NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2025

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DALE WILMAN, NPR NEWS ANCHOR, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST,

HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, HOST, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Keith Self of Texas were nos. That triggered a series of negotiations off the floor extending the time for this first-round ballot to more than an hour before Johnson was finally able to flip Self and Norman to yeses, sealing the deal. Family and friends are mourning an 18-year-old college student killed in the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans. Brooke Thornton, a member station WRKF, reports from a prayer service at a mosque in 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. 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. But the second we heard the news, nobody could say anything. It was just so sad. 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. Defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton will pay the federal government nearly 16 million dollars to settle fraud allegations. Texas Public Radio's Paul Flaff has more on that story. Prosecutors said Booz Allen used civilian government contractors to obtain confidential bidding and competitor proposal information to rig the bid in their favor for a flight simulator contract. In 2023, a San Antonio-based Air Force contractor, Kevin Seguin, was sentenced to 15 years in prison over the scheme. He took bribes to influence $100 million in contracts

over 10 years, said investigators. At least three others have been found criminally responsible for the fraud, including two Booz Allen Engineering Services program managers. The mega defense contractor admitted no legal liability in this settlement. It's at least the second settlement

over False Claims Act's violations for the company that agreed to pay nearly $400 million to the government in 2023. I'm Paul Flavin, San Antonio. The National Weather Service says a strong snow and ice storm will hit the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. this weekend. They say a polar vortex will reach as far south as Florida, and after that hits, the forecasters say the region will face brutally cold temperatures for the rest of the week during which daytime temps could be as much as 25 degrees below

normal the Dow finished up 339 points on Friday the S&P 500 up 73 points this is NPR News new car sales have finally surpassed pre-pandemic levels. New vehicle sales rose 2.7 percent in 2024. They were spurred on by lower prices and interest rates. And industry analysts say discount offers, including rebates and low-interest financing, should grow this year. Automakers sold almost 16 million vehicles last year. Team USA will face the Czech Republic in the semi-finals of the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney later today as Kristina Kukolia reports the winners will take on Kazakhstan or Poland in

the final. The US eliminated Team China to reach the United Cup semi-final in Sydney. Leading the charge against Czechia are the top seeded pair of Coco Goff and Taylor Fritz who won the mixed teams tournament in 2023. Leading the charge against Czechia are the top-seeded pair of Coco Goff and Taylor Fritz who won the mixed teams tournament in 2023. Women's world number three Goff will take on world number 22 Karolina Mokova, followed by the men's world number four Fritz against Tomas Mahac, ranked 25th in the world in the second singles match of the evening. All four are scheduled to play a deciding doubles match. The Czechs are in fine form after cruising past tennis powerhouse Italy in the quarterfinals but Team USA remain the favorites to retake the title. For

NPR News, I'm Christina Kukalja in Melbourne Australia. Max Brosmer threw for 211 yards in a touchdown Friday night and Elijah Spencer had six catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns as Minnesota beat Virginia Tech 24 to 10 that extends Minnesota's bowl winning streak to 8. In Dallas meanwhile Jordan McLeod threw for 307 yards in the touchdown as Texas State held off North Texas 30 to 28. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.