NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-31-2025 12AM EST

Episode Date: January 31, 2025

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Hey, it's Robin Hilton from NPR Music. Many years ago, I helped start the Tiny Desk Concert Series. And right now, NPR is looking for the next great, undiscovered musician to perform behind the famous desk. Think you've got what it takes? Submit a video of you playing an original song to the Tiny Desk Contest by February 10th. Find out more and see the official rules at npr.org slash tiny desk contest. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens.

Investigators have recovered the black box recorders from the passenger jet and army helicopter that crashed near Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport. The aircraft landed in the Potomac River, where efforts continue to recover all 67 people who perished in the mishap. National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman says the NTSB is helping to oversee efforts to determine why it happened. Since we're just beginning our investigation we don't have a great deal

of information to share right now. We will keep you informed by giving regular updates as we learn more. Our intention is to have a preliminary report within 30 days and the final report will be issued once we've completed all of our fact-finding and investigation." Inman says the NTSB is still combing through a large packet of information it received from the Federal Aviation Administration early Thursday. The FAA, meanwhile, has recorded dozens of near-midair collisions near Reagan National. As NPR's Robin Benincasa reports, the agency says many of those incidents involved military helicopters.

An NPR analysis of the Federal Aviation Administration's data on rare near-midair collisions shows 30 reports near the airport since the late 1980s. 10 involved at least one military aircraft. Seven involved a military helicopter. Mike McCormick is the former FAA director for safety and operations at all US control towers. Our system, although the safest in the world, it is still shocking when a tragedy like this occurs. McCormick says the FAA is studying the crash

to see if immediate changes should be made. Robert Benincasa, NPR News, Washington. President Trump's choice to run the FBI has testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Cash Patel is a Trump loyalist and former prosecutor. NPR's Elena Moore reports that Senate Democrats grilled him over his past criticism of the FBI and the Justice Department. Cash Patel told senators that national security is at risk both internally and externally. If confirmed as the next FBI director, I will remain focused on the FBI's core mission.

That is to investigate fully wherever there is a constitutional factual basis to do so. Patel has argued the agency is mismanaged and has been politicized against Trump. Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have broadly backed Patel's pledge to make changes at the FBI, but Senate Democrats have urged him to clarify how he'll keep the agency independent. Some pressed him on past statements in which he appeared to sympathize with those previously incarcerated for rioting at the Capitol on January 6th. Patel said his words were taken out of context.

Alaina Moore, NPR News. The U.S. Senate has confirmed former North Dakota governor and billionaire Doug Burgum to become President Trump's Interior Secretary. You're listening to NPR News. U.S. Census Director Robert Santos has resigned as the Bureau prepares for a major field test for the 2030 census. Santos joined the agency in 2022. He was scheduled to end his five-year term in 2027.

His departure gives President Trump the opportunity to choose the person who will oversee the nation's 2030 national headcount. The census figures are used to determine each state's share of federal funding, congressional seats and electoral college votes. English singer-actress Mary Ann Faithfull has died at the age of 78. As NPR's Felix Contreras reports, Faithful gained fame during London's swinging 1960s. Mary Ann Faithful started her career in 1964 with the hit song, As Tears Go By, which was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

During the 1970s, she experienced widely publicized bouts with drug and alcohol before mounting a comeback in 1979 with the album Broken English. Later, she faced health challenges, including breast cancer, and in 2020, a hospitalization after contracting COVID. But she recovered and she released her final album a year later. Felix Contreras, NPR News. The figure skating community is mourning the loss of skating legend Dick Button. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and skating analyst died Thursday.

He was 95 years old. Button is credited with transforming a niche sport during the 1940s and to the Wimpro Olympic's favorite it's become today. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wwise, the app for doing things and other currencies, sending favorite it's become today. This is NPR News.