NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-08-2026 1PM EST

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. In Minnesota, ICE out now! ICE out now! Protests continue in Minneapolis for another day after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent while in her car yesterday. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem today again defended the ICE agent, saying he was just doing his job. Yesterday, she said, Good drove at the agent, which local and and state officials dispute. Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has issued an order to prepare

the state's National Guard for deployment. And Pierce, Kat Lonsdorf, has more. Governor Walsh, a Democrat, issued a warning order from Minnesota's National Guard, putting them on standby for a possible deployment. At a press conference in Minneapolis following the shooting, Walsh stressed that the troops remain under state control. I remind you, a warning order is a heads-up for folks. And these National Guard troops are our National Guard troops. troops. In recent months, President Trump has federalized several other states' National Guard troops, often against the wishes of Democratic governors, and deployed them to protect federal immigration officials and property. While spoke to Trump directly in the press

conference, saying Minnesota does not need any more involvement from the federal government. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Washington. The Senate today voted to advance a resolution requiring the Trump administration to secure congressional approval before taking further military action in Venezuela. The measure needed just a simple majority and cleared the chamber by a vote of 52 to 47, with five Republicans joining Democrats to advance the measure. It's a procedural step to start debate on a final passage, though a final vote hasn't yet been scheduled. On social media, Trump slammed Republicans who voted for it, calling it a war powers act unconstitutional.

Now, the bill would face a steep climb in the GOP-controlled House and a likely veto from President Trump. Meanwhile, American military forces are now escorting an oil tanker to the U.S. after a two-week chase. This is part of a U.S. crackdown on ghost ships transporting oil from Venezuela. And Piercequick-Myri reports. The U.S. forces prepared to seize the Bella-1 oil tanker in the Caribbean in late December as it was heading to Venezuela to pick up oil. But the tanker refused to halt. Instead, it changed course and headed out to the Atlantic with U.S. forces in pursuit. Somewhere along the way, the tanker changed its name, from the Bella 1 to the Maranira,

and also changed its flag, from that of Guyana to Russia. U.S. troops boarded the ship Wednesday in the North Atlantic between Britain and Iceland. Now in American custody, the ship and the crew are headed to the U.S. The U.S. has seized four oil tankers linked to Venezuela since this campaign began last month. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington. And you're listening to NPR News. In Utah, authorities continue to search for the gunmen who opened fire outside a church in Salt Lake City last night, while mourners were attending a memorial service inside.

At least two people were killed, six others injured outside a church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Police say all of the victims were adults, and at least three are in critical condition. Police say they don't think it was a targeted attack against Mormons, but they also don't think that the shooting was random. Budget airline Avello says it's ending its agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to carry out deportation flights. As Chris Polansky with Connecticut Public Radio reports, the flights sparked protests against the carrier.

In a statement, Avello said its agreement with the Department of Homeland Security simply wasn't profitable enough to continue. The airline has been the target of protests since the deportation flights came to light last year. Watkins is a member of the New Haven Immigrants Coalition, which called for a boycott of the airline. We're really thrilled that they've decided to stop participating in human trafficking and kidnapping detention and deportation of people, of our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues, our kids' teachers. Avello says the flights out of Mesa, Arizona will end later this month. For NPR News, I'm Chris Polanski in Hartford, Connecticut.

it. Wall Street's trading in mixed territory at this hour. The Dow is up 319 points. The NASDAQ is down, 117. The S&P 500 is up to. I'm Janine Hurst, NPR News, in Washington.