NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-01-2026 4PM EST

Episode Date: January 1, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Investigators are working to identify the victims of a fire during a New Year's Eve party at a ski resort in the Swiss Alps. About 40 people are believed to have perished. More than 100 were injured. Local resident Samuel Rapp was outside the bar where the fire erupted. It's not that big, so I think it was difficult to escape from the place. Police say the fire appears to have been an accident. New York City has a new mayor, the city's first Democratic Socialist and Muslim mayor.

The public inauguration ceremony for Zaramam Dani comes hours after he was officially sworn in privately in an abandoned subway station. NPR's Katie Riddle reports. In advance of Zoranamadani swearing in, several other public officials took oaths, including public advocate Jammani Williams. The longtime activist spoke of a new day for New York City, but also said the nation is suffering under the federal effort. to deport unauthorized immigrants. When this celebration at City Hall is only blocks from tribulation at Federal Plaza, when the relief that these families are still un-united comes as so many are being separated.

And this sense of contradiction carries across the five boroughs. This is a city of enormous wealth and enduring poverty. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York made the opening remarks. She spoke of New Yorker's courage in ambition. Katie Iriddle in PR News. Momdani also faces heavy scrutiny from Republicans working to secure wins in key races this midterm election year, warning against what they've described as the harms of a Democratic progressive agenda. New Year, new laws in New York, Governor Kathy Hokel said health insurers would be required to cover medically necessary epipens and cap out of pocket costs at $100 a year, breast cancer screening and imaging end, the cost of scalp cooling systems to reduce hair loss during chemo. In Colorado, parents of babies in the NICU will get more paid time off.

In California, ride-share drivers can unionize. President Trump's expanded travel ban is now in effect. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports from Tel Aviv. Many Palestinians will no longer be able to obtain a U.S. visa. The State Department says it will reject visas for anyone using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. There are some narrow exceptions, according to a fact sheet posted online. Valid visas issued before 2006 will remain valid, and some Palestinian diplomats and athletes may be exempted. Liberal Jewish organizations in the U.S. have been urging the Trump administration to reverse a move that they say will delegitimize the Palestinian Authority and undermine diplomacy.

The U.S. blocked the Palestinian Authority president from attending the U.N. General Assembly, last year. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News. Hundreds of thousands of families are beginning the new year facing a freeze in federal funding for child care. The Trump administration suspended assistance in the wake of allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota daycares amplified by conservative influencers viral video. Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who was seeking re-election this year, alleges President Trump is politicizing the issue to defund programs for low-income individuals. The U.S. Postal Service is warning voters and taxpayers that postmarks won't necessarily reflect the day that letters and parcels are first mail.

NPR's Windsor Johnston reports the new system could affect whether bills, ballots, and tax returns are considered on time. USPS says the official date stamped on mail reflects when it's processed by a sorting machine, not when the Postal Service first receives it. That means letters and payments could be postmarked a day or more after they're sent, depending on pickup and sorting schedules. For decades, the postmark has served as proof that something was mailed on time, especially for bills, legal documents, tax filings, and mail-in ballots. Postal officials say the new language is intended to improve public understanding of postmarks, but critics warn it could create problems leading to late fees, missed deadlines, and confusion, especially in communities that rely heavily

on traditional mail. Windsor Johnston, NPR News. U.S. stock markets are closed this New Year's Day. This is NPR.