NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2025 7AM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. The new session of Congress opens today. The first task of the House is to choose a new speaker. And it's not clear current speaker Mike Johnson has enough support from fellow Republicans to be reelected. President-elect Trump has endorsed Johnson, but NPR's Claudia Grisala says that might not be enough. It's clearly a test for this new membership, especially House Republicans, and whether they will face

the same dysfunction, the same intra-party fighting that dominated the last Congress. And it's also a test of the influence Trump will exert over these members. In his endorsement of Johnson, he noted that this should get done quickly so Republicans can also quickly get to the work on a very long to-do list. And Piers Claudia-Crisales reporting. The FBI now says the man believed to have driven into crowds of people in New Orleans early on New Year's Day acted alone. Fourteen people were killed at the incident and dozens of others were injured.

Authorities say the driver also planted other explosive devices around the area. He fired at police, wounding two of them before officers returned fire and killed him. Authorities say the Bourbon Street area is now safe for people to return. From member station WWNO, Hallie Parker has more. Less than two days after the attack, live music sounded from local bars and clubs and tourists quickly started to return. 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. Alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of cancer in the U.S., according to a new

advisory from the Surgeon General. NPR's Allison Aubrey tells us 72 percent of U.S. adults report consuming one or more drinks per week. Alcohol use contributes to about 100,000 cancer cases per year and about 20,000 cancer deaths. The Surgeon General's report finds many people are not aware of the direct links between alcohol and cancer risk, though there's now evidence demonstrating a causal relationship for at least seven types of cancer, including breast cancer in women, as well as colorectal, esophagus, liver, mouth, and throat cancers. The more people drink, the higher the risk, though the risk of breast cancer may start

to increase with one or fewer drinks per day. Current guidelines recommend no more than one drink a day for women, two for men. Alison Aubrey, NPR News. On Wall Street in pre-market trading, Dow futures are higher. You're listening to NPR. A vast winter storm is brewing for much of the U.S. The National Weather Service has posted storm advisories, warnings, and watches from Washington State across the Central U.S. to Pennsylvania. People in several areas will get a lot of snow and the coldest temperatures felt in years.

In Hawaii, dozens of people are recovering after they were injured in an illegal fireworks explosion at a home near Honolulu. Some people will be transferred to hospitals on the mainland for more treatment of burns. Hawaii Public Radio's Pixie Clay has more. People were gathered to ring in the New Year when a lit bundle of aerial fireworks fell into its side and shot into nearby crates of illegal fireworks,

which set off the explosion just after midnight. Two women were pronounced dead at the scene. A third woman later died from her injuries. Some two dozen adults and several juveniles were transported to multiple hospitals by EMS in critical or serious condition with burns and shrapnel injuries. An unknown number of people with minor injuries were brought to hospitals via private vehicles. Honolulu Police Department's bomb unit recovered additional fireworks that did not explode from the home. For NPR News, I'm Pixie Clay in Honolulu. News reports say the union for dock workers on the East and Gulf coasts will resume contract

talks next Tuesday with operators of ports and with ocean carriers. The union went on strike last year for three days. Part of the dispute was resolved with a wage hike of 62 percent over six years. But both sides are at odds over automation. If there's no agreement, it's possible another strike could start January 15. This is NPR.