NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-17-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: May 18, 2025

NPR News: 05-17-2025 10PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The scary new movie Sinners from the director of Black Panther finds Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers. It's got vampires, it's got great music, and it's a fun one to see with a big crowd. This is the most excited I've been about a movie in a very long time. We'll tell you why you should see Sinners on the biggest screen you can. Listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Herbst. In California, the FBI says an explosion this morning near a reproductive clinic in Palm Springs was deliberate. This was an intentional act of terrorism. As our investigation will unfold, we will determine if it's an

international terrorism or domestic terrorism. That's Akhil Davis, the assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles field office. He says one person died and they're working to identify them. Several others were injured. Davis also says the FBI has a person of interest, but that they aren't actively searching for a suspect. He says it's one of the largest bombings in Southern California. The explosion damaged several buildings and left blocks littered with debris. Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills says they're dealing with a massive crime scene. A doctor at the clinic, Mahar Abdallah, says the building is damaged but the IVF lab, eggs and embryos are okay. The FBI and ATF are joining local police in investigating this bombing. There's no word on a motive.

Severe storms and tornadoes in the central part of the country yesterday left more than two dozen people dead, 18 of them in Kentucky. Dozens of others are injured, some critically. Karen Zahr, with member station WUKY, has more from London, one of the hardest hit cities. Governor Indy Beshear surveyed damage from the air, then on the ground. Bechir said right now all efforts are on search and rescue and he has one fear in mind. I worry there might be a block, a whole block out there. Everybody's dead and I hope that's not the case. But you see five houses in a row. They're just gone. Bechir has put in a request for an official federal disaster declaration, and several members of the Kentucky General Assembly have promised state funding would be made available

for recovery. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zahar in London. A Republican congressman and former Trump cabinet member is blasting a House GOP plan to sell close to a half million acres of federal public land. MPs Kirk Sigler has more on the controversial proposal for the Nevada and southern Utah desert. Montana Republican Ryan Zinke served as secretary of the interior during Trump won. He recently helped start a bipartisan public lands caucus.

Speaking on NPR's Here and Now, Zinke said selling off federal lands is a red line. Zinke, President of the United States, said, the fundamental idea that you're going to sell public land and somehow that's going to pay off our $36 trillion debt is folly. Backers say the sales would give counties more flexibility for developments like housing. One of the sponsors of the amendments in the House budget bill is Utah Republican Celeste Malloy, whose district includes booming St. George, Utah. She's related to Cliven Bundy, whose family led armed standoffs over control of federal lands in the West.

Kirk Ziegler, NPR News, Boise. This is NPR. A new report finds that states across the country have made some progress in addressing the mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum women. Maternal mental health conditions like postpartum depression affect about one in five mothers every year. NPR's Ritual Chatterjee reports about three-quarters never get treatment. Researchers at the Policy Center on Maternal Mental Health

put out a report card that graded states for their level of access to care for mental health problems in pregnant women and new moms. They found that while overall the country is still failing to adequately address maternal mental health needs, there were incremental improvements since the year before. Five states, California, Colorado, Michigan,

Pennsylvania, and Washington, got the top grade of B for the very first time. Michigan had the biggest jump in grade from a D plus to a B minus by taking several steps to improve care, including screening for maternal mental health conditions. Two states, Alabama and Mississippi, received failing grades. Ritu Chatterjee, NPR News. Journalism won the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore today, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Gosgar finished second, Sandman was third.

There is no Triple Crown winner this year because Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty didn't race today. This is the final Preakness at that race course before renovations start at the track that are expected to take at least two years. In the meantime, the pregness will be held at nearby Laurel Park in Maryland. I'm Janene Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. Washington.