NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-11-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: January 11, 2025

NPR News: 01-11-2025 4PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This is Eric Glass. In this American life, sometimes we just show up somewhere, turn on our tape recorders, and see what happens. If you can't get seven cars in 12 days, you gotta look yourself in the mirror and say, holy, what are you kidding me? Like this car dealership, trying to sell its monthly quota of cars, and it is not going well. I just don't want one balloon to a car. Balloon the whole freaking place so it looks like I'm circus. Real life stories every week. Live from NPR

News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. At least 11 people have died as several major wildfires continue to burn in Southern California. Officials say some 153,000 residents of Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders. LA County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney says, the strong Santa Ana winds that have helped spread the fires are returning. Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds will affect Los Angeles County. And today, tomorrow, and then again, on Monday through Wednesday,

LA County Fire will be prepared. Firefighters have made some progress. Officials say the largest of the fires, the Palisades, is now about 11% contained. It's burned more than 22,000 acres since it began Tuesday. Officials have declared a public health emergency due to the thick, toxic smoke. NPR's Bill Chappell reports.

With much of the LA area covered by a red zone of unhealthy air quality, people are looking for ways to avoid breathing smoke. A big concern is the fine inhalable particulate matter that can lodge deep in our lungs. To clean indoor air, experts say you should use filters rated at Merv 13 or higher if your home's HVAC system can handle it. Portable HEPA air purifiers are also good. And online, people are sharing ways to improvise, like using air filters to make a cube around a box fan. If you go outside in smoky conditions, you should wear an N95 mask and drink plenty of water to help your body deal with irritating

pollution. Bill Chappell, NPR News. The wildfires in California prompted President Biden to cancel a planned trip to Italy this weekend where he was to meet the Pope. Today the White House announced Biden is awarding Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. 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. NPR's Greg Myrie reports. 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. This is NPR News in Washington. The Biden administration says people in the U.S. under temporary protected status will be allowed to stay.

This affects hundreds of thousands of people from Venezuela, El Salvador, and Ukraine. The designation gives people protection from deportation if the government determines their fleeing violence or humanitarian crisis. However, President-elect Donald Trump could end the designation when he takes office later this month. Immigration is likely to come up this weekend at Trump's Florida resort, where he's meeting with House Republicans. They want to discuss his priorities before he takes office.

A southern snowstorm is moving offshore today, but will maintain its icy grip on states, including parts of Georgia, from member station WABE, Emily Wu-Pearson reports. By the time the storm had passed through, just over two inches of snow fell at Hartsfield Jackson Airport, according to the National Weather Service, and a quarter of an inch of ice developed. Cold temperatures remain in the forecast. Atlanta's airport faced hundreds of delays and cancellations on Saturday. Tens of thousands of Metro Atlanta residents are without power.

Utility companies worked through the night to restore services. This was the first measurable snowfall in Atlanta in several years. For NPR News, I'm Emily Will Pearson in Atlanta. The NBA is postponing its scheduled game in Atlanta today between the Houston Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks because of hazardous icy conditions. NORAH RAMS, NPR NEWS ANCHOR, WASHINGTON.