NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-21-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: August 22, 2025

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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theshmit.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Janine Hurst. Democrats in California passed a controversial redistricting proposal that would establish new congressional district lines favoring their party ahead of the 2026 midterm election. elections. Capradio's Laura Fitzgerald reports it comes as Texas is expected to approve a similar proposal favoring Republicans. The California proposal could yield five new congressional seats for Democrats next year. Governor Gavin Newsom says the plan will nullify the Texas redistricting proposal. Because when all things are equal, we're all playing by the same set rules, there's no question that the Republican Party will be the minority party in the House of Representatives next year. Republicans oppose the legislation, arguing it sidelines California's independent redistricting commission.

The measure now heads to voters who will weigh in during a special election on November 4th. For NPR News, I'm Laura Fitzgerald in Sacramento. After Israel said it's moving forward with plans to take control of Gaza's city, hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets denouncing what they see as forced displacement. And here is an Osbaba. Has more. In the heart of Gaza city, hundreds of Palestinians shaned in unison. The people want to end the war. Many carry signs.

Some wave Palestinian flags and others simply raise their voices in protest. Among them, young girls hold up a large empty plate with their word Gaza written in the center, a quiet but powerful symbol of the hunger gripping the population. The demonstration was organized by the Palestinian Journalist Association to protest the Israeli military planned advance. What many here fear is Israel's attention to push them out of their city for good. Gaza City officials say the city currently hosts around 1.2 million displaced residents. Israel says its plans to order them to move to the southern Gaza.

Anas Baba and Pura News, Gaza City. Home sales ticked up slightly last month, according to the National Association of Realtors. As Empire's Laura Wamsley reports, the housing market has been slow going ever since mortgage rates spiked a few years ago. Existing home sales in July were up 2% over June, according to the new figures. At the current pace, there will be about 4 million existing homes sold in the U.S. this year, which is low by historical standards. The market is slow because it's so expensive to buy. 30-year mortgage rates are averaging about 6.6%.

And overall, home prices have risen nearly 50% since before the pandemic. But there are some signs that things are shifting. Home prices have softened in some areas as more inventory has hit the market. There are significantly more homes for sale than a year ago. That's good news for buyers, giving them options and more leverage to negotiate. For sellers, it's not so good. Homes are taking longer to sell. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News.

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Eric Menendez has been denied parole after a hearing today by a panel of California's Board of Prison Terms. He can reapply again in three years and he can also file an appeal to come before the board earlier than that. His brother, Lyle, will have his own parole hearing tomorrow. The hearings were made possible by an L.A. Superior Court judge's ruling earlier this year that resentenced the brothers so that they were eligible for parole. The Menendez brothers were originally found guilty in 1996 of murdering their parents.

Six people are dead after an unspecified incident at a rural dairy in Colorado last night. as Ray Solomon with Member Station KUNC reports the cause is under investigation. Local fire department crews responded to a call for a confined space rescue at the Prospect Valley Dairy of northeast of Denver. When they got inside, they found six bodies. Weld County Chief Deputy Coroner Jolene Weiner says it's too early to share details about the nature of the confined space or the cause of the incident. We have confirmed six dead. They are all Hispanic males. We are investigating these. depths as possibly being the result of gas exposure in a confined space.

Confined spaces at Dary's can include manure tanks, silos, tunnels, and bunkers where toxic gases can accumulate. For NPR News, I'm Ray Solomon in Denver. All Street was lower by the closing bell, the Dowdown 152 points, the NASDAQ down 72, S&P 500 down 25. U.S. Futures contracts are trading mixed. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit wise.com. T's and C's Apply.