NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-05-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

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Okay, so does this sound like you? You love NPR's podcasts, you wish you could get more of all your favorite shows, and you want to support NPR's mission to create a more informed public. If all that sounds appealing, then it is time to sign up for the NPR Plus bundle. Learn more at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Members of the military saluted as the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter arrived by motorcade in Atlanta on Saturday. The former president will lie in repose at the Carter Center until Monday morning.

As Sophie Grotus with Georgia Public Broadcasting reports, it marks the beginning of six days of observances for Carter, who died last week at the age of 100. Over the next week, the funeral procession for former President Carter will make stops in Washington, D.C., before Carter's remains are returned to Georgia. Robin Thomas was one of several National Park Service employees dispatched to Plains on the first day of the funeral. She was directing traffic, a small role, but something she says will stick with her for years to come. He's got a lot of people that work for him and care about him and care about this town and care about what he cared about. I'm really, I'm just proud to be just a

small part of it. Run by the Park Service, the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park includes the former president's Boyhood Farm and longtime residence where Carter will be buried on January 9th. For NPR News, I'm Sophie Gradas in Plains, Georgia. The largest joint military base in the nation is increasing security in the wake of attacks that occurred on New Year's Day in New Orleans and Las Vegas. Texas Public Radio's Jerry Clayton has more on that story. The Pentagon has suspended the Trusted Traveler program, which allowed some vehicles to pass through security gates at military installations without undergoing normal security screens.

A social media post from Joint Base San Antonio states that 100 percent ID checks will be enforced for all personnel and visitors entering any JBSA location. All vehicle occupants must show ID. The suspension of the Trusted Traveler program affects several military bases in the U.S. and comes in the wake of two attacks, one in New Orleans and another in Las Vegas on New Year's Day. Both were carried out by persons connected to the U.S. military.

JBSA employs around 90,000 military and civilian personnel. I'm Jerry Clayton in San Antonio. The National Weather Service says a major storm is bringing heavy snow and ice to much of the central and eastern U.S. right now. The snow is going to be pretty impactful over the next several days. We do expect an axis of snowfall totals of 6 to 12 inches stretching anywhere from Eastern Kansas, Northern Missouri, Eastward across parts of Southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, Northern Kentucky, Southern Ohio into the DC Baltimore area and it's going to be

pretty impactful. Travel will be very difficult. It's not impossible across those areas. That's Bob Orvec, he's a lead forecaster at the National Weather Service. The storm is already affecting portions of the central U.S. with a winter storm warning now in effect in Kansas City and the surrounding areas. That whole region was hit by freezing rain on Saturday. You're listening to NPR News. You're listening to NPR News. Yet another round of peace talks are getting underway in Qatar. The US, Egypt and Qatar are trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Gaza's health ministry, meanwhile, says at least 59 people have been killed in the past 24 hours in fighting in Gaza.

Hospital staff in Gaza say Israel's latest attacks have killed 21 people. Residents of Santa Cruz are celebrating the reopening of their wharf two weeks after record swells battered the California coast and sheared off 150 feet of the wooden pier. Nick Altenberg from Member Station KQED reports. The wharf was bustling with people just hours after reopening Saturday. The nearly half-mile pier is important for the local economy and beloved by locals. The section that broke off was in the middle of repairs stemming from damage caused by last winter's storms.

Norm Daley is one of three workers who were inspecting the repair work when nearly 20-foot waves picked up the end of the pier and tore it off. He says the effects of climate change present a challenge for the city. I think the wharf is is well suited to survive most impacts. It's hard to tell exactly what those impacts are going to be, but in the moment the wharf is 100% safe. City leaders say the wharf may need to be reimagined with climate change top of mind. For NPR News, I'm Nick Altenberg in Santa Cruz, California. As a term in office nears an end, President Joe Biden bestowed the top of mind. For NPR News, I'm Nick Altenberg in Santa Cruz, California. As his term in office nears an end, President Joe Biden bestowed the

Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 people on Saturday. It's the nation's highest civilian honor. Among those receiving the award were former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actor Denzel Washington, and musician Bono. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.