NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-06-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: January 6, 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 dot org. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. A major winter storm that's been pounding central plains states in the Midwest is now moving into the mid-Atlantic region at this hour.

Washington, D.C. is expecting as much as a foot of snow that could bring the city to a standstill. The polar vortex that's bringing frigid temperatures and significant snow and ice caused several Midwestern governors to declare a state of emergency. NPR's Chandelier Stuster reports. Wintry weather is causing dangerous travel conditions. Kansas Highway Patrol Officer Trooper Ben Gardner says they have responded to more than 200 calls for help on highways since Saturday morning.

At least one was a fatal crash. We have first responders actively helping and responding to calls and KDOTs out here trying to get the roadways cleared, salting and blading the roadways and we will continue to do so as the storm moves through our state. Officials are warning those in the path of the storm to stay home and follow weather alerts. Chandelis Duster, NPR News. Life in New Orleans is beginning to return to normal after a man drove his pickup into a crowd there on New Year's Day killing 14 people.

But Governor Jeff Landry says no one has forgotten what happened. Over the last 48 hours, we have all been focused on addressing the needs of each of these victims' families and to ensure that they are properly honored. We began on January 2nd by ordering all the flags in the state at half staff from sunrise to sunset. The FBI meanwhile said Sunday that Shamsuddin Jabbar visited New Orleans twice before his attack. On one of those visits he used meta glasses to record a bike ride through the French Quarter where his attack later took place. People in Atlanta will be paying their final respects to former president Jimmy Carter until Tuesday. Georgia Public

Broadcasting's Sarah Callis reports. Mourners are flocking to the Carter Center in Atlanta to pay tribute to former president Jimmy Carter during the public repose. 19-year-old William Mendoza drove 214 miles from Knoxville, Tennessee to the Carter Center in Atlanta for the repose. It's a really great refresher of how and who Jimmy Carter was. Such a man who was willing to work for everyone no matter who you are, a man that was willing to put the people first and not their political party. Mourners are led through the Carter Museum and Presidential Library to see artifacts

from Carter's life and presidency before arriving at his casket. Public repose continues until Tuesday morning and the Carter Center is expecting thousands of people to attend each day. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Kalis in Atlanta. Stocks in Asia are mixed after Wall Street snapped out of a spell of holiday season blues with markets in Tokyo and China both declining. Japan's finance minister rang in the New Year as Tokyo's market resumed trading after the long traditional holiday.

Shares of Nippon Steel fell by 0.8% and U.S. Steel Corp's shares sank 6.5%. This is NPR News. California's commercial dungeness crab season got underway on Sunday, and the Port of San Francisco is kicking off fresh-off-the-boat crab sales. Billy Cruz of Member Station KQED has more. The direct-to-consumer crab sales come after commercial crabbers faced weeks of delays and restrictions. That follows delays to the season's start for the past six years over concerns about

whale entanglements in commercial crabbing nets. The delays have financially hurt crabbers, so since 2021, some have been allowed to sell crab from their boats at Fisherman's Wharf. The Port of San Francisco says this year's off-the-boat sales will include a new ADA accessible float. The port says they hope this float supports local fishers and increases public access. For NPR News, I'm Billy Cruz in San Francisco. President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act on Sunday. The law will boost social security benefits to some retirees who draw public pension. This includes some police officers, firefighters, and postal workers.

The measure repeals 20-year-old provisions that had reduced Social Security benefits for that group. Walt Disney's Mufasa ruled North American box offices this weekend, bringing in $23.8 million from moviegoers. It's the Lion King prequelels third week in movie theaters. Sonic the Hedgehog 3, meanwhile, came in second after having spent the past two weeks in the number one spot. Less than a week into the new year, the 2025 box office is already up about 20% over the

same week last year. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.