NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-14-2025 12AM EST

Episode Date: January 14, 2025

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Matt Wilson spent years doing rounds at children's hospitals in New York City. I had a clip-on tie. I wore Heelys, size 11. Matt was a medical clown. The whole of a medical clown is to reintroduce the sense of play and joy and hope and light into a space that doesn't normally inhabit. Ideas about navigating uncertainty. That's on the TED Radio Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. As Southern California communities brace for another blast of powerful winds, the White

House is detailing the federal response to the region's devastating wildfires. President Biden says the state and local firefighters have made progress in containing the flames. He says the federal government will cover firefighting costs for the next 180 days. I've activated 500 Marines from the Basin Penza to stand by to help in search and rescue, air with support, and food and water distribution. Biden says congressional action will be needed to help provide the tens of billions of dollars that will be needed for Southern California's recovery. Nine people are facing felony charges of burglary or looting in areas affected by the wildfires.

As NPR's Martin Costey reports, authorities are vowing to crack down on anyone who exploits the tragedy. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna says high-profile reports of opportunistic burglaries in fire-affected areas have preyed on the minds of residents. People are saying, hey, this is the reason I don't want to evacuate. I don't want to be victimized again. This is a strong message from all of us that we are here and when we catch people, we mean business. The National Guard has bolstered police checkpoints leading into evacuated areas in Alta Dena and the Pacific Palisades, making it harder to get in.

Sheriff Luna says he doesn't yet have statistics on reports of thefts in those areas, but those numbers may come in once residents are allowed back to check their homes. Martin Costi, NPR News, Los Angeles. In Qatar, negotiators are still wrangling over final details for a temporary ceasefire agreement calling for the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages in Gaza for a far larger number of Palestinian detainees. NPR's Jerome Slockolowski reports that Israeli hardliners are voicing opposition to any agreement with Hamas.

No deal with the devil, they chanted. Hana Giat is from the Israeli settlement of Talmon in the West Bank. All these terrorists that will be released will get the backwinds that they need in order to start a massacre like October 7th once again. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel and killed around 1,200 people. Authorities in Gaza say the war has left more than 46,000 Palestinians dead. Jerome Sokolowski, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

The Blue Origin space company has again canceled efforts to launch its new Glenn rocket. Launch attempts on Friday and Monday were delayed because of technical and weather issues. Another attempt is planned for early Thursday. Blue Origin is owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and NPR financial contributor. This is NPR News. A federal judge says the Justice Department may proceed with its release of a report on the investigation of President-elect Donald Trump. U.S. District Court Judge Eileen Cannon had temporarily blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith's findings.

Cannon now says that DOJ may share the first part of the report with some members of Congress. Two of former four criminal cases brought by Smith against Trump after his first term were dismissed. Smith resigned from his post last week, and Trump maintains he committed no wrongdoing. In Indiana, police say a man has been arrested on a felony charge of stalking basketball star Caitlin Clark. Authorities say the man sent her harassing and threatening messages and traveled from Texas to Indiana in an attempt to see her in person. The tale is from NPR's Becky Sullivan.

Becky Sullivan, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Anchor, NPR News Thomas Lewis sent to Clark. They include threats of sexual violence. Others suggest going to

her games or driving around the Indianapolis arena where her WNBA team plays. Prosecutors say Lewis traveled from Texas to a hotel in downtown Indianapolis with the intent to be close to Clark. When police came to the hotel to question him, Lewis said it was, quote, an imaginary relationship. But he continued to message Clark afterward. Police say Clark told them the messages had made her fear for her safety and alter her public appearances. If convicted, Lewis could face up to six years in prison. A preliminary court appearance is set for Tuesday. Becky Sullivan, NPR News. NPR News.

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