NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-10-2025 6PM EST
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. As the death toll continues
to rise from fires in and around Los Angeles, at least 10 people have now
died there. California Governor Gavin Newsom is ordering an independent
investigation into why firefighters battling the blazes face challenges
getting water to fight the flames. More from Em Investigation KQED's Marisa Lagos.
Crews in the Pacific Palisades and near Pasadena
have repeatedly been stymied by low water pressure
and fire hydrants running dry.
In a letter to local officials, Newsom wrote that,
while water supplies from hydrants are not designed
for widespread blazes, losing supplies likely impaired
firefighting and evacuation efforts.
He directed state water and fire officials to investigate.
State Attorney General Rob Bonta says it's the right move.
You always want to do better, get to the root cause of any challenges that you have
so that they don't happen again and that you're better the next time.
Newsom asked LA officials to conduct their own review and share information with the state.
For NPR News, I'm Marisa Lagos in San Francisco.
The Biden administration is imposing sweeping sanctions
on Russia's energy sector,
the move targeting what administration officials say
is the largest source of revenue
for Russia's war against Ukraine.
Here's NPR's Jackie Northam.
Administration officials say this latest round of sanctions
targets some of Russia's largest oil companies,
as well as traders, oil field service providers,
and liquefied
natural gas projects.
Administration officials say this new round of sanctions will cost Russia billions of
dollars in energy reserves.
The move by the Biden administration comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump
takes office.
He's been skeptical of imposing new sanctions on Russia.
The U.S. has slapped more than 5,000 sanctions and
export controls on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago. Jackie
Northam, NPR News.
Supreme Court appears likely to uphold a law that would ban the popular video sharing app
TikTok in the U.S., effective later this month. Justices were hearing arguments today in a
clash between free speech advocates. Those who worry the company's Chinese parent could use the app to spy on U.S. users. Chief
Justice John Roberts among those expressing concerns about TikTok's Chinese parent company
ByteDance. Parts of the South have been gripped by a massive winter storm, closing schools
and businesses and knocking out powered Little Rock Public Radio's Josie Lenora reports
tens of thousands of residents
have no power amid freezing temperatures.
The majority of outages are in the southwestern corner of the state. The National Weather
Service says parts of the state have seen nearly a foot of snow since Thursday afternoon.
A winter storm warning will be in effect for much of the state until midday Saturday, while
temperatures hover around 30 degrees. Energy Arkansas, which has over one and a half million customers in the state, says the power issue should be
resolved by Saturday afternoon. From NPR News, I'm Josie Lenora in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Stocks close sharply lower to end the week on Wall Street. The Dow was
down 696 points. This is NPR. Atlanta Bay's Delta is reporting stronger than
expected. Fourth quarter earnings amid
strong demand during the crucial holiday season.
The airline also says it benefited from a decline in fuel costs.
For the three months ending in December, Delta says it earned $843 million.
The airline also forecasts full-year earnings exceeding Wall Street estimates.
Israel says it has carried out new airstrikes in Yemen against what it said
were Houthi rebel military targets. It comes a day after the Houthis launch multiple drones at Israel,
MPR's Kat Lounsdorf has more. The strikes were on the western coast of Yemen and inland, according
to the Israeli military. It said it struck civilian infrastructure that had been, quote, exploited by
the Iranian-backed Houthis, like a major power station and several ports.
It was not immediately clear the extent of the damage,
but pro-Houthi media reported at least one person had been
killed and nine others wounded.
Houthi leadership called the strikes a, quote,
crime and a dangerous escalation.
The Houthis have fired several drones and missiles
toward Israel in recent weeks, including three at once
the day before.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Houthis will, quote,
continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression against Israel.
Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Anita Bryant, a former Miss Oklahoma who became famous as a singer and as an outspoken opponent
of gay rights has died.
In the 70s, Bryant led a successful campaign to repeal an ordinance
in Florida's Miami-Dade County that would have prohibited discrimination against gay
people. Supported by the Reverend Jerry Falwell, Bryant continued to oppose what today is known
as LGBTQ rights. The year Bryant was 84 years old.
I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.