NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-14-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: February 14, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Trump administration is cutting 10 percent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's workforce. That's about 1,300 people. NPR's Will Stone reports on the hit to the public health agency. The layoffs are targeting probationary employees. It's a broad category that includes recent hires and longtime staffers who recently moved to new positions in the CDC.

One current CDC employee who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak called the decision tragic for the future of the agency. The cuts also hit the Epidemic Intelligence Service where all those in the first year of their service were laid off. These are CDC's so-called disease detectives, often dispatched to investigate outbreaks and public health threats. A spokesperson at the Department of Health and Human Services told NPR it's taking the action to support President Trump's broader effort to restructure and streamline the federal government. Will Stone, NPR News. President Trump has been using emergency

authorities in unusual ways much like in his first administration when he declared an emergency to fund his border wall and prompted a showdown over the separation of powers. In PR's Camila Dominovski reports, that debate has been revived and expanded. In his first term, President Trump used emergency powers to claim billions of dollars for his border wall when allocating money as Congress's job.

And the Supreme Court never made a final ruling on whether he could do that. Now Trump has declared another border emergency and a new energy emergency. And he's using emergencies to justify some of his tariffs. Will that stand up in court? Nazak Nikaktar is a lawyer and was in the first Trump administration. I don't think this is an open and shut case either way. Legal scholars have been concerned for decades about the lack of checks on emergency powers.

Trump is now testing their limits again. Camila Dominovski, NPR News. For the first time since an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet in late January today, federal investigators are offering new details. The head of the National Transportation Safety Board, Jennifer Homendy, says it's unclear whether the altimeters in the Blackhawk

helicopter were showing the pilots a proper altitude above ground. CVR data from the Blackhawk indicated that the portion of the transmission stating the CRJ was circling may not have been received by the Blackhawk crew. We hear the word circling may not have been received by the Black Hawk crew. We hear the word circling in ATC communications, but we do not hear the word circling on the CVR of the Black Hawk. She says the aircraft collided at 278 feet above the Potomac River. The helicopter was supposed to be no higher than 200 feet. The crash killed a total of 67 people. The results of a final investigation, a full investigation, is not expected for several more months. From Washington, this is NPR News.

Euphoria in Philadelphia. Hundreds of thousands of Eagles fans lined Broad Street today to celebrate their team's second Super Bowl victory since 2018. On Sunday, the Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to win the title. As NBC News writes, a Philadelphia celebration would not be complete without some collateral damage. NBC Philadelphia reports a flying beer can apparently struck Eagles general manager Howie Roosman in the head and yeah, it left a mark.

A cocoa supply crisis is driving up the price of chocolate. NPR's Amy Helder reports spending this Valentine's Day was still projected to reach a record high. If spending showcases affection, this year a box of chocolates really says, I love you. Chocolate prices are higher for the third year, up to 20% as bad weather hurts harvests. Very, very expensive. It is unbelievable.

Andrea Pedraza runs a chocolate shop in Dallas and says people are still spending, including Trey Welch. I don't have to sleep on the couch tonight. The National Retail Federation forecasts Valentine's Day spending will reach a record $27.5 billion. Candy tops the list, followed by flowers, cards, an evening out and jewelry. People spend about $190 on average and not just to avoid the couch treatment. People say they'll also spend on friends, pets, and themselves.

Amy Held, NPR News. US stocks have ended the day mixed. The Dow closed down 165 points to end the day at 44,546. The Nasdaq was up 81. The S&P was down slightly. This is NPR.