. Intuitive Machines expects to send its second lander to the moon. The first attempt in 2024 was a partial success, although the lander apparently tipped over shortly after touching down. The rocket carrying the lander is also set to deliver Lunar Trailblazer into lunar orbit. That mission will map and characterize the water on task for members of the House is to elect a speaker. President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

The new Congress convenes Friday. The first task for members of the House is to elect a speaker. President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana. The new Congress convenes Friday. The first task for members of the House is to elect a speaker. President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana to continue to wield the gavel. But it's unclear if Johnson has secured enough votes to be elected.

I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.