NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-27-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: August 27, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rom. Gunfire erupted this morning at a Catholic church in Minneapolis, killing two children and injuring 17 others, including children. Authorities have identified the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman. NPR's Giuliani Kim reports. Minnesota Governor Tim Wall says students were in the middle of their first week of classes when the unthinkable happened. Filled with the first days of school of beautiful children going to learn those values, share with their teachers and their classmates. And instead of that joy and that curiosity and that learning, they were met with evil and horror and death. Local authorities said 14 children between the ages of 6 and 15 were injured by gunfire.

Three adult parishioners who were in their 80s were also wounded. Investigators also said the shooter appeared to have no prior criminal. criminal history, but they were currently reviewing an apparent manifesto written by Westman. Juliana Kim, NPR News. At least a dozen employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency have been suspended. NPR's Rebecca Hersher reports, the workers signed their names to a public letter, warning that the Trump administration is undercutting the agency's ability to respond to disasters. The letter was sent to Congress on Monday and was signed by nearly 200 current and former employees.

Most of the signatories were anonymous. Among the concerns detailed in that letter, they note that FEMA's leader has no experience managing disaster response. This, as peak hurricane season gets underway. Now, at least a dozen FEMA workers who signed the letter have been suspended. That's according to the advocacy group, Stand Up for Science, which helped publicize the letter and spoke directly to those employees. FEMA did not respond to questions from NPR about the suspended employees. Rebecca Hersher, NPR News. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the next round of COVID vaccines,

but it's imposing new restrictions on who can get the shots. NPR's Rob Stein has more. The FDA approved COVID vaccines from Pfizer-Biontect, materna, and Novavax. In the past, the shots have been available to anyone aged six months and older, but the FDA is now limiting the vaccines to people who are at risk for serious complications. from COVID. That includes people ages 65 and older, and younger people who have other health issues that put them at risk. Federal officials say that changes reflect how much immunity people have.

Many public health experts worry the restrictions will make it too hard for other people to get vaccinated. Rob Stein and Peer News. On Wall Street today, stonks closed higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 147 points. The NASDAQ rose 45 points, and the S&P 500 ended the day up 15 points. This is NPR News in Washington. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said today, his department will take over managing Washington's Union Station from Amtrak. He says the federal government can do a better job, attract more tenants, and generate more money. Rights groups have long criticized the European Union for funding the Coast Guard in Libya and security forces in Tunisia.

despite their record of abusing the rights of migrants. Now a new report by Human Rights Watch focuses on a lesser-known effort by the EU to prevent migrants arriving on European shores. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports. The 142-page Human Rights Watch report highlights a deal the EU made last year with Mauritania, giving the African nation 210 million euros to stop migrants passing through the country as they try to reach Europe. The report documents cases in which it says

Mauritania Police, Coast Guard and other security bodies have tortured, raped, extorted and detained migrants in inhumane conditions. Human Rights Watch says the European Union and Spain, which funded the efforts separately, share responsibility for the abuses. The European Commission says its partnership with Mauritania is, quote, solidly anchored in respect for rights. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News. Thousands of people descended on a town in eastern Spain today for an annual food fight.

This is the 80th anniversary of Tomitina when participants throw tons of overripe tomatoes at each other. It's not clear exactly how the tradition started but has grown to attract people from all around the world. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.