NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-09-2025 6PM EST

Episode Date: January 9, 2025

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Tis the season for rich meals, twinkly lights, and New Year's resolutions. At LifeKit, NPR's self-help podcast, we're here to help you make those resolutions less of a December and January thing and more like a year-long affair. We've got shows that'll help you draw up plans to meet your goals, whatever they are. Get the tools you need all year round with the Life Kit podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. In Los Angeles, officials say more than two thousand structures have been damaged or destroyed by the series of wildfires hitting the nation's second largest city. Today, fire crews got a much-welcome bit of weather relief.

Reporter Steve Futterman is there. With the Santa Ana winds less intense, fire crews went on the attack, going after the destructive fires both on the ground and from the air. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft spent the day dropping water and retardant on hot spots. Amidst the damage and destruction, 20 people have been arrested on suspicion of looting. LA Sheriff Robert Luna says it will not be tolerated. If you are in one of these areas and you do not belong there,

you are going to be subject to arrest. I hope that is as clear as I can make it. Even though fire officials are hopeful that they can make progress, the fires are still largely uncontained and continue to burn. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Pacific Palisades, California. Former President Jimmy Carter was honored at National Cathedral this morning. It concludes more than a week of public tributes to the 39th president, who died December 29th at the age of 100.

As NPR's Elena Morrow reports, Carter's state funeral was packed with heartfelt and poignant remembrances. Political leaders, friends and family described Carter as both a powerful president and politician and a thoughtful and giving man. President Biden, who was a longtime friend and colleague of the 39th president, delivered a eulogy at the service. He praised Carter's character and legacy, casting a forward-looking message. Many think he was from a bygone era, but in reality, he saw well into the future.

In addition to Biden, all four living former presidents attended the funeral, including President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office in less than two weeks. Alaina Moore, NPR News, Washington. Pennsylvania senators, the first Democrat who's accepted an invitation to meet with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. If you're as Deidre Walsh reports, a host of Republicans were also meeting with Trump in coming days. John Fetterman says he's the senator for all Pennsylvanians, not just Democrats, and will meet with and have a conversation with anyone, quote, if it helps me deliver for

Pennsylvania and the nation. He's met with some of Trump's cabinet nominees and expressed support for some already. House Budget Chairman Jody Errington is also heading down, along with groups of House GOP lawmakers, to chart out how to move Trump's big list of agenda items through Congress. I think he's said already, he's open to whatever process we end up with

and wherever we land one or two bills. What he cares about is the outcomes. Congressional Republicans are crafting legislation addressing border security, tax cuts, and energy using a process to get around a Democratic filibuster. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, The Capitol. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. The state of Kentucky says it has reached a $110 million settlement with grocery store chain Kroger over opioid prescriptions at its pharmacies in that state.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announcing the settlement today. His office had sued Kroger last year, claiming the chain helped fuel the opioid crisis in his state. Kentucky has some of the nation's highest rates of overdose deaths. Kroger did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the settlement. Lebanon has a president after more than two years without one, selecting a leader is a step towards addressing a decimated economy, financial system, and destruction from a war with Israel. Sen. Pears Emily Fang reports the to-do list for the new president is long. A celebratory band played as Lebanon's speaker of parliament declared Joseph Aoun Lebanon's

next president. The parliament had failed 12 previous times to agree on a president, but this time opposition to Aoun, primarily from the fighting group Hezbollah, largely vanished. Aoun is also the commander of Lebanon's military, which by convention, like the president's office, should be held by a Maronite Christian. And he had to bypass constitutional restrictions that forbid him from running for president while holding another office. But he commands support from a coalition of Lebanon's diverse sectarian groups, and he

will be crucial to implementing a ceasefire with Israel. Emily Fang and PR News' Beirut. A spacecraft launched by the European Space Agency in Japan has been back. Some of the closest photos ever of the planet Mercury's North Pole. Pictures released today by the European Space Agency. It was the sixth flyby of Mercury by the Beppo-Colombo spacecraft. I'm Jack Spear in NPR News in Washington. 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.