NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-18-2025 3AM EST

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

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Whatever your job is, wherever you're from, NPR is a resource for all Americans. Our mission is to create a more informed public. We do that by providing free access to independent, rigorous journalism that's accountable to the public. You, federal funding for public media, provides critical support of this work. Learn more about how to safeguard it at ProtectMyPublicMedia.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Talks between top U.S. and Russian officials got underway in Saudi Arabia a short time ago. The talks are the first face-to-face between the two countries since Russia invaded Ukraine. But neither Ukraine nor any European allies are

participating. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he will not recognize any agreements made without Ukraine at the table. The President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Deborah Flint, is giving credit to first responders for the absence of fatality stemming from Monday's crash of a Delta Airlines jet that flipped on its roof while landing at Pearson International Airport. No airport CEO wants to have these type of press conferences, but this is exactly what our emergency, our operations, and our first responder partners are all practiced and trained for. And again, this outcome is in due part to their heroic work,

and I thank them profusely. Officials say 18 passengers out of 80 people on board the flight were taken to hospital. The NTSB sending investigators to Toronto to assist their Canadian counterparts in the investigation. Dallas Bay Southwest Airlines laying off 15% of its corporate employees. Caroline Love of member station KERA, reports on this part of the company's restructuring after recent turmoil. The layoffs affect more than 1,700 employees. CEO Robert Jordan said in a statement it was a difficult and monumental decision. The airline has faced challenges in recent months, including declining profit margins and a civil lawsuit over alleged mismanagement of an employee

retirement plan. Southwest also restructured its board in October as part of a settlement with an investment firm that tried to oust Jordan, but he refused to resign. The airline announced several changes last fall to boost revenue, including the end of its open seating policy next year. Eligible employees impacted by the layoffs will receive salary and benefits through late April. For NPR News, I'm Caroline Love in Dallas.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul plans to meet with New York City officials Tuesday to discuss a path forward for the city as a corruption scandal engulfs the mayor. Bruce Convizor reports the governor appears to be considering drastic action. In making her announcement late Monday, Governor Hockel indicated that she is considering removing Mayor Eric Adams from office. Earlier in the day, four of the city's eight deputy mayors announced their resigning from the mayor's administration. It was the latest blow for the embattled mayor who has vowed to fight on. Last week, at least seven federal prosecutors in New York and Washington resigned rather

than ask a judge to dismiss the five count indictment against Mayor Adams. The New York State Constitution gives the governor the power to remove the mayor from office, but in announcing the meeting, Governor Hockel noted that in the state's 235-year history, no governor had ever taken such action. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Convice, here in New York. This is NPR. Forecasters are warning of life-threatening cold in the Rockies and Northern Plains, saying temperatures in parts of North Dakota could drop to 60 below. Extreme cold warnings have been posted across 11 states stretching from Canada to Oklahoma and Central Texas. The cold follows deadly weekend flooding. At least 14 people were killed, including 12 in Kentucky and one in West Virginia.

The white house says it will nominate political activists Ed Martin as the top federal prosecutor to serve in Washington, DC. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports that Martin's record has come under scrutiny. Martin has no prosecutorial experience, but he has defended people accused of crimes at the US Capitol four years ago. As interim US attorney in DC Martin's attracted attention for bombastic social media posts where he promised to investigate people who intimidated billionaire Elon Musk and his Doge team. Martin's already fired a couple of dozen prosecutors who worked

on Capitol riot cases and launched a review of how the office used an obstruction statute against January 6th defendants. The U.S. Attorney's Office in DC is one of the largest in the country. It often handles sensitive cases about political corruption and national security. Kari Johnson, NPR News, Washington. To Maryland now where police have arrested the apparent leader of a cult-like group known as the Zizians. Maryland State Police say 34-year-old Jack Lasota was arrested Sunday along with another member of the group. Investigators say the Zizians are tied to the shooting death last month of a Border

Patrol agent in Vermont and may be linked to five other deaths in three states. This is NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast five other deaths in three states. This is NPR News.