NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-19-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: September 19, 2025

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Hey, it's Rachel Martin. I'm the host of Wildcard from NPR. For a lot of my years as a radio host, silence sort of made me nervous. That pause before an answer, because you don't know what's going on on the other side of the mic. But these days, I love it. Hmm. Ah. Gosh. Give me a minute. Yeah, yeah. Think. Listen to the Wild Card podcast, only from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. confusion and turmoil continue to dominate a closely watched meeting of vaccine advisors to the CDC today. They're discussing changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. NPR's Rob Stein reports. On Thursday, the committee voted to stop recommending a vaccine that protects children against chicken pox, along with measles, mumps, and rebella for children younger than four. But the committee also voted to continue letting a federal program pay for the shots. On Friday, the committee acknowledged members were confused when they took that vote and reversed that decision. Then, amid more confusion and apparent dissension within the committee,

the advisors tabled a vote to stop recommending vaccinating all babies against hepatitis B within the first day of life. Rob Stein, NPR News. Israel has closed the only border crossing between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It has also suspended aid trucks bound for Gaza. after a Jordanian truck driver killed two Israeli soldiers. NPR's Jane Araf has more. Israel said Friday it had closed its Allen B Bridge crossing until further notice after the attack Thursday

by a Jordanian driving an aid truck. It identified the two Israelis killed as soldiers. Jordan said a Jordanian truck driver hired three months ago, apparently shot and stabbed the two men before being killed by Israeli forces. The crossing is the only. access in and out of the Israeli-occupied West Bank for most Palestinians. Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, is also a main route for food and medicine for Gaza. Israel said it was

suspending access to aid trucks from Jordan. Jane Arraf and PR News, Beirut. Turning Point USA has named Erica Kirk as its new CEO. The widow of Charlie Kirk takes over operations after her husband was murdered last week during a speaking event. Utah. She'll be one of the speakers at a memorial service for him in Arizona on Sunday. It'll be held at State Farm Stadium and President Trump, Vice President Vance, and several other administration officials are expected to give remarks to honor the conservative activist. Turning Point, USA held a vigil at Colorado State University last night. Tony Gorman with Colorado Public Radio reports. More than 1,000 people filled the east side of CSU's

Canvas Stadium to celebrate Kirk's life. Gabe St. USA chapter president from the University of Wyoming said Kirk gave young conservatives and Christians a voice across college campuses. Charlie was more than just some guy or the guy that got the president elected, senators elected, congressman elected. He was our hero as students on college campuses across the country. For NPR news, I'm Tony Gorman and Fort Collins. This is NPR News. A new report shows clean energy jobs in the U.S. continue to be added. NPR's Camila Dominovsky says the latest figures don't count recent project cancellations. For the last decade, the Business and Environment Group E2 has put out

an annual census of clean energy jobs. How many people are employed in solar, wind, electric vehicles? The latest report finds that clean energy jobs were increasing three times faster than the rest of the U.S. economy. The study is based on data from the U.S. Energy and Employment report. That data set does not reflect changes since January when President Trump took office and started rolling back funding and permits for clean energy. E2 notes that $22 billion in clean energy investments have been canceled or downsized this year, representing nearly 17,000 jobs. Kamila Dominovsky, NPR News. The city of Charleston, South Carolina is ending its years-long legal fight against fossil fuel companies over climate change. The city says it won't appeal a state judge's recent decision to dismiss the case.

Charleston's suit accused ExxonMobil, Chevron, and other oil companies of knowingly playing a role in contributing to the harmful impacts of extreme weather and climate change. Forecasters today are watching Tropical Storm Gabrielle in the Atlantic. It is getting stronger and may become a hurricane by Sunday. Right now, Gabrielle is about 900 miles or so southeast. Bermuda. The storm is expected to pass by the island Sunday night into Monday. I'm Kristen Wright, and this is NPR News in Washington.