NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-13-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: January 13, 2025

NPR News: 01-13-2025 4PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. More than 90,000 Californians are still unable to return home. It's been roughly a week since multiple fires broke out and powered by Santa Ana winds and dry weather began incinerating structures, sometimes entire neighborhoods. The work of containing the fires could be set back by more strong winds this week. LA County Sheriff Robert Lunas's crews are searching smoldering rubble and finding remains. For the El Tadena area we are in the third day of grid searching. It is a very grim task and we unfortunately every day

we're doing this we're running across the remains of individual community members The death toll currently stands at 24 It is expected to climb at least 16 people are unaccounted for Another grim number the damage and destruction of more than 12,000 homes and other structures of more than 12,000 homes and other structures. Some estimates put insured losses from the California wildfires at more than $20 billion, which threatens to upend efforts to stabilize

the state's troubled insurance market. NPR's Greg Allen reports insurance companies had all but stopped writing new policies for homeowners and renters in places like Altadena and Pacific Palisades. California recently adopted regulations allowing companies to set higher rates while also requiring them to write more policies in fire prone areas. Amy Bach with consumer group United Policy Holders worries this will set back those efforts.

You know, just psychologically, this disaster couldn't have come at a worse time in terms of insurance executives renewed confidence in doing business in this state. Analysts say insurance companies have enough reserves to cover the losses. If the state created a plan that covers many in palisades and Altadena runs out of money though, policyholders throughout the state may see a special assessment to make up the shortfall. Greg Allen, NPR News, Los Angeles. fall. Greg Allen, NPR News, Los Angeles. The Biden administration says negotiators are close to a ceasefire deal in Israel's war against Hamas and Gaza that would lead to the return of hostages. NPR's Asma Khalid reports a White House has been talking about this deal for several months. President Biden first

outlined the proposal back in late May, but now his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is showing a renewed optimism. We are close to a deal and it can get done this week. I'm not making a promise or a prediction, but it is there for the taking and we are going to work to make it happen. The White House says it's been coordinating with the incoming Trump administration to present a united message to get the deal done as quickly as possible. The president-elect has said

that if the hostages are not released by his inauguration, quote, all hell will break out. Asma Khalid, NPR News, The White House. This is Biden's final full week in office. It's NPR. On the heels of the Surgeon General's report on alcohol, many experts support revising the current guidelines for alcohol. NPR's Alison Aubrey reports scientists and physicians are reviewing the evidence to better understand the risks. If you choose to drink alcohol, the standard advice has long been to limit consumption

to up to one drink a day for women, two for men. But many experts now say this amount of daily drinking may be too high. Dr. Ashish Didwania of Northwestern University is among them. My guidelines would be drinking less than seven drinks a week. Some research points to an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer, with as little as three to six drinks per week. In Canada, the recommendations are that people should consume no more than two drinks per week to avoid alcohol-related harms. Alison Aubrey, NPR News.

Crude oil prices have climbed to their highest level in five months. And Pierre Scott Horstley reports on what's driving energy markets. Oil prices jumped sharply over the weekend after the Biden administration added new sanctions against Russia's energy sector. So far, the higher crude prices have not filtered down to the gas pump. AAA says regular gas is selling for an average of just over $3.06 a gallon, little change from a week ago. U.S. steel has gotten a little more time to cancel its planned sale to Japan's Nippon

Steel. President Biden moved to block that sale sale citing national security concerns, but an interagency committee agreed to delay the effective date of that order until mid-June. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. The Dow has closed up 358 points. This is NPR News.