NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-13-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: January 13, 2025

NPR News: 01-13-2025 8AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The National Weather Service has issued new red flag warnings about wind in the Los Angeles area. This warning is called a particularly dangerous situation. Forecasters say the winds won't be as powerful as those that started the L.A. firestorm last week, but they could trigger explosive fire growth. Robert Harris is a unified commander with the LA County Fire Department. Your LA County Fire Department is leaning forward and continue to prepare and plan for the oncoming

wind event. We have not reduced our staffing footprint here since the beginning of this firefight. We continue to have over 1,400 members that are committed to this firefight and we are continuing to be vigilant in preparing to get you back into your homes. The Palisades Fire, northwest of Los Angeles, is only 13% contained. The Eaton Fire in Pasadena and Altadena is 27% contained. At least 24 people have been killed. Animal rescue operations are in high gear.

Pasadena Humane is looking after animals affected by the Eaton Fire. For Member Station KQED, Rachel Miro reports. Pasadena Humane has taken in more than 400 animals, including dogs, cats, bunnies, cockatoos, goats, wild birds, even a pony. President and CEO Dia Duvernet says 150 employees, including five full-time veterinarians, are working around the clock. This organization has served through two world wars, a great depression. We did the pandemic. We can handle whatever comes our way. She says search and rescue teams are out now looking for survivors and victims.

For those animals that were microchipped, the owners can be contacted. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Miro in Pasadena. This week marks President Biden's final full week in the White House before President-elect Trump is inaugurated. NPR's Asma Khalid reports Biden is beginning his farewell with a final foreign policy speech today. The president is delivering remarks at the State Department about his foreign policy legacy. It's a full circle moment for Biden. Shortly after entering the White House four years ago,

he made a trip to the State Department to give a speech about America's place in the world. He intends now to talk about the work he's done to rebuild alliances and strengthen the United States global leadership. But it will undoubtedly also be a moment for him to defend his own choices around some key foreign policy challenges for which he has been criticized, such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Asma Khalid, NPR News. The U.S. Geological Survey says there's been a powerful earthquake in southeastern Japan.

Its magnitude was 6.8. There are now tsunami advisories for coastal regions in southeastern Japan. There are no initial reports of damage or injuries. You're listening to NPR. The private space company Blue Origin has scrubbed its overnight launch of its new rocket, the new Glenn. Managers said they're checking a technical issue. They kept resetting the launch clock before finally deciding to scrub the attempt. No new launch date has been set. Health officials in San Francisco are reporting a presumptive case of bird flu in a child.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to confirm this. NPR's Amy Held reports health officials say the risk to the public is low. Amy Held, NPR Health Officer The child in San Francisco, officials say, has recovered from symptoms including fever and conjunctivitis. It is not the first known pediatric case. The CDC announced that in November, also in California. This outbreak has so far infected dozens of people across states, many farm workers, in close contact with infected cattle or poultry. Most cases have been mild, but last week, Louisiana health officials announced the first

bird flu-related death. An elderly patient with underlying medical conditions got sick after exposure to birds. Health officials say there is no evidence of person-to-person spread. Whether that could change is unknown. The more mammals infected, the more opportunity the virus has to mutate. Amy Held, NPR News. President Biden awarded Pope Francis the Medal of Freedom on Saturday. It's the nation's highest civilian honor. The White House says the medal was awarded with distinction.

This is an additional element of esteem. Biden cited the Pontiff's commitment to serving poor people and the Pontiff's advocacy for peace and for working towards saving the environment. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.