NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-07-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: January 7, 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 in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. The body of former President Jimmy Carter will be moved from Atlanta to Washington today. The state funeral for the nation's 39th president will take place Thursday at Washington National Cathedral. Ahead of the service, Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

As Steve Funderman reports, Carter died late last month at the age of 100. The flag-draped casket here at the Carter Center since Saturday will be removed by military body-bearers. The casket will be placed on board one of the presidential planes. For this trip, though, it will not be called Air Force One, rather a special Air Mission 39. All night long in temperatures near freezing a steady flow of people continued to walk past the casket. It was truly a man who lived a good life and put people first and that's what matters. Rachel Gowan brought her two young children. It was great to be able to have them see all of the things that he did. Once in Washington, the body will be placed on a horse-drawn caisson and taken to the

Capitol where it will lie in state. The casket will lie on the same catafalque that held the casket of Abraham Lincoln. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Atlanta. President Biden traveled to New Orleans yesterday where he paid tribute to those killed and injured on Bourbon Street early on New Year's Day. That's when a U.S. Army veteran drove a pickup truck at high speeds through crowds of people, killing 14 and injuring more than 30 others. Speaking at St. Louis Cathedral in the city's French Quarter, the president praised those who helped

to save others, including first responders. The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism inspired by ISIS. President Biden is using his executive authority to create two new national monuments in Northern California. NPR's Deepa Shivaram says the move will protect more than 800,000 acres. The two national monuments are Chukwala and Satitla Highlands. Their designation means the land will be protected from development and preserved for its significance to tribal nations and ecological importance. For example, the Satitla Highlands monument includes a dormant volcano and is home to the longest known lava tube system in the world. The White House says with these two monuments, Biden is setting a record for the most land

and water conserved by any president. It will also establish the longest stretch of protected land in the continental United States, about 18 million acres of land stretching through California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News. Unusually cold temperatures are gripping much of the Gulf Coast of the U.S. Cold weather advisories extend from central Florida to west Texas into areas of New Mexico. The National Weather Service says temperatures are below freezing this morning in cities such as Austin, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Some areas could see overnight wind chills in the teens this week. This is NPR News. The chief executive of Japan's Nippon Steel is reaffirming his commitment

to the company's proposed 14 billion dollar merger with U.S. Steel. His comments today in Tokyo follow word the companies have filed two lawsuits to try to prevent President Biden from blocking the merger. Biden signed an order last week to stop the deal citing national security concerns. President-elect Donald Trump has said he too opposes that merger. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he plans to resign but will stay on until a new leader of his Liberal Party is chosen. Trudeau made the announcement yesterday after more than nine years in office amid declining support as Dan Karpanchuk reports. Trudeau made the announcement yesterday after more than nine years in office, amid declining support, as Dan Karpanchuk reports. Trudeau had barely finished his resignation announcement before the opposition conservatives

came out with a campaign-like info ad, saying a dark chapter in Canadian history is over, and leader Pierre Poliev tried to paint all Liberals as Trudeau followers. The other parties also took swipes at the Liberals as well as at each other. Poliev is likely disappointed at not having Trudeau as his election opponent, given Trudeau followers. The other parties also took swipes at the Liberals as well as at each other. Poliev is likely disappointed at not having Trudeau as his election opponent. Given Trudeau's unpopularity, a new leader could shrink his lead in the polls. In his resignation announcement, Trudeau said that Poliev's vision for the country was not right for Canadians. A Liberal leadership contest must take place before Parliament resumes on March 24. Trudeau's minority government is expected to fall then, triggering a national election later in the spring.

For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. Officials in Tibet say a strong earthquake earlier today has killed nearly 100 people and trapped dozens more. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington.