NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-26-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: April 26, 2025

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Having news at your fingertips is great, but sometimes you need an escape. And that's where Shortwave comes in. We're a joy-filled science podcast driven by wonder and curiosity that will get you out of your head and in touch with the world around you. Listen now to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. After three days, officials at the Vatican say public viewing for the late Pope Francis is over. He died Monday at the age of 88.

NPR's Jason DeRose reports from Rome on the Pope's umpcoming funeral, which starts in about one hour. Pope Francis' Requiem Mass begins Saturday morning in St. Peter's Square. World leaders, including President Donald Trump, are scheduled to attend, as is former U.S. President Joe Biden, who's a practicing Catholic. Francis Coffin will then be taken

to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he'll be buried. Among those participating in the burial is former Los Angeles Archbishop Cardinal Roger Mahoney, who's been barred from public ministry in Los Angeles due to his role in the clergy sex abuse cover-up. Saturday begins a nine-day period of official mourning leading up to the conclave at which Cardinals will elect the next head of the Roman Catholic Church. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Rome. The National Science Foundation, the government agency that is a major funder of research

in science, math and engineering, has canceled more than 700 grants as NPR's Nell Greenfield-Bois reports the move comes a day after the NSF director abruptly resigned. The NSF funds a lot of the research, education and infrastructure for the science that goes on around the nation, especially at colleges and universities. But it's now stopping funding for a lot of work. The first wave of cancellations about a week ago targeted research on misinformation and efforts to increase diversity in science, math, and engineering. Then amid reports that the agency's budget and staff might possibly be cut in half,

the NSF director resigned. And now there's been another wave of cancellations, more than 700 projects this time. An NSF spokesperson says the canceled work was quote, not aligned with agency priorities. Nell Greenfield, Boyce, NPR News. A Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge was arrested Friday outside of her courthouse by the FBI after she was accused by the Trump administration of helping a man evade federal immigration authorities. NPR Justice

Correspondent Ryan Lucas says the arrest of Judge Hannah Duggan escalates the clash between local officials and the White House over immigration policies. The mayor of Milwaukee, Cavalier Johnson, criticized the Trump administration over Dugan's arrest. He said that it will deter people without legal status from coming to court. Now Dugan was in court today for her initial appearance. Her attorney said that Dugan regrets and protests her arrest. He said it was not made in the interest of public safety.

Dugan though was released after her court hearing and she's scheduled to reappear for her arraignment in the middle of next month. Wisconsin's Democratic Governor Tony Evers is also denouncing the arrest saying the Trump administration is using dangerous rhetoric. You're listening to NPR News. The man charged with murdering a health care executive in New York City last December, Luigi Mangione, has pleaded not guilty to federal murder charges. He's also facing a state murder charge. Federal officials say they intend to pursue the death penalty. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate and a member of a wealthy Maryland family. He is charged with shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of a New York City hotel. 2.2 million might seem like a hefty asking price for two apartments

on just over nine acres of land in Tennessee, but what if it included a three-mile cave system? Chad Barrett with member station WETS has more on this unique Appalachian attraction now up for sale. Appalachian Caverns in Blountville, Tennessee opened to the public in 1991 and has been a popular attraction in the region ever since. Here's Roger Hartley, the owner since 2004, on why he's decided to sell. I'm three and a half years away from retirement. I've got time to sell and if it doesn't sell right now, I'm still okay. A little over 10,000 people visit the Appalachian Caverns per year, but a couple endangered species also call the caverns home.

So you do have the endangered gray bat, the most populous bat we have here. We have about 15,000 grays. And then we have the endangered Indiana bat. Hartley hopes that whoever buys the property shares his passion for preservation of the caverns. For NPR News, I'm Chad Barrett in Johnson City. Former President Bill Clinton is eulogizing Alexis Herman, who died Thursday, who served in his administration for four years as the Secretary of Labor from 1997 until 2001.

From Washington, this is NPR. Support for NPR. At NPR.