NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-11-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: January 11, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Firefighters in Southern California have been making gains on those wildfires that have devastated neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area, but new flare-ups have been popping up leading to fresh evacuations last night. And NPR's Bill Chappell reports that interest in air purifiers is spiking because of all the smoke. 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. Winter storm that's been moving through the south has led to more than 90,000 power outages in Georgia, where forecasters warn of accumulating freezing rain. State officials are warning drivers to stay off the roads until midday. Forecasters say the storm will move off the East Coast later today, leaving behind below averageaverage temperatures for much of the country. The popular short video app TikTok, waiting to hear from the Supreme Court on whether it will be banned from the U.S. unless it's sold by its Chinese parent company to an American owner.

The Court heard arguments yesterday in a case pitting free speech rights against national security concerns. TikTok attorney Noel Francisco. We don't normally think of speech as dangerous. The Supreme Court has repeatedly said speech is not dangerous and you don't shut down a speech platform because you're worried about speech being dangerous. That is the whole point of the First Amendment. The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon.

Tick tock has until January 19th to sell or be banned in the U.S. Incoming U.S. envoy to the Middle East, Steve Whitkoff has arrived in Doha where he will assist with talks about a ceasefire in Gaza. That's according to officials in Qatar, as NPR's Kat Lonsdorf reports. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News,

NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, minister, according to a statement from Qatar. They talked about the latest developments in the region, particularly about a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would release some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Mediators have been in talks in Doha about a ceasefire for many days now. Earlier this week, US Secretary of State,

Antony Blinken, said that a deal was, quote, very close. In an interview with Israeli TV News, Wyckoff said that the release of hostages is quote, Trump's most important mission before taking office. Wyckoff has also said that he's hopeful for a quote, good announcement about the deal by Trump's inauguration later this month. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News. The White House says President Biden underscored the importance of continued support for Ukraine

in a call with the country's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. And Paris Tamborkith reports that Biden has been rushing aid to Ukraine's war effort before President-elect Trump takes office. The Biden administration announced a new sanctions package targeted at Russia's energy sector, including oil tankers, another effort to weaken Russia's economy, but Biden admitted it could also affect American drivers. It is probable that gas

pressures could increase as much as 3-4 cents a gallon, but it's going to have a more profound impact on Russia's ability to continue to act in the way it's acting in the conduct of war. Russia's President Vladimir Putin is in tough shape right now, Biden said, and he doesn't want him to have any breathing room.

Based on recent statements, it is unlikely President-elect Donald Trump will take a similarly hard line on Russia. Tamara Keith, NPR News. As questions linger over security lapses following the New Year's truck attack that killed 14 people in New Orleans. City officials say New Orleans is ready for the Super Bowl on February 9th and Kirk Patrick is the city's police chief. I assure you, you will enjoy it and you can come with great confidence because we have

a safety plan that the NFL is very pleased with." Kirkpatrick says hundreds of city police officers will be deployed along with other local, state and federal authorities. Next month's Super Bowl expected to draw some 100,000 visitors. I'm Trials Snyder, NPR News.