NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-09-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: April 9, 2025

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This message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less and all plans include high-speed data, unlimited talk and text, and nationwide coverage. See for yourself at mintmobile.com slash switch. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. The US Supreme Court says the Trump administration's firing of probationary employees at six federal agencies can stand for now. As NPR's Andrea Shue reports, the justices say the group of nonprofits that brought the case did not have legal standing.

The decision from the high court halts a ruling by U.S. District Judge William Alsop last month. Alsop had ordered six federal agencies to bring some 16,000 probationary employees back to work. Some of those employees were also reinstated under a different federal court order issued that same day in a case brought by 19 states and the District of Columbia. It's unclear what agencies will do now, whether they'll attempt to sort out who among the reinstated probationary employees can now be fired once again. With this decision, the Supreme Court is not addressing the question at the heart of the case, whether or not the firings were legal. That's still making its way through the lower courts.

Andrea Hsu, NPR News. President Trump has signed an executive order to boost the use of coal power nationwide. As NPR's Lauren Sommer reports, the coal industry has been declining for decades. Trump's order could allow some older coal power plants to stay open by allowing them to meet less stringent air pollution rules. The order also seeks to promote coal mining on federal land. Trump says the move will help meet the growing demand for electricity from data centers and artificial intelligence.

Coal power has been declining, in part because other energy sources are cheaper, including natural gas and renewable energy like solar and wind. Since 2010, electricity generated from coal has fallen by more than 60 percent. Coal also produces more heat-trapping emissions than other kinds of power plants, which is making the climate warmer. Lauren Summer, NPR News. The death toll from flooding in Kentucky has risen to four, but the extent of the destruction is still unknown.

As Karen Zahr with Member Station WUKY reports, emergency crews and volunteer groups are still trying to help storm survivors. Too much water on the ground has led to not enough water to drink. Pumping stations and water treatment plants in several Kentucky cities and towns are on the brink. At a park in Georgetown, hundreds of cases of bottled water are stacked and being handed out from a picnic shelter. In the Seniors Center across the parking lot, John Sternberg with the Red Cross helps people

who have lost everything settle in. These people, they are not gonna be able to go back where they were. Governor Andy Beshear says plans are in place with FEMA to begin helping current storm victims as soon as the president approves his request for individual disaster assistance. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Lexington.

You're listening to NPR. Thousands of indigenous people marched in the Brazilian capital Tuesday to demand that the state guarantee and expand their rights to traditional lands. The crowd wound its way around an area that houses the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court calling for land rights and climate action. Indigenous groups are also seeking the nomination of a co-president for COP 30. That's the climate change conference being held in Brazil next fall. An American

academic has been arrested in Thailand on charges of insulting the monarchy. Michael Sullivan has more from Chiang Rai. Charges of defamation against Thais are fairly common and used widely as a political tool to stifle dissent. Charging foreigners with the crime is rare. Paul Chambers, a long-time lecturer at Nadaswan University, reported to police on Tuesday after an arrest warrant was issued last week on a complaint by Thailand's powerful military. He was denied bail. Section 112 of Thailand's penal code says anyone found guilty of defaming the royal family can be punished with a sentence of up to 15 years. Chambers' lawyer says the accusations stem from a statement posted online and an academic

seminar Chambers attended as a speaker. He's pleaded not guilty. The U.S. State Department has expressed concern over Chambers' arrest. For NPR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai. Michael Sullivan U.S. futures are down 1% as President Trump's latest tariffs take effect, including a 104% levy on goods from China. Asian markets are also lower. Tokyo's benchmark is down over 3%.

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