NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-26-2026 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 26, 2026

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Live from NPR news, I'm Corva Coleman. The Israeli military says the last Israeli hostage body in Gaza has been found. It's a major breakthrough in efforts to advance the Gaza ceasefire. NPR's January Eastern reports from Jerusalem. Hamas captured 251 living and dead hostages from Israel and the October 7th, 2023 attack. Now, the last one has been returned. He is Ron Gvili, a 24-year-old special forces policeman

who was killed while fighting Hamas militants, day of the attack. His body was taken to Gaza. The military said it launched a special search operation for his body over the weekend in a cemetery in northern Gaza, on the Israeli-occupied side of Gaza, acting based on intelligence. It says his body has been returned to Israel for burial. This marks the end of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. It paves the way for another big step. Israel says it will allow Gaza's border crossing with Egypt to reopen again for Palestinians to enter and exit. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Jerusalem. A federal judge is holding a hearing this morning on whether President Trump's immigration crackdown in Minnesota can be restrained. This comes after

federal agents shot and killed a second protester in Minneapolis this weekend. This morning, Trump announced he is sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minneapolis. Trump's immigration policies are getting some pushback from voters and from Congress. NPR's Mara Liason has more. Following the second fatal shooting of an American citizen in Minneapolis by ICE agents, Senate Democrats say they will not vote for a bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security. This comes at a time when President Trump's approval ratings are dropping, although immigration has been Trump's best issue with voters generally approving of his efforts to secure the southern border and deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records, new polls taken before the second fatal shooting show majorities of voters

disapprove of ICE's tactics. According to a New New York Times poll, only 36% of voters approve of the way ICE is doing its job. 61% said ICE had, quote, gone too far. That sentiment could have an impact on the midterm elections, even though Trump himself isn't on the ballot. Mara Liason, NPR News. Winter's storm warnings linger in New England

from the mammoth storm system that rolled over the U.S. these past few days. And Piers-Jol Rose reports the effects of the storm have been different, depending on where you were. In some places the storm was all snow. In others, it turned into sleet and freezing rain. In much of the south, it left a coating of ice on roads and trees that made roads dangerous, if not totally impassable. It also brought down trees and branches and power lines that left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power across Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. NPR's Joel Rose reporting.

On Wall Street, the Dow was up, nearly 200 points. This is NPR. The massive winter storm pummeling the U.S. is disrupting some schools, but not all of them. NPR's Amy Held has more. Sleds over screens in Maryland. It was thought days like this would virtually vanish when online school proliferated in the pandemic. But Tony Watlington Superintendent in Philadelphia closed school today, saying education is also about joy. Sledding is appropriate. Snow angels are appropriate.

One or two, safe and fun snowball fights. For New York City kids, though, virtual school is on. Here's Mayor Zoran Mamdani. I have to apologize to the students that we're hoping for a traditional snow day. That will not be the case. Proponents say it helps schools meet metrics and keep consistency for kids. Some districts have taken a flexible approach or are banning remote learning, pointing to problems with accessibility and effectiveness. Amy Held and PR News. About 15,000 striking nurses in New York City say they have reached agreements with two hospital systems. These agreements are to keep the nurses' health benefits in place.

The nurses are striking for wages and improve security measures. Separately in the West, unionized workers at Kaiser Permanente facilities are going on strike today. They are targeting facilities in California and Hawaii. Hot dog maker Oscar Myers says it is bringing back the Weenie 500 to the Indianapolis 500 auto race this coming May. Just like its inaugural event last year, six Wienermobiles will race against each other at the track. The Slaw Dogmobile will return to defend its title. You're listening to NPR News.