NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2025 6PM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2025

NPR News: 01-03-2025 6PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The newly Republican-controlled Senate has elected its first new party leader in nearly 20 years. NPR's Claudia Grisales reports South Dakota GOP Senator John Thune was overwhelmingly supported by his colleagues. Congress began a new term today, the first step in shifting full control in Washington to the GOP. In the Senate, newly elected Majority Leader John Thune is the GOP's first new leader in the upper chamber since 2007.

That year, his predecessor Mitch McConnell took over as Republican leader, stepping down from that role this year. Thune, the former longtime Senate Republican whip, is considered a moderating voice in the party and has been on the other side of debates from President-elect Donald Trump numerous times. However, Thune endorsed Trump late in the presidential race last year and has become a growing ally to the incoming president. Claudia Grisales, NPR News.

New York Judge Juan Marchand said today he'll sentence President-elect Donald Trump January 10th, just days before his inauguration. Earlier this year, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records in order to pay hush money to an adult film star. Trump's lawyers had argued the case should be thrown out. Prosecutors suggested Marchand delay Trump's sentencing till after he leaves office. Family and friends are mourning an 18 year old college student killed in the New York's day attack in New Orleans. Brooke Thorrington of Member Station WRKF has more from Baton Rouge.

Kareem Badawi had just finished his first semester at the University of Alabama and was home for winter break. His loss is devastating to his loved ones. break, his loss is devastating to his loved ones. His cousin Malik Bedoui spent all of Wednesday searching for him before they found out he was among the 14 people killed in the attack on Bourbon Street. Waiting in the hospital for hours on end was really tough with his father and his mom. The second we heard the news, nobody could say anything. It was just so sad and it was horrible.

The mosque opened its doors to everyone to honor Badawi and comfort his family. For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thorington in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Thordy's learning more about the highly decorated soldier who shot himself in the head inside a fireworks and fuel-laden Tesla cyber truck outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel. 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger was apparently trying to send a message. Las Vegas Assistant Sheriff Dory Corn pointing to writings left behind by the suspect. This was not a terrorist attack. It was a wake-up call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives? Authorities say Livelsberger shot himself shortly before the vehicle burst into flames.

Seven people in the immediate area suffered minor injuries. On Wall Street, the Dow was up 339 points. This is NPR. Alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of cancer linked to about 20,000 cancer deaths per year. That is based on a new warning from the U.S. Surgeon General. Imperator's Allison Arby reports the warning comes as scientists weigh changes to current guidelines. More than two-thirds of adults in the U.S. report having at least one drink or more per

week. But Surgeon General Vivek Morthy says what many don't realize is that alcohol can increase the risk of breast and colorectal cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus and liver. The science has been building for years, creating greater and greater certainty about more and more types of cancer. The precise amount of alcohol that may increase a person's risk is not clear. It's linked to a range of factors,

including genetics and family history. Current U.S. guidelines recommend no more than one drink a day for women, two for men. A review of the evidence underway now could lead to revisions later this year. Alison Aubrey, NPR News. Much like the every 10-year census done here in the U.S., the London Zoo is conducting its head count,

though theirs is annual, and it counts critters. Each year the zoo counts every mammal, bird, reptile and invertebrate from alpacas to zebras to get an accurate idea of the different kinds of animals it has. According to the London Zoo's private keeper, last year was a massive year for the zoo, with two baby gorillas and three Asiatic lion cubs born there. There were also 11 new penguin chicks along with a number of other animal additions. Crude oil prices moved higher today, oil up 83 cents a barrel to $73.96 a barrel in New York.

I'm Jack Spear in PR News in Washington.