NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-07-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Black smoke has risen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. In the first round of voting of the Conclave to select a new Pope, it means the Cardinals have not yet decided on who should become the next leader of the Catholic Church. NPR's Ruth Sherlock has more. The first vote, just hours after the start of the conclave, was always unlikely to result in a papal election. But nonetheless, crowds of thousands stood in St Peter's Square, keeping their eyes

trained on that small chimney, the cardinal's only way of signalling to the outside world if they've chosen a new pope. Many priests and nuns were among the crowd, praying that the cardinals will hear the Holy Spirit to discern God's will about who should become Pope. There was laughter, too, as a seagull landed near the chimney, settling in for a front-row seat. The sky grew dark, and then black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, St. Peter's Square, The Vatican.

Losing Canada in the final contested statewide race of the 2024 election cycle has conceded. As NPR's Miles Parks explains, the race in North Carolina had worried democracy experts because of an effort to throw out legally cast votes. Maybe the most important rule in keeping elections fair and trustworthy is you can't change the rules after voting has happened. But Jefferson Griffin, a Republican running for a Supreme Court seat in North Carolina, spent the past six months trying to do just that. Recounts confirmed Griffin lost to Democrat Allison Riggs by more than 700 votes, but he filed multiple legal challenges, including one aimed at disqualifying votes in Democratic

strongholds that worried experts who saw it as an effort inspired by President Donald Trump's 2020 election denial. The effort bounced around the courts, but Monday a federal district judge appointed by Trump ordered the election to be certified for the Democrat rigs. And Griffin says he will respect that decision. Miles Parks, NPR News, Washington. On the first day of required possession of real ID compliant documentation of the nation's airports things appeared to have gone relatively smoothly. At least initially, officials saying travelers without a star or flag in the upper right

hand corner of their driver's licenses were still being permitted to pass through security. The Federal Reserve is keeping interest rates steady for the time being. Here's NPR's Scott Horsley. This was the Fed's first rate setting meeting since President Trump imposed a 10 percent tax on nearly everything the U.S. imports, along with a 145 percent tariff on most imports from China. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell warned those tariffs are likely to lead to higher prices and slower economic growth, at least in the short run. With inflation still running slightly above their target and unemployment at a low 4.2 percent last month, Fed policymakers voted unanimously to hold their benchmark interest rate unchanged. That rate helps determine

the cost of borrowing money to buy a car, expand a business, or carry a balance on a credit card. Scott Horslake, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR. The Federal Aviation Administration says it is making progress in terms of correcting the situation at Problem Plague Newark Airport. One initial step is to upgrade the technology used to get radar data to air traffic controllers who are directing planes at Newark. The agency says it's also working on a broader multi-billion dollar plan to be announced tomorrow for long overdue upgrades to the nation's air traffic control system. A January midair collision between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., that claimed lives of 67 people, has put a spotlight on concerns about aviation safety.

In the second New York sex crimes trial, the former film mogul Harvey Weinstein and new accusers taking the stand reported Ilya Meretz has been covering the trial. Prosecutors say Kaya Sokola was about 20 years old when Weinstein assaulted her in a hotel in 2006. It's one of three criminal counts against him. On the witness stand, Sokola described winning a modeling competition in her native Poland at just 14 years old and soon traveling to Paris and New York for work. She'll be back on the stand Thursday. Six female accusers testified at Weinstein's first New York trial in the year 2020, but only three are expected this time, and Sokola is the only new accuser the jurors will hear from. Weinstein maintains he's innocent. His previous conviction was overturned on procedural grounds. For NPR News,

Emilia Meritz in New York. Alabama's set to join some other states that are banning or restricting the use of cell phones by students, The Alabama Senate voting for the bill that would ban cell phones in K through 12 public schools unless the devices are stored in a locker or car some other location. Measure next goes to the Alabama governor for her signature. I'm Jack Spear and PR News.