NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-24-2025 7PM EDT

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

NPR News: 04-24-2025 7PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump says he was not happy with Russia following deadly airstrikes on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, but he stopped short of calling Russia an obstacle to peace. More from NPR's Michelle Kellerman. In an Oval Office meeting with his Norwegian counterpart, Trump said he wasn't happy that in the midst of talking peace, missiles were flying. But he says he still thinks Russia is ready to make some concessions. Stopping the war, stopping taking the whole country, pretty big concession.

But Russia doesn't even control parts of Ukraine that it claimed to have annexed in the early stages of this war. And European countries don't want to see Russia rewarded for its land grab. Norway's prime minister says he exchanged ideas with Trump on what he calls a complex picture in Ukraine and thanked him for trying to negotiate a ceasefire. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. A key provision of President Trump

sweeping executive order on voting is now on hold. NPR's Jude Jaffe Block reports a federal judge has paused the president's directive that would require showing proof of citizenship to register to vote. Trump's March 25th order directs the Election Assistance Commission, which is an independent bipartisan body, to change the federal voter registration form to include a requirement that applicants show proof of citizenship. But a federal judge paused that provision, writing, quote, Our Constitution entrusts Congress and the states, not the president, with the authority to regulate federal elections.

The judge's ruling is a victory for voter registration groups and Democrats, who say such a requirement could create barriers for millions of eligible voters. In a statement, White House spokesperson Harrison Field said the president will keep fighting for election integrity. Jude Jaffe Block, NPR News. The Texas Senate has passed what could become the largest school voucher program in the country, sending the bill

to Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott made it a priority to add Texas to the more than 20 states that have been varying programs allowing tax dollars to be used for educating children in private schools. Existing home sales fell in March down nearly 6% from a month ago, MPRO's Laura Wamsley reports. Seasonally adjusted, the drop in existing home sales was the largest month-over-month decline since November 2022.

And it throws cold water on the idea that this would be the spring the housing market would recover, after two extremely slow years. Economists point to high mortgage rates as the culprit. Rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are now about 6.8 percent, having risen in recent weeks as President Trump's tariff threats roiled the bond markets that influence mortgage rates. Prices are still climbing, though more slowly than before. The median existing home sales price in March was about $404,000. Sales of new homes, meanwhile, ticked higher last month,

up 7% from February. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News, Washington. You're listening to NPR. Despite claims by the Trump administration of active negotiations with China over tariffs, China's denying that, saying any notion of progress in resolving the matter is groundless as, quote, trying to catch the wind. China's comments came after President Trump today said a current 145 percent tariff against

Chinese imports levied by the US could come down substantially. Nearly half of all Americans routinely breathe in air that is harmful to their health. That is the message from the annual State of the Air Report from the American Lung Association, MPR's Alejandro Burundu reports. Air in the US has become much cleaner over the past few decades.

The Environmental Protection Agency has said that's due in large part to the success of rules like the Clean Air Act. But there is still a lot of pollution floating in the U.S. skies. And NYU physician Nila Tumla says it's hurting people's health. A hundred and fifty six million people in the United States are still living in places with failing grades or unhealthy air of ozone and particle pollution. The report says climate change plays a role.

For example, smoke from wildfires made worse by climate change is polluting air across the country. The Trump administration has proposed rolling back many of the regulations that have contributed to the country's cleaner air. Alejandra Burunda, NPR News. Authorities on the Greek island of Crete say they have broken up an antiquity smuggling ring they say was trying to sell numerous ancient artifacts. Police say they recovered oil lamps, figurines, ceramic vessels, and a marble sculpture of

a child's head, among other items. Suspects are facing charges, including violating cultural heritage protection laws. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.