NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-11-2025 2AM EST

Episode Date: January 11, 2025

NPR News: 01-11-2025 2AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. More than 100,000 Los Angeles County residents remain under evacuation orders at this hour, and the threat of fire there is not over. As NPR's Elise Hugh reports, the Palisades Fire, which is the region's largest, has now burned more than 21,000 acres. That means just one of LA's many fires has destroyed an area larger than all of Manhattan. In Altadena, near the Eaton fire, law enforcement is keeping residents from returning to what's left

of their homes. Residents are unable to survey damage there as search and rescue operations go on. Dangerous conditions continue to prevail. Though winds have died down for now, forecasters expect another Santa Ana wind event to blow in early next week. Gusts are expected at more than 40 miles an hour on Monday and Tuesday. For NPR News, I'm Elise Hue in Los Angeles. Atlanta's police chief is urging drivers there to stay off the roads after a winter storm ripped across the South, prompting states of emergency and closing schools and businesses.

Patrick Saunders of Member Station WABE reports. Atlanta Police Chief Darren Scheierbaum says drivers on the roads create emergencies and make it harder for the city's police, fire, and public works departments to do their jobs. If you have the opportunity to stay home, enjoy time with your family, your friends, your favorite pet, you should do so because these streets are slick. And driving conditions could get worse, according to the National Weather Service. Significant ice accumulations are expected across metro Atlanta through the evening and overnight into Saturday. For NPR News, I'm Patrick Saunders in Atlanta. President-elect Donald Trump was given what's called an unconditional discharge on Friday for his felony conviction in New York. While the verdict remains, under the discharge there's no prison sentence or any fines.

NBR's Andrea Bernstein says prosecutors were not pleased with the outcome. They accepted the sentence, but they did take the opportunity to issue a warning. Prosecutor Josh Stein glass said, quote, instead of preserving, protecting and defending our constitutionally established system of criminal justice, the defendant, once and future president of the United States, has engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy. That's NPR's Andrea Bernstein reporting. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments over possibly reinstating preventive care coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act. The requirements were struck down by a lower court. Businesses argued that they cannot be forced to provide full insurance coverage for such things as medication to prevent HIV, as well as some cancer screenings.

Jack Sawyer forced a fumble and returned at 83 yards for a touchdown with 2 minutes and 13 seconds remaining in the game, as the Ohio State Buckeyes beat Texas Friday night in the college football the Ohio State Buckeyes beat Texas Friday night in the college football playoffs semi-finals. The Buckeyes won 28-14. They now advance for a shot at their sixth national title. They'll play Notre Dame for the championship on January 20th.

You're listening to NPR News. In a new report, the U.S. intelligence community says it has not found evidence that a foreign country is behind the so-called Havana Syndrome that's caused health problems among U.S. officials overseas. But as NPR's Greg Myrie reports, two agencies now say an adversary may have developed a weapon that could cause such injuries. The new assessment is the work of seven intelligence agencies that have been seeking the cause of ailments that first afflicted U.S. officials in Cuba's capital in 2016. Once again, they say it's unlikely or highly unlikely

a foreign government is responsible for problems that include chronic migraines, balance issues, and memory loss. However, two of the agencies, which are not named, have shifted their position. They now say it's possible a foreign power has developed a weapon that could inflict such harm. One agency estimates a 50-50 likelihood that such a weapon has been used. The other agency says it's unlikely it's been used. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington. Prosecutors are asking that former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez be imprisoned for fifteen years last year Menendez became the first person to be convicted of abusing a

Senate committee leadership position and the first public official to be convicted for serving as a foreign agents former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck says he will play next year for the University of Miami. Beck has been recovering from elbow surgery and there had been speculation that he would head into the NFL draft but he assigned a grant in aid agreement with the Hurricanes. He announced the decision on social media with just a two-word post, Go Canes.

I'm Dale Willman and you're listening to NPR News.