NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-15-2025 12PM EDT

Episode Date: June 15, 2025

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The news can feel like a lot on any given day, but you can't just ignore it when big, even world-changing events are happening. That's where the Up First podcast comes in. Every morning and under 15 minutes, we take the news and pick three essential stories so you can keep up without getting stressed out. Listen now to the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. In Minnesota, friends and associates are mourning the deaths of State Representative Melissa

Hortman and her husband, fatally shot inside their home by an intruder posing as a police officer. The search is on for the suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Belter. He's also a suspect in the shooting of state Senator John Hoffman and his wife. US Senator Amy Klobuchar says the Hoffmans are getting hospital care. His wife was out of surgery first and she's actually texted some of our mutual friends and he may face some additional surgeries but he is also in stable condition right now, from

what I know. Klobuchar spoke on NBC's Meet the Press. She says politicians in the state are getting extra protection that urges all citizens to be extremely cautious. As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, the East Mediterranean island of Cyprus is playing an unexpected diplomatic role. Rebecca Rossman reports. Speaking to reporters Sunday, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis revealed that Iran has asked Cyprus to pass quote some messages to Israel, though he didn't say who the messages were from or what they contained.

The request comes amid growing regional instability with Cyprus urging restraint from all sides. Christo Giulidis says he's spoken with leaders from Israel, Egypt, the UAE and Greece as Cyprus positions itself as a mediator. The island nation closest in the EU to the Middle East also criticized the bloc for what it called a slow response to the escalating crisis. Projectiles launched by Iran were visible from Cyprus over the weekend. The country has offered to help evacuate foreign nationals.

Rebecca Rolzman, NPR News, Istanbul. A big military parade in the nation's capital rolled ahead yesterday without incident. There were protests nationally against President Trump, however, many sparked by the administration's immigration enforcement policies. From member station KBBS, Tanya Thorne reports on events in San Diego. No King! No King!

Thousands of people showed up to San Diego's Waterfront Park for what organizers call No King's Day. Laura Schaefer from Los Angeles attended the rally with her son. We're out here because we want people to understand that what they're saying about LA, that there are riots, that there's widespread violence, is absolutely not true. And coming out here with my son, part of it is this is about the world that he's going to grow up into. The decision by President Trump to send the military to Los Angeles to support aggressive

immigration enforcement is helping to fuel nationwide protests. Around 12 different protests took place throughout San Diego County. For NPR News, Antonia Thorne in San Diego. The New York Times reports the Trump administration has directed immigration officers to pause arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels amid concern about the business impact of aggressive enforcement. This is NPR News in Washington. of aggressive enforcement. This is NPR News in Washington. In some parts of southern Europe, including places in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, the locals want the tourists to go away. The biggest protest today was in Barcelona where thousands turned out, firing water pistols at shop windows and setting off

smoke with banners declaring, your holidays, my misery. Peacocks are treasured for their majestic displays, but in little Tutbury, England, the townsfolk have had quite enough of an expanding population of the birds' ravaging gardens and private property. Vicki Barker has details. For the past quarter century,

a relentlessly growing population of peacocks has prowled the village of Tutbury. Locals complain they screech day and night, and as one told a reporter, they could poo for England. Officials say the birds are the responsibility of whoever owns them. Local lore says they once lived at nearby Tutbury Castle until neglect forced them to scavenge for food in the village.

Now, Tutberi Castle is part of the Duchy of Lancaster. One of King Charles's many titles is Duke of Lancaster. The Duchy's website says His Majesty, quote, takes a keen interest in the estate and his tenants. Apparently not that keen. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Parker in London. The Florida Panthers moved to the verge of a second consecutive Stanley Cup title by beating the Edmonton Oilers five to two in game five last night. The Panthers tie it up Tuesday night

if they can win game six. I'm Louise Ciavone, NPR News, Washington. Hey everybody, it's Ian from How To Do Everything. I'm Louise Chiavone, NPR News, Washington.