NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-30-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: August 30, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. Yemen's Houthi rebels say in Israeli airstrike this week killed their prime minister and other government ministers. NPR's Jane Arraf has the details. Yemen's official Houthi-run media said Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahuhi, and several ministers were killed in an Israeli attack on a cabinet meeting, while others were seriously injured. Israel on Thursday said it targeted what it called a Houthi military site in the Yemeni capital. but did not announce the deaths.

Yemen's Houthi-controlled government said the killings were in retaliation for Yemeni strikes on Israel in support of Palestinians since the war in Gaza began. It said it is even more committed now to that path. The Houthis have also targeted Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea.

Jane Arath and Pure News, Amman. Lawyers for the Maryland man wrongfully deported to El Salvador and later returned to the United States are asking a judge do issue a judge to issue a gag order blocking government officials from making statements about their clients. NPR's Sergio Martinez-Beltren has more on the case of Kilmar-Abrego-Garcia.

The Trump administration has accused Abregor Garcia of committing, quote, heinous crimes, but it has not provided any evidence. Abrogo-Garcia has not been convicted of any crimes, but has been indicted on two federal charges related to human smuggling. He pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys say the continuous public statements made by the Trump administration prejudices Abrago Garcia's right to a fair trial.

They say he is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Abrago Garcia was released last week from criminal detention in Tennessee pending that trial, but he was taken into immigration custody earlier this week. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News. A Texas bill cracking down on medication abortions could become the strictest abortion law in the country. Olivia Aldridge of Member Station KUT reports. Abortions are banned in Texas unless a mother's life or a major bodily function is at risk, but it's still possible to get abortion medications prescribed by an out-of-state doctor and sent by mail.

This new bill would let private citizens receive a cash reward for suing manufacturers, prescribers, and those who help bring the pills into Texas. State Representative Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat, opposes it. The purpose of this bill is not to protect women. If it were, then there would be a minimum requirement that someone prove harm before being allowed to pursue a lawsuit. The bill passed in the Texas House of Representatives and moves to the Republican-led Senate next week. I'm Olivia Aldridge in Austin. In the much-anticipated college football matchup between number one Texas and number three, Ohio State.

Ohio State won 14 to 7. the game played in Columbus, Ohio. Several of the games are underway. You're listening to NPR News. Russia said today launched a large aerial attack on southern Ukraine just days after an airstrike in Kiev killed 23 people. Today's attack struck a residential building, leaving at least one person dead, 23 others wounded. Meanwhile, American-led peace efforts appeared to have stalled. Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelensky, is expressing frustration over Russia's lack of interest. in holding peace talks. Zelensky said Friday, Ukrainian officials want to meet with President Trump and other European leaders to discuss the status of the talks. The fast food chain Taco Bell

is getting backlash for using AI's chat box to take drive-through orders. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports customers are also playing some pranks on the system. Taco Bell has AI ordering installed in hundreds of locations around the country. Social media videos show frustrated customers trying to interact with the chat bot. No, I have a mobile order under Aaron. Could you say the name again, please? Aaron. People are also posting videos of their successful attempts to bypass the bot.

Can I get 18,000 water cups, please? And get a real human on the line. What can I get for you? Taco Bell did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment, but a company executive told the Wall Street Journal it is re-evaluating how best to deploy the technology. Chloe Valtman, NPR News. In Minneapolis, most of the young students and teachers wounded in this week's mass shooting at a Catholic school have been released from area hospitals.

Two students died, 18 others. Most of the elementary school-age children were wounded in the attack. Some of the wounded are receiving get-well cards from classmates. This is NPR News. I'm Dan Ronan.