NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-16-2025 3PM EST

Episode Date: February 16, 2025

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NPR covers the stories that shape our world. Whether you're here for news or culture or good conversation, we're proud to be here for you. Federal funding helps keep the public radio network strong and available to all for about a dollar and sixty cents per person each year. Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org to learn more about safeguarding public media's future. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in the Middle East, his first trip there as the nation's top diplomat.

He's there for talks about the future of Gaza. NPR's Hadil El-Shelchi reports. On the table, a plan for a post-war Gaza. Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his first trip to the region as U.S. Secretary of State. And I also thanked him for America's unequivocal blacking for Israel's policy in Gaza in moving forward. President Donald Trump's proposal shocked the Arab world when he said he wanted to displace the population of Gaza to other countries and redevelop the strip under U.S. ownership.

Rubio is next traveling to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, where he says he's willing to hear alternative options to Trump's plan. This comes in the last stages of phase one of a shaky ceasefire that has seen 19 Hamas-held Israeli hostages freed and over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees released from Israeli jails. NPR News, Tel Aviv. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says at least eight people have died in his state after severe flooding, including a seven-year-old child. He says many of the deaths were caused by cars getting stuck in high water.

Much of the U.S. is facing frigid winter weather. Bob Orbeck is the lead forecaster with the National Weather Service. He says the Northeast can expect snow. There is snow with this system, mostly pretty far north, across far northern New York State. We do have some forecasts of over a foot of snow, very far northern New York State, northern Vermont, northern New Hampshire, and northern Maine. And then in the wake of this storm as it's pushing northeastward, there's going to be a lot of lake effects, snow showers, off of pretty much all the Great Lakes. Orvec says high winds are expected all along the East Coast, some with wind gusts of 50

to 60 miles per hour. He says winds that strong could bring down trees and power lines. The man accused in the December fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is due back in court this week for state charges in New York. A legal fundraiser for Luigi Mangione has raised more than $400,000. NPR's Ava Pukac reports. On a website set up by his attorneys to provide updates on the case, a statement from Mangione reads, quote, I am overwhelmed by and grateful for everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Pennsylvania's governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro, and other lawmakers have said that Mangione should not be treated like a folk hero.

Mangione pleaded not guilty to 11 charges in New York, including first-degree murder. He also faces charges in federal court as well as in Pennsylvania. While New York has abolished the death penalty, prosecutors could pursue it in the federal case. Eva Pukac, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. The death toll is rising in India after a stampede at a train station last night. Officials now say at least 18 people died.

They say many of the people were pilgrims traveling to a Hindu festival. Thousands were gathered in the station waiting to board a train when the crowd surged forward. Georgia's Port of Brunswick has become the nation's busiest port for autos and heavy equipment. Port officials say auto manufacturers want to increase their business through Georgia. Marlon Hyde reports from member station WABE. The Port of Brunswick handled more than two million tons of auto and heavy equipment last year and also led the country in vehicle cargo exports like cars, trucks, and buses, at 600,000 tons, according

to USA Trade Online. This comes after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last March that led to cargo being diverted to ports across the East Coast. Port officials say they're expanding capacity as auto manufacturers are looking to do more of their business through Georgia. Construction on a new berth that can handle larger vessels carrying auto imports is expected to start this summer. For NPR News, I'm Marlon Haad in Atlanta. The nation's governors are gathering in Washington this week as the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk work to reduce the federal workforce. Fourteen states have filed a lawsuit

saying that Musk has unchecked power. The White House says that Musk is complying with federal laws. Activists are planning protests tomorrow in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 states, against what they call the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.