NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-05-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. The late President Jimmy Carter is lying in repose in Atlanta this weekend. Marissa McKee of member station WABE was there when the former president's motorcade arrived in the state capitol. Under a cold setting sun, the 282nd Army Band processes in front of the Carter Presidential Center. This is the last stop for the state crossing motorcade that departed Saturday morning from Americus, Georgia.

In a circle of flags outside the Carter Center, Carter's casket, draped in an American flag, is lifted out of the hearse and carried inside by family and pallbearers. The president's grandson, Jason Carter, told mourners that it was important to stop at the Carter Center. While we mourn my grandfather's passing, I know in my heart, and you all do, that his

legacy will live on. Members of the public are able to see the president lie in repose in Atlanta until Tuesday. For NPR News, I'm Marissa Mecki in Atlanta. The six-day public funeral for Carter will take his casket from the Carter Center in Atlanta to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol ahead of Thursday's service at the Washington National Cathedral. On Bourbon Street in New Orleans last night, people gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the New Year's truck attack that killed 14 people, 30 others were injured, President

Biden planning to be in New Orleans tomorrow. Intentional vehicular attacks like the one that killed 14 in New Orleans this week are not new, but as NPR's Emma Bowman reports, they become a more frequent tactic used by terrorist groups and individuals in major Western cities. Emma Bowman Some cities have put up barriers to defend urban centers from such attacks. But New Orleans police say the suspect drove around the temporary barricades that were in place. The attack has been a wake-up call for both public safety officials and private companies, said Brian Stevens with consultancy Tenio.

He helps businesses mitigate these kinds of threats. I am hearing from a lot of clients and a lot of partners that they have the need to revisit what they've done in the past. University of Iowa law professor Greg Schill says reducing car dependency in cities could help, but that even modest proposals to pedestrianize a street are often met with fierce opposition. He says it's a complex problem with no cut and dried solution. Emma Bowman, NPR News. Amid a renewed push to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, protesters gathered outside Israel's defense ministry last night for their weekly rally calling for the release

of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Yair Moses was there and he's holding out hope that his father will be returned to him. So we really hope that the delegation that went to the conversation will get to some agreement and we'll see all the love ones as soon as possible. Yesterday Hamas released a video showing an Israeli hostage appearing to speak under duress. This is NPR News. The East Coast is preparing for a winter storm that's already socked the central U.S. with snow and damaging ice accumulations.

The National Weather Service warning of dangerous travel conditions, widespread tree damage and power outages. Overseas winter weather in the UK and the Netherlands has forced several major airports to suspend flights. Jeff Baino has died. The film director, screenwriter and husband of actress Aubrey Plaza was found dead at his home in Los Angeles. He was 47 years old. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports that the LA Police Department is investigating the cause of his death. Jeff Boehner's family has not confirmed the filmmaker's death, but a medical examiner's

death certificate lists a man with Boehner's name and date of birth dying at a residence in Hollywood. According to a spokesperson for the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office, the cause and manner of death have yet to be determined. Boehner is best known for directing indie films like The Little Hours and for co-writing I Heart Huckabees. He frequently collaborated with actress and producer Aubrey Plaza. The long-time couple got married in 2021. Plaza has not yet publicly commented about the death. Boehner was born in Miami in 1977. He graduated from New York University and worked for filmmakers Robert Zemeckis and David O. Russell. Chloe Veltman, NPR News. New York City's new

program aimed at easing traffic now in effect. The program charging most drivers nine dollars to enter the busiest part of Manhattan during the day went into effect at midnight last night following years of bureaucratic and legal roadblocks. The money raised by the toll is to go toward improving the city's mass transit systems. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.