NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. Bourbon Street in New Orleans has reopened as the investigation into the deadly truck attack on New Year's Day continues. The FBI now says they believe a Texas man who plowed the pickup into crowds of people acted alone. The attack killed 14 people and injured many more. The driver, who was a U.S. Army veteran, was killed by police. Hallie Parker from member station WWNO reports.

Less than two days after the attack, live music sounded from local bars and clubs and tourists quickly started to return. More police are stationed throughout the city's historic French Quarter after officials promised to heighten security. For some, the reopening was more somber. New Orleans native Melvin Jackson

Jr. knew one of the 14 victims. It's still devastating. It's like it's still surreal to have terrorism happen here in little old New Orleans. He walked down to Bourbon Street to pay his respects. For NPR News, I'm Hallie Parker in New Orleans. Congress begins a new term today, the first step in shifting full control in Washington For NPR News, I'm Hallie Parker in New Orleans. Congress begins a new term today, the first step in shifting full control in Washington to the GOP.

In the coming hours, the House is scheduled to vote to elect a House speaker. NPR's Claudia Grisales reports congressional Republicans face their first test after President -elect Trump called on his party to stay on the same page. On the Senate side, South Dakota Republican John Thune is poised to take over as majority leader. In the House, however, Speaker Mike Johnson faces a razor-thin margin and plenty of party infighting that could derail plans for a smooth re-election, even as he carries President-elect Donald Trump's endorsement.

To win, Johnson needs nearly all of his fellow Republicans to vote for him, even a few defections could cost him the gavel. With Democrats all expected to vote no, it could be a replay of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, who saw 15 chaotic rounds of ballots before winning the speakership. Claudia Gonzalez, NPR News. Reporter In South Korea, investigators tried to execute an arrest warrant for the impeached President Yoon Sung-yeol. They were blocked by Yoon's security detail and left after a six-hour standoff. Yoon tried to impose martial law last month. Investigators are looking

into why a small plane crashed into a warehouse in Southern California, killing two people. Fullerton Fire Sergeant Ryan O'Neill says the plane crashed a couple of minutes after taking off from a municipal airport. It was a commercial building that the plane crashed into. There were people working at the time. There was an active fire when the Fullerton Police Department and Fire Department arrived on scene. There were people inside of that building. About 20 of them were hurt. This is NPR News from Washington.

The musical Wicked hasn't just been popular in cinemas over the holidays. NPR's Bob Mandelo reports that attendance at the 21-year-old Broadway show is breaking records. Just over a year ago, Wicked joined a very exclusive Broadway club, shows that had earned four million dollars in a single week. There are only two other members, Hamilton and the Lion King. This year, pumped up by its popular movie version and aided by a nine performance week, rather than the usual eight, the two-decade-old musical became the first Broadway show ever to earn five million dollars in a single week. With premium seating and dynamic pricing, in effect, the average Broadway ticket for

Wicked last week cost a gravity-defying $290. Bob Mandelo, NPR News. Wayne Osmond of the Osmond Brothers has died. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Osman helped pioneer the group of family musicians with a string of hits in the 1970s like One Bad Apple and Love Me For a Reason. Osman was a singer and guitarist and an original member of the Osmonds, performing early on with his brothers in a barbershop quartet. The Osmonds went on to great success and often drew comparisons to the Jackson 5. Osmond died from a stroke. He was 73 years old. I'm Kristen Wright and this is NPR News in Washington.