NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-22-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: April 22, 2025

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Hey, it's Amartines. Even as the host of a news show, it can be hard to keep up with the headlines. That is why we make the Up First podcast. Every morning in under 15 minutes, we cover three major stories with context and analysis from reporters around the world so you can catch up on lo que está pasando while getting ready, making desayuno, or going to work. So listen to the Up First podcast from NPR. going to work. So, listen to the Up First Podcast from NPR. Shea Stevens Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Clergy of all faiths are remembering Pope Francis, who died on Monday at the age of 88. NPR's Sarah Ventry reports on some of the Christian leaders who say they found meaning in the Pope's messages on social justice.

The Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, Sean Rowe, said of Pope Francis in a statement, throughout his life and ministry, he has been a witness for the gospel and a champion for the poor and marginalized. The Presbyterian Church USA posted on Facebook saying, his life was a testament to humility and compassion, embodying the spirit of service and love for our neighbors. It also said Pope Francis' commitment to social justice and environmental stewardship inspired millions. Francis was particularly vocal on issues related to the environment and migration and was known

to make public addresses to world leaders about policies he saw as unjust. Sarah Ventry, NPR News. Sarah Ventry, NPR News. President Trump is praising his defense secretary amid new reports that Pete Hecsep used snicknall chat to discuss sensitive information. Hecsep says the accusation is coming from disgruntled former employees bent on destroying reputations. As NPR's Tom Bowman reports, the secretary is accused of sharing classified information

on recent U.S. military strikes in Yemen. I'm told he used his Pentagon cell phone for the first call and at the same time used his personal cell to send the same information to another group chat that included his wife, brother, and his lawyer. The information was highly classified, included flight times for U.S. warplanes, bombing targets, weapons to be used, minute-by-minute details. He was getting through secure communications from senior military officers with central

command. NPR's Tom Bowman. At the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices will hear arguments in a case that could affect schools nationwide. At issue is whether parents can keep their children out of classes, where the discussion may involve books with LGBTQ characters. More from NPR's Nina Totenberg. The parents are invoking their rights to determine and guide their children's values. They contend

that by using these books in the general curriculum, the school board is violating their rights to the free exercise of religion. The school board counters that an opt-out is not required for mere exposure to ideas, and that if such opt-outs were required, the schools would likely face opt-out demands for science classes where evolution is taught or history classes where the role of women in the workplace is discussed, all of which, the school board says, would disrupt classes and lead to the balkanization of education. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

The Department of Education says it will soon start collecting on defaulted student loans. Beginning May 5th, the department plans to begin withholding government payments, including tax refunds. And after a 30-day notice, it plans to begin garnishing wages. This is NPR. An engine fire on a Delta Airlines plane forced passengers to evacuate via emergency chute on Monday in Orlando. There were no reported injuries among the almost 300 people aboard the aircraft.

Flight 1213 was about to deport Orlando, or Atlanta, when the fire broke out. It was the latest in a series of aviation incidents in North America this year. A new women's record was set at the Boston Marathon. Esteban Bustios from member station DBH has details. Last year, Kenya's Sharon Loquetti lost to Helen O'Berry by just eight seconds in the women's race. But Loquetti flipped the tables this year by beating Obiri and setting a new course record in the process with a time of two hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds.

Afterwards, Loketi said she loves competing with Obiri. The only difference this year is where she passed me last year is where I passed her today. I was like, I'm just not going gonna get a like letter ticket today from me. So I just wanted to fight as hard as I could. John Carrier, also of Kenya, won on the men's side with a time of two hours, four minutes, 45 seconds. His brother Wesley won the marathon in 2012.

For NPR News, I'm Esteban Bustillos in Boston. A nonprofit group plans to install giant sequoias on vacant land in Detroit. Archangel's ancient tree archive is donating sequoia saplings to mark Earth Day and to improve air quality. Detroit is the pilot city for the project, which is meant to improve air quality and protect sequoias, which have become increasingly more vulnerable to West Coast wildfires. This is NPR News.