NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-01-2025 8PM EDT

Episode Date: June 2, 2025

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Support for NPR and the following message come from the Lemelson Foundation, working to harness the power of invention and innovation to accelerate climate action and improve lives around the world. Learn more at lemelson.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Hurst. Police in Boulder, Colorado say multiple people are injured or facing life-threatening injuries after receiving reports of a man setting them on fire this afternoon. From Embers Station KUNC, Emma Vanden Heinde has more. Emma Vanden Heinde Boulder police got initial calls from witnesses

saying there was a man with a weapon throwing gas and setting people on fire at an outdoor pedestrian mall where a march was taking place in support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Chief Steven Redfern says it would be irresponsible to speculate on motive now, but safety is his number one priority. If that motive was, a group was targeted, we will absolutely step up and ensure that additional security, additional presence, we want people to feel safe no matter what they're here for. Police have taken an adult male suspect into custody.

He was also taken to the hospital to treat minor injuries. For NPR News, I'm Emma Vanden Heide in Denver. The Senate returns tomorrow as President Trump demands they support his massive spending bill. And Piers Luke Garrett reports the House passed the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But some GOP senators say the current bill won't pass their chamber. A handful of Republican spending hawks in the Senate are casting doubt on a bill that would enact President Trump's domestic agenda of cutting taxes, increasing border spending,

and scaling back safety net programs. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told Fox News he supports Trump, but this bill fails to rein in U.S. spending. My loyalty is to the American people, to my kids and grandkids. We cannot continue to mortgage their future. And Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky told CBS News the bill is too expensive to pass. I think there are four of us at this point, and I would be very surprised if the bill at least is not modified in a good direction.

If the Senate makes changes, the bill would have to pass the House again before reaching Trump's desk. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. Today is the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. And Pierce Debbie Elliott reports forecasters are warning of an active season. National Weather Service forecasters predict above normal hurricane activity this year, following a very busy 2024 that brought 18 named storms. This year, forecasters say the Atlantic basin could see 6 to 10 hurricanes,

half of which could be major, with winds topping 110 mph. NOAA says several factors are at play, including reduced trade winds and warm ocean temperatures that fuel tropical storm formation. The Atlantic hurricane season opens amidst staff cuts at FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which the Trump administration has considered eliminating. Debbie Elliott, NPR News. US futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. All three major indices are down around three-tenths of a percent. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Disposable vapes are now banned in the United Kingdom. And Piers Lauren Frayer has more

from London. This ban is part of an effort to curb youth vaping and cut down on electronic waste. Data show a quarter of 11-15 year olds in the UK have tried vaping and one in ten vape often. But some reusable vapes are almost identical to disposable ones. And so Hazel Cheeseman, head of an anti-tobacco charity, tells the BBC that this ban might just encourage youth to switch types of vapes rather than quit.

Teenagers weren't drawn to these products because you could throw them away after. They were drawn to them because they were brightly coloured and they were really, really available. And she says those things are still true for reusable vapes, which remain legal. The UK government is separately weighing legislation to phase out cigarettes altogether and extend smoking bans to more outdoor settings. Lauren Freyer and PR News London. At the weekend box office, Disney's Lilo and Stitch took the top spot again with an estimated 63 million dollars in ticket sales. The

hybrid live-action movie has made 280 million dollars and it's the second highest grossing film of this year so far. In second place Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning with 27 million dollars it's taken in 353 million dollars globally that movie cost a reported 400 million dollars to produce. In third place Sony's Karate Kid Legends debuted with 21 million dollars. The movie brings back Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio together to train a new kid. Rounding out the top five Final Destination with 21 million dollars. The movie brings back Jackie Chan and Ralph Matio together to train a new kid. Rounding out the top five, Final Destination Bloodlines with 10 million and Bring Her Back with 7 million. You're listening to NPR News.