NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-24-2025 1PM EST

Episode Date: January 24, 2025

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Americans are living longer than ever before. On the Sunday story from Up First, we look at a growing number of people using these extra years to find new meaning. You get to the point where you start asking, what did you do in your life that was significant? A look at the transformative power of human passion and finding your purpose in the third act of life. Listen now on the Up First podcast from NPR. the third act of life. Listen now on the Up First Podcast from NPR. Janine Hurst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. President Trump says he wants states in control of emergency response to natural disasters and he says he plans to sign an executive order to start the process of reforming or overhauling FEMA or, quote, maybe getting rid of it. Fema has been a very big disappointment. They cost a tremendous amount of money. It's very bureaucratic and it's very slow. Other than that, we're very happy with them. Okay? And

I think it's, I think when there's a problem with the state, I think that that problem should be taken care of by the state. That's what we have states for. But he didn't offer details on his plans. He made the comments in North Carolina today, his first domestic trip of his second administration, where he will view hurricane damage. Later today, Trump tours the wildfire ravaged areas of California in and around Los Angeles. He's scheduled to meet

with Governor Gavin Newsom, even though he's criticized state leaders for their handling of the fires and the lack of water. Trump says he would supply aid to California if the states implement voter ID and loosens its environmental laws. Meanwhile, fire crews continue to battle several blazes. Steve Futterman has more. With winds again diminishing, fire crews continue to make progress. One of the newest fires, the Hughes Fire, is still burning north of L.A. in the Castaic area. But it's no longer seriously threatening homes or businesses.

It's now largely burning in wilderness areas. And fire crews are slowly getting more containment. This weekend, some rain is in the forecast. It won't be much. In some areas, it could reach an inch. It could help. However, with any rain now comes another problem, potential mudslides and burned-out mountain areas which no longer have any vegetation.

For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. The U.S. government is trying to extradite a private investigator from the U.K. for his alleged role in a hacking campaign that targeted American climate activists. A lawyer for the private investigator said in a London courtroom the hacking operation her client is accused of leading was allegedly ordered by a lobbying firm working for ExxonMobil. And here's Michael Copley has more. A lawyer for the private investigator said the U.S. is trying to prosecute her client for a hacking operation allegedly commissioned by DCI Group, a public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. that represented ExxonMobil.

The private investigator is Amit Forlitt. He's previously denied ordering or paying for hacking. The Justice Department didn't respond to a message seeking comment. A British lawyer representing the U.S. said Forlitt allegedly worked for a D.C. public affairs firm, which allegedly represented one of the world's biggest oil and gas companies. DCI and Exxon declined to comment on being mentioned in court. Both have denied being involved in hacking. Michael Copley, NPR News. This is NPR News. Crime rates continue to fall in many parts of the U.S. New data from a sample of 40 cities offers early insight into possible national trends, as NPR's Meg

Anderson reports. Researchers looked at more than a dozen offenses, including homicide, sexual assault, robbery, motor vehicle theft, and burglaries. Shoplifting was the only one that increased in 2024 compared to the year before, by around 14%. Ernesto Lopez, a senior research specialist at the Council on Criminal Justice, says shoplifting likely has increased, but preventing it has also become an intense focus of both police and retailers. Dr. Michael Meagher, Ph.D., Ph.D.

So that really suggests that it's possible there's an increase in reporting and an increase in detection. The study found violent crime, on the other hand, fell dramatically. Most of those crime rates are now at or below their pre-pandemic levels. Meg Anderson and PR News. The Pandas are back in D.C. and as of today, they're out where their adoring fans can see them. Bao Li and Ching Bao are out of quarantine and back into the spotlight at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington.

And the Panda bear cam? Well, that's once again live. The cuddly-looking black and white animals, which are on a 10-year loan from China, arrived in the U.S. about three months ago. Their return marks a reboot of Panda diplomacy after China recalled earlier Panda ambassadors. China's also loaned two other giant Pandas to the U.S. Both are at the San Diego Zoo. I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News in Washington.