NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-05-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. All turn! Force! Members of the military saluted as a flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter arrived by motorcade in Atlanta on Saturday, the former president lying in repose at the Carter Center. Sophie Grattis with Georgia Public Broadcasting reports on 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 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. Carter will lie in state at the US Capitol beginning Tuesday evening 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 and injured 30 others. Eric Dels was there.

All these young people who lost their lives and is never gonna get to go home again with their families and it's just painful. Just thank God everybody's coming together and do the right thing. Show their families that people do care even though they don't know them. President Biden is planning to be in New Orleans tomorrow. Authorities still investigating the attacker's motive.

He wounded at least two police officers before he was fatally shot by police in an exchange of gunfire. Major winter storm headed toward the East Coast. Warnings and advisories in place from Kansas and Missouri to New Jersey for heavy snow and damaging ice accumulations that could lead to power outages. NPR's Dave Mistich reports on the storm's track. The mayor of Kansas City told residents to stay inside after the area was put under a blizzard warning. Missouri's Transportation Department pleaded with residents not to travel.

And the National Weather Service has also issued winter storm warnings through Tuesday morning, stretching across Kentucky all the way to the mid-Atlantic. Up to a foot of precipitation is expected in higher elevations across central Appalachia. A state of emergency has been issued for Kentucky and Virginia. All 55 of West Virginia's counties are under state

of preparedness. The Baltimore, D.C. area under a winter storm warning through early Tuesday could see two to four inches. Dave Mistich, NPR News. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. The Russian Defense Ministry says Ukraine has launched a fresh attack in Western Russia in the Kursk region. Ukrainian troops initially launched an incursion into the region in August and have since managed to hold onto a chunk of territory. Russian troops have made gains in the region but have so far failed to eject the Ukrainians.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to meet with top officials in Seoul as a deadline looms for the arrest of impeached South Korean President Yoon Sung-yeol. Protesters both for and against Yoon gathered near his residence overnight in freezing temperatures and heavy snow. The arrest warrant over Yoon's botched attempt to declare martial law expires tomorrow night. The Golden Globes will be handed out in Hollywood tonight to honor last year's films, TV shows, and streaming series. NPR's Mandolito Barco reports that the New York Times named this year's host Nikki Glaser, Comedian of the Year.

Nikki Glaser is known for roasting celebrities, like she famously did to star quarterback Tom Brady. You retired, then you came back, and then you retired again. I mean, I get it. It's hard to walk away from something that's not your pregnant girlfriend. It's tough. Hey.

Glaser told late night host Jimmy Kimmel she'll be facing a room full of TV and movie stars at the ceremony. Going into the Golden Globes, people are just like, be savage. Just destroy them. Like, people want blood. Glaser said that may not be her approach this time,

but she will have to strike a balance between killing it in the room and being funny for audiences watching on CBS and Paramount Plus. Mandelita Del Barco, NPR News. And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Fresh air, up first.

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