NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-06-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: January 6, 2025

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The Indicator is a podcast where daily economic news is about what matters to you. Workers have been feeling the sting of inflation. So as a new administration promises action on the cost of living, taxes, and home prices. The S&P 500 biggest post-election day spike ever. Follow all the big changes and what they mean for you. Make America affordable again. Listen to The Indicator, the daily economics podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman.

The FBI is learning more about the man responsible for the deadly New Year's Day truck attack in New Orleans. They say he visited the city at least twice before the attack and recorded a bike trip through the French Quarter using meta glasses. And Joshua Jackson of the ATF says that while Shamsud Din Jabbar set some bombs elsewhere, they failed to explode because he didn't rig the detonator properly. He didn't use the right or the correct device to set it off and that is just indicative of his inexperience and lack of understanding how that material might be set off.

The mayor of New Orleans meanwhile says she's asked the White House for help in improving the city's security as Mardi Gras festivities begin there this week. The attack has increased scrutiny at the federal level on national security. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed that on ABC's This Week on Sunday. We have not only the persistent threat of foreign terrorism that of course created the Department of Homeland Security, but we have adverse nation states and for the past 10 years we've seen a significant increase in what we term homegrown violent extremism. A major winter storm is continuing to move across the central United States at this hour

and it's now reaching the mid-Atlantic including Washington D.C. A major winter storm is continuing to move across the central United States at this hour, and it's now reaching the mid-Atlantic, including Washington, D.C. Karen Zahr with Member Station WKY reports on how it's affecting Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency and opened the Emergency Operations Center. Members of the Kentucky National Guard have also been activated and will initially be helping state transportation crews keep roadways clear and assisting stranded motorists. States of emergency were also declared in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, as well as Virginia.

Forecasters say the storm could bring the heaviest snowfall in decades to some of those areas. In Atlanta, former president Jimmy Carter continues to lie in repose as people walk past his flag-draped casket to pay their respects. Steve Futterman has our reports. The steady stream of people seems to be non-stop. People react differently as they walk past. Some pause to salute, others clasp their hands and say a prayer, and some wipe away tears. Nikki Polk is from here in Atlanta.

I just admire Jimmy Carter. I appreciate what he did for this country both as a president and as a philanthropist and for the world. I just wanted an opportunity to pay my respects. A makeshift memorial has also been set up at the center. People are leaving flowers and flags, even some peanuts. Carter's body will be flown to Washington on Tuesday. He will lie in state in the capital Rotunda. After Thursday's state funeral, he returns to Georgia,

where he will be laid to rest next to his wife, Rosalynn. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Atlanta. And you're listening to NPR News. Ukraine's president says he'll urge allies to increase his country's air defenses. At a meeting this week in Germany, dozens of countries will be gathering, including U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, launched new attacks in Russia's Kursk region on Sunday. Safeway grocery stores across the nation are unable to process UnitedHealthCard,

Health Care's, U-cards. The processing issues could make it harder for people with Medicare Advantage to buy healthy foods and over-the-counter medications. Scott Macione from Ember Station, WYPR, has more. UnitedHealthcare and Albertsons, the parent company of Safeway, say the cards will not be accepted at grocery stores until February 1st. The U-cards are part of the Medicare Advantage package offered by United Health Care and allow people to buy medication, food and pay for home utilities. Albertson says the cards can be used for prescriptions at Safeway locations, but not for food or for over-the-counter medications.

Safeway has 922 locations across the country. According to United Health Care, more than 6 million people are using U-cards for their Medicare needs. The processing issue could keep some vulnerable parts of the population from buying essential goods. The companies are urging customers to contact them to find alternative measures. For NPR News, I'm Scott Massione. Less than a week into the new year,

and Hollywood moguls are already smiling. Movie ticket sales are up 20% over the same week last year. In the number one spot is Mufasa from Walt Disney, which brought in $23.8 million at North American box offices. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was close behind in second. Nosferatu took third with Moana 2 and Wicked rounding out the top five.

I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. What's in store for the music, TV, and film industries for 2025? rounding out the top five. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.