NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-23-2026 2AM EDT

Episode Date: March 23, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. We have worded at this hour that an Air Canada flight has collided with a Port Authority vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The incident occurred late this evening. So far, there are no other details available. Iran says it will close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely if President Trump follows through on his threat to obliterate Iran's power plants. If it does not let ships go through the strait, NPR's Emily Fang has our reports. Iran is blocking most ships from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and that's caused the price of oil and gas to increased sharply this month. Trump wrote on social media on Saturday that the U.S. would, quote, hit an obliterate Iranian power plans if the strait was not open within 48 hours. Iran's president

Massoud Pazashkin wrote on social media site acts shortly after that the street was open for, quote, all except those who violate our soil. A spokesperson for Iran's armed forces went even further, saying, quote, nothing can stop us from destroying all American infrastructure in the Middle East region, should Trump make good on his threat? And that the street of war. Pormuz would remain totally closed until Iran could rebuild its power plants if the U.S. hit them. Emily Fang and Piern News, Van Turkey. The Department of Homeland Security says hundreds of ICE agents will be deployed to U.S. airports on Monday. President Trump ordered the move after another weekend of major slowdowns for air travelers.

TSA agents are taking absences after not receiving a paycheck because of the partial government shutdown now underway. MPR's Luke Gerrits. One reason is money. Last summer, the GOP-controlled Congress passed billions in spending for ICE, and that money is allowing ICE to keep the lights on and pay its agents. Meanwhile, the rest of DHS, which includes TSA, can't pay their workers during this partial shutdown. Trump is basically shifting personnel resources within DHS to solve this immediate problem of airport staff shortages and delays. But the president of the union that covers TSA workers really blasted this deployment plan, saying, you know, ICE agents are untrained and will make airport security worse. That's NPR's Luke Garrett with that report.

The worst flooding in 20 years continues to damage communities across Hawaii. As Hawaii Public Radio's Ashley Missouo reports, hundreds of people have been rescued from rising waters there. Most of the state remains on flood watch. Evacuation orders on Oahu have been lifted, but officials continue to warn some residents on Maui to prepare to leave impacted areas. The flooding has blocked roads,

destroyed homes, and damaged a hospital on mountains, Maui, forcing the relocation of nearly 100 patients. Boil water orders are in effect for some areas, and health officials are warning people to keep out of the ocean in areas with significant storm runoff. In the parts of the state where the rain has stopped, search and rescue teams are moving in. About 200 National Guard members have been activated, and the Army has put more than 100 soldiers on standby. For NPR News, I'm Ashley Muzuo in Honolulu. And you're listening to NPR News. At least 10 Palestinians were injured Sunday night in attacks in the occupied West Bank.

The injuries were caused by Israeli settlers who rampaged in several villages after a funeral for a settler killed in a car crash a day earlier. Also Sunday, four Palestinians were killed in Gaza in two separate strikes. The latest World Happiness Report finds the same country that's reported the highest well-being for almost a decade is still ranked number one. It also finds a stark decline and life satisfaction among young people in the U.S. NPR's Amy Held has more. For the ninth year running, Finland ranks as the world's happiest country.

The U.S., 23rd. But Americans have dropped to near the bottom globally when it comes to falling happiness among young people under 25. There's no single reason, but researchers say heavy social media use stands out. Co-author Martine Berger says more than five hours a day is associated with less life satisfaction. People report more stress and more depressed symptoms, but also more negative comparisons with others.

And time lost, he says, doing other meaningful things, like meeting in person. People in Nordic countries ranking high in happiness are on social media a lot too. But researchers say a mix of other factors like strong social supports contribute to well-being. Amy Held and PR News. Jessie Duggins finished her skiing career Sunday by finishing the women's 20-kilometer-mastart cross-country event at Lake Placid. She finishes her career with a fourth overall World Cup title, which she secured earlier this weekend. And once again, the top story,

we have word that an Air Canada flight has collided with a Port Authority vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.