NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-26-2026 4PM EST

Episode Date: January 26, 2026

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This message comes from Data Bricks, the data and AI company. Are your AI agents working? Most aren't reliable for business. You need AI that's accurate. Agent Bricks, AI agents grounded in your data and built for your goals. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The White House says the shooting of a 37-year-old ICU nurse in Minneapolis on Saturday is under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the Air Force.

FBI. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt today blamed the latest shooting on Democratic leaders in Minnesota, accusing them of deliberate and hostile resistance. For weeks, Governor Walts and the mayor Jacob Fry and other elected Democrats were spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers who are risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, human traffickers, and gang members. The Department of Homeland Security says investigators are reviewing body cam footage in the shooting of Alex Preti from multiple angles. Homeland Security Secretary, Christine Nome, said Prattie was committing an act of terrorism and brandishing a weapon. But video evidence and eyewitness accounts that have surfaced contradict that claim.

Meanwhile, President Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walls are now speaking about what happens next in the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bass reports. President Trump positively appraised his call with Governor Walls. On social media, Trump wrote that the two, quote, seemed to be on a similar wavelength. The takeaway from Walls is that Trump is open to ramping down an operation that has a few thousand federal agents on the ground.

It comes after the week in fatal shooting by Border Patrol agents of ICU nurse and U.S. citizen Alex Preti. And Renee Macklin Good, who was killed by an ICE agent earlier this month. A statement from the governor's office also says Trump would talk with the Department of Homeland Security about involving state criminal investigators into the probes. Trump says top border official Tom Homan will travel to Minnesota and speak with walls. For NPR news, I'm Brian Baxe in St. Paul. Flight cancellations and delays may stretch into the week after a powerful winter storm swept across

large parts of the U.S. this weekend. NPR's Joel Rose reports, heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures have snarled transportation networks. Airline operations were battered by the weekend storm that dumped heavy snow and ice across more than a dozen states. Sub-zero temperatures and other weather issues across the Northeast forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights and delay thousands more again on Monday, complicating their efforts to get aircraft and crews back in position for regular service.

The storm also impeded road travel across a wide swath of the central and eastern U.S. In the south, ice brought down trees and power lines, cutting electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, with the most outages reported in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Leverage, was up 313 points, the NASDAQ up 100. This is NPR News.

The Federal Aviation Administration says seven people were killed when a private jet crashed on takeoff during a snowstorm in Bangor Main last night, won crew members, survived. However, Maine public reports that airport officials say the planes manifest only listed six people, all of whom died. The Arctic is louder than previously thought. That's according to a new study. NPR's Rebecca Herscher reports much of the noise comes from snowmobiles, ships, and planes. The Arctic is generally thought of as a quiet place compared to other regions where there are major cities. That's beneficial for ocean creatures which thrive in quiet seas.

But a new study by researchers in the United Kingdom finds that there's more ocean noise in the Arctic than previously thought. They analyzed recordings from underwater microphones. Here's one recording of a snowmobile driving on sea ice. That's what the snowmobile sounds like underwater. Climate change means a warmer Arctic, which makes it easier for ships, mining operations, and other potentially noisy activities to escalate even more, the authors warn. Rebecca Hersher, NPR News. About 15,000 nurses in New York City remain on strike across several hospital systems.

Their union says some employers have agreed to preserve existing health care benefits. But talks continue as nurses push for better pay and improved workplace safety. Nurses say they'll be back out on the picket line tomorrow if a deal isn't reached. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington. This message comes from Wise. for international people using money around the globe. You can send, spend, and receive in up to 40 currencies with only a few simple taps. Be smart, get wise.

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