NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-17-2025 2PM EST

Episode Date: February 17, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Department of Energy has rescinded the firings of many workers responsible for overseeing the nation's nuclear weapons. NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports the reversal came within hours of mass terminations. Over the weekend, several employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration told NPR they've been hastily rehired after being fired last Thursday. Sources inside the agency said hundreds were fired at first, but in a statement sent late Sunday night a Department of Energy spokesperson said that fewer than 50 employees ultimately

lost their jobs. Those jobs were in, quote, primarily administrative and clerical roles. Members of Congress were alarmed after learning of the mass layoffs at the agency, which oversees America's nuclear warheads and combats nuclear terrorism. Jeff Brumfield, NPR News, Washington. High-level U.S. and Russian delegations

are in Saudi Arabia. NPR's Charles Maynes reports their talks are expected to focus on restoring U.S.-Russian relations and finding an end to the war in Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation, with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz also joining. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov heads the Russian mission, with Kremlin, saying talks will focus on making peace, not war. Yet speaking in Moscow, Lavrov rejected in advance the notion of returning any land annexed

by Russia to Ukraine. His comments may be the latest sign that U.S. negotiators are boxed in before the talks even begin. Charles Maynes, NPR News. At least 11 people are dead after a powerful storm swept across parts of the South over the weekend. Stan Engel, a member station WEKU reports, Kentucky was one of the hardest hit states. Falling rocks, mudslides and standing water have closed more than 300 roads. Electricity is out for thousands. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says an approaching winter storm will only complicate

matters. And it means we're going to have to make sure that we've got everyone who is displaced because of this flooding in a warm place for the days that are coming ahead. President Trump approved the governor's request for a federal disaster declaration allowing federal funds to be used to help relief efforts. For NPR News, I'm Stan Engold in Richmond, Kentucky. New reporting from NPR shows that days after the Eaton fire broke out in L.A. County, fire officials had warned that downed power lines were live and igniting new fires. Those lines are owned and operated by Southern California Edison. An NPR investigation also found that radio communication showed that the utility

company failed to respond quickly to requests from firefighters to cut the power and sent confusing and sometimes incorrect information to first responders. This is NPR. At least 10 people are dead after a three-story residential building collapsed in Egypt today. Search and rescue teams are digging through the rubble at the site in western Cairo, searching for survivors who may be trapped. Officials have ordered the immediate evacuations of nearby buildings as a safety precaution. The Vatican says Pope Francis will remain in the hospital to treat what it calls a complex

clinical situation. NPR's Jackie Northam reports the 88-year-old pontiff was admitted late last week for a respiratory infection. Before his hospital admission Friday, Pope Francis had shown signs of bronchitis for several days. But the Vatican says recent tests indicate the pontiff has polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, which can be caused by a combination of viruses, bacteria and fungi, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The diagnosis prompted a change in the Pope's drug treatment, and the Vatican says he will stay in the hospital for as long as necessary. The Pope has had challenging health conditions in the past, including the removal of part of a lung after a pulmonary infection when he was a young man. He was hospitalized for several days in 2023 with a bout of pneumonia. Jackie Northam, NPR News. Stocks closed mixed across Asia today. Markets in Japan and China traded higher, while shares

were lower in Hong Kong. Wall Street is closed for Presidents' Day. Trading resumes on the exchange on Tuesday. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.