NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-13-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: September 14, 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 in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. The killing of Turning Point co-founder Charlie Kirk in Utah is raising questions about the vulnerability of public figures to violence. NPR's Meg Anderson reports that officials for found six police officers were working the Utah Valley University event where Kirk was murdered. The shooter fired from a rooftop about 150 yards away, so more police on the ground might not have made a difference. But security experts told NPR the amount of officers was not enough

for the event, which drew around 3,000 people. There are ways to defend against the sniper attack, ballistic glass, drones, counter-sniper. But Jason Russell, a former Secret Service agent, says they're expensive and they don't fix the deeper problem. You know, obviously, if you pay any attention to social media, it's extremely divisive and now it's become almost a us versus them mentality. Ultimately, to stop violence, Russell says you have to make fewer people feel like it's the only way forward. Meg Anderson, NPR News. Guard troops remain in Washington, D.C. for now. But federal control over the city's police force has expired. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports both supporters and critics of the move hope it will have lasting change.

In a southeast D.C. neighborhood with a history of high crime, 32-year-old Michael Jackson says it's seemed more peaceful during the federal surge, and he thinks that may last. Because of Donald Trump, I think if he feel like doing it again, I think he can do it again if he wants it. In a gentrifying neighborhood closer to downtown, 69-year-old Abigail Friedman says she's felt less safe and more aware of D.C.'s limited home rule. Those of us who live here have got to be more conscious about defending our rights. As the crime emergency declaration ended, a congressional committee took up measures to exert more control over the district. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington. More than two years into the Sudan Civil War, the U.S. Civil War,

U.S. is signing onto an international proposed roadmap to end the fighting. Michael Koloki has more on the story. In a joint statement, the U.S., Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are proposing a three-month humanitarian troops in Sudan, followed by a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transitional process to establish civilian-led governance in the country. It calls on all sides to facilitate humanitarian access and assistance across Sudan. Since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudan, Army's armed forces and the paramilitary group the rapid support forces or at SF, tens of

thousands of civilians have been killed. Earlier this week, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Sudan's finance minister, Gibral-Ibrahim, accusing him of undermining a democratic transition. For NPR News, I'm Michael Koloki in Nairobi. And you're listening to NPR News. The more than 150 Americans who get their health insurance through their employer could see cost increases next year by as much as 7%. out-of-pocket costs could also increase this as employers pass along the rising cost to employees.

Now some Republicans and Democrats in Congress say they're working together to extend tax credits that have made health insurance more affordable since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Those tax credits expire January 1st of 2026. Even in areas relatively undisturbed by human activity, insect populations are on the decline, according to new research from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Scientists say climate change is the likely factor. NPR's Alina Wise reports. In a remote meadow in the Colorado Mountains,

researcher Keith Sockman has calculated the density of flying insects over a period of 15 summers. During that time, he found that insect populations dropped by more than 72%. Scientists had attributed previous bug declines to things like boosts in agricultural productivity. But in the pristine Colorado Mountain Meadows, there wasn't a huge human footprint, and the bugs were still dying off. That led him to the conclusion that hotter summer temperatures were the likely culprit.

Many insects are vital to human survival. They're pollinators, they prey on the pest insects, and they recycled nutrients in soil. Experts recommend planting trees and flowers and not using insecticides. Alana Wise, NPR News. The Federal Reserve meets next week to consider lowering interest rates, I'm Dan Ronan in PR News. 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.

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