NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-08-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: May 8, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Catholics around the world are rejoicing over the election of a new pope, but perhaps nowhere more than in the US. That's because the newly chosen pope, Leo XIV, has a background as a missionary and hails from South Suburban Chicago. Member station WBEZ's Anna Savchenko has more. Father Gregory Sakowicz is director of the Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago, and he was given communion when he learned from the congregation that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope.

Sakowitz said Cardinal Prevost's earlier ministry in Peru shows that he will be a voice for the voiceless. Pope Leo XIV, I'm going to say this, I think he's going to be very strong on the immigrant, human rights and the earth, the care for the earth. He also said his nationality as an American pope doesn't define him as he's a child of God. From Peer News, Amanda Savchenko in Chicago. Bells also ringing in Lagos, Nigeria today at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Lagos.

Parishioners were celebrating the choice of Leo to be the next spiritual head of the 1.4 billion member church. Emperor Emmanuel Aconwoto was there. Masses just ended at Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral in Lagos, and parishioners who've attended service are just leaving and reacting to the news of the new pope, Pope Leo. The new pope is not from Africa, but to many of the parishioners here, it's irrelevant. What really matters to many of them is that the new pope embodies the humility and example

that Pope Francis set. MPR's Emmanuel Aconuoto. President Trump says he is pulling his pick for US attorney in Washington, DC. The nominee, Ed Martin, has been a source of controversy since he took over the US attorney's office following Trump's inauguration. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas. Speaking to reporters, Trump said it is clear that Ed Martin does not have the support in

the U.S. Senate to win confirmation and that he plans to nominate a new candidate soon. Trump added that he hopes to find a spot for Martin elsewhere in his administration. Martin's nomination has generated controversy from the start. He has no prosecutorial experience, but he did advance false claims about election fraud in 2020 and has defended Capitol rioters. As interim U.S. attorney for DC, one of the most important U.S. attorney's offices in the country, Martin fired prosecutors who worked January 6 cases and threatened to investigate Trump's perceived political opponents. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

The European Union says it's published a list of imports to target for retaliatory duties in the event no solution is found to end President Trump's tariff battle. The announcement coming on the same day the U.S. and UK announced they've reached a broad agreement. The European Union announced plans to begin legal action at the World Trade Organization over the so-called reciprocal tariffs Trump put in place last month. The EU Commission's list includes US imports totaling $107 billion. On Wall Street, the Dow rose 254 points. This is NPR.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates now says he will donate the bulk of his fortune, the remaining 99% of his tech fortune, to his Gates Foundation. Gates also announced that his foundation will now shut down in 2045, earlier than previously planned. The Gates Foundation is a supporter of NPR. It's being called one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever. Health officials in Los Angeles are warning the public about a growing outbreak of hepatitis A. The number of cases there tripled in 2024 and it's unclear what's behind the

increase. Ampures Will Stone reports. Hepatitis A is a viral illness that affects the liver. It's spread through person-to-person contact or contaminated food and water due to poor hygiene and sanitation. Usually those who are at high risk are travelers from abroad, people who are homeless or use drugs. But Dr. Sharon Balter with the LA County Department of Public Health says more recent cases in LA have not followed this pattern. Beginning this year we're seeing that many if not most of the people don't have the risk factors that we would expect. Balter says they're encouraging people to consider getting the hepatitis A vaccine which most adults over 25 have never received.

Will Stone, NPR News. Officials at Yellowstone National Park say they've recorded the first violent incident of the year involving a visitor and a bison, the animal gouging a 47-year-old man from Florida on Sunday at Lake Village, an area of cabins inside the park. Park officials repeatedly warned visitors not to get too close to animals, which is what apparently led up to the attack. The man was treated for minor injuries. Critical futures prices closed higher, oil up 3 percent today to $59.91 a barrel in New York.

I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.