NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-09-2026 5AM EDT

Episode Date: April 9, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Talks between the United States and Iran are set to begin this weekend in Pakistan, with delegations expected in Islamabad under tight security. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt says President Trump's negotiating team is prepared to engage, but is watching conditions in the region closely. The president will only make a deal that serves in the best interests of the United States of America. And he is at negotiating team will feel. focus on this effort over the next two weeks, so long as the Strait of Hormuz remains open

with no limitations or delays. But overnight, Iranian state media reported tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been suspended, accusing the U.S. of violating parts of the agreement tied to the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. NPR's D. Parvez reports the developments come as a ceasefire in the region is showing signs of strain. The spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guard posted on next that Iran will, quote, not leave our brothers in Hezbollah alone, adding that the IRGC Navy has started blocking ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Reopening the strait for two weeks was part of the ceasefire deal. This game after Israel launched what it called Operation Eternal Darkness against Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.

The White House maintains that the claims that the strait is closed are completely false. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Adelch said on next that, quote, the U.S. must choose ceasefire or continue war via Israel. It cannot have both. The world sees the massacres in Lebanon, the ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments. DePavaz, NPR News, Vaughn, Turkey. The man charged in the Long Island's serial killings has pleaded guilty and admitted to an eighth murder. Desire DiOrio from member station WSHU reports the case is drawn national attention for more than a decade.

Former New York City architect Rex Hewerman told a state court judge Wednesday he killed and in some cases dismembered eight women. Their scattered remains were discovered around Long Island as far back as 1993. Ray Tierney is the Suffolk County District Attorney. He says the plea doesn't mean the investigation is over. You know, there are still, you know, bodies on that beach. There are still bodies in Suffolk County. There's no rest for the weary.

We are going to continue to work with our partners and to try to obtain closure for as many families as we can. Hewerman faces three consecutive life sentences, plus 100 years, at his sentencing hearing in June. For NPR News, I'm Desiree Diorio on Long Island. Strogs across Asia traded lower today. Markets in Japan, China, and Hong Kong close lower. On Wall Street, Dow Futures are down.

163 points at this hour. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The California Supreme Court has ordered a county sheriff to pause an investigation involving hundreds of thousands of elections of election ballots. The Republican sheriff in Riverside County sees more than a half a million ballots as part of a probe into alleged election fraud. The court stepped in after the state's Democratic Attorney General challenged the action. The ballots are tied to a November 2025 special election on redistricting. People are trading lower monthly insurance premiums for higher health costs. Jackie 40A with KFF Health News reports. After some financial help from the government ended in January, many found the only Affordable Care Act plans they could swing

each month came with steep deductibles. That means higher costs before insurance pays. Some people are skipping care altogether. Thomas Lehman, a dog walker in Atlanta, saw his deductible jump to $7,500 this year. I mean, we only use it for maybe emergencies or semi-emergencies. These plans are also becoming more common in the workplace. In 2023, 30% of people with employer insurance at a high deductible plan up from 4% in 2006. That's Jackie 40A reporting. General Motors is recalling more than 270,000 Chevy Malibu vehicles in the U.S. The issue involves rearview camera screens that can appear blank or distort it. Federal safety regulators say that failure can limit visibility behind the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. The recall covers Malibu models from 2023 through

2025. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.