NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-28-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: August 28, 2025

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Sources and methods, the crown jewels of the intelligence community. Shorthand for, how do we know what's real, who told us? If you have those answers, you're on the inside, and NPR wants to bring you there. From the Pentagon to the State Department to spy agencies, listen to understand what's really happening and what it means for you. Sources and Methods, the new national security podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Prayer vigils were held across Minneapolis last night to remember the two children who were killed in a shooting on Wednesday morning. 14 other children and three adults in their 80s were wounded during a mass to celebrate the first week of classes at Annunciation Catholic school.

Matt Seppick of Minnesota Public Radio reports. Police say the attacker, a 23-year-old former student, fired through windows from outside the church. Pat Scallon, a parishioner who lives nearby, ran to the church before ambulances started to arrive and comforted a boy who suffered a wound to his arm and a girl who had a neck wound. She was conscious, her eyes were good, and she was just a brave little. Then there was another boy who got grazed in the arm, I think, another brave kid. They're all around fourth grade grade. Authorities say the 17 wounded people are expected to survive.

The shooter died by suicide at the scene. Authorities are investigating a motive. For NPR news, I'm Matt Seppick in Minneapolis. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the next round of vaccines for COVID-19. But as NPR's Rob Stein reports, the agency is imposing new restrictions on who can get the shots. 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 PR News. Russian airstrikes and Ukraine overnight have resulted in several deaths and more than 20 injuries. NPR's Greg Myrie reports the targets, including included an apartment building in the country's capital that was hit by a missile. The apartment building took a direct hit from the Russian missile, and much of it collapsed.

The attack also included drone strikes on other residential areas into shopping mall, according to Ukrainian officials and photos posted on social media. While Kiev was hardest hit, the Russians unleashed missiles and drones on several other Ukrainian cities. The capital has the most extensive air defenses of any Ukrainian city, but some Russian strikes still managed to get through. The latest Russian attack comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war appear stalled. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Lviv, Ukraine. Stocks across Asia closed mix today.

Shares traded higher in China and Japan, while markets in Hong Kong posted losses. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Emergency crews across California are working to contain several fast-moving wildfires. The Garnet Fire in Fresno County is at zero containment and continues to grow. In Napa County, firefighters are also struggling to slow the picket fire, which is less than one-third contained. Amtrak is unveiling a faster fleet of acetyl trains. NPRs Joel Rose reports the first new train, will begin running today along the Northeast Corridor.

Amtrak says the next-gen Acella trains can reach top speeds of up to 160 miles per hour, 10 miles per hour faster than the current fleet. They're also lighter and larger, with 27 percent more seats. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke at an event in Washington before the train's inaugural run to New York and Boston. They're beautiful. They're going to be faster, but most importantly, a better experience for the traveling public. Amtrak is celebrating record ridership.

last year. But the unveiling comes at a challenging moment for high-speed rail in the U.S. as the Trump administration tries to pull billions of dollars in federal funding from a troubled project in California. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. The powerball jackpot has skyrocketed to 950 million after no one matched the winning numbers in last night's drawing. Players had the chance to win a prize worth more than $850 million. That's the six largest in the game's history. The next drawing is set for Saturday night. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

Military commanders, intelligence officials, diplomatic power players, they know things you may not about where the world is headed, and we will pull back the curtain on what they're thinking on sources and methods, NPR's new national security podcast. Our team will help you understand America, shifting role in the world. Listen to sources and methods from NPR.