NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-20-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: September 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, D.C. I'm Dale Wilman. California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law that bans most law enforcement from wearing masks on duty, except for things like riot gear, medical masks, and undercover work. It's the first bill of its kind in the country. Herardo Zavlov, Cap Radio, and Sacramento has more. The law comes in response to increased immigration enforcement in California, including the raids that sparked a massive protest in Los Angeles this summer. During a press conference in Los Angeles, Newsom recalled the recent ICE detention.

These masked men did not provide any information, name, badge number, hidden from accountability, any transparency, any oversight. That's Trump's America, but it is not the America we've grown up in. But the question of whether or not state lawmakers can regulate federal law enforcement remains unclear and could end up in the courts. This law takes effect next year, ICE declined to comment. For NPR News, I'm Herrata Zavala in Sacramento. Erica Kirk will lead Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization, her late husband Charlie Kirk, founded in 2012. NPR's Rachel Tressman reports. The Board of Turning Point USA unanimously elected Erica Kirk its CEO on Thursday, a week after her husband's death.

People close to the family have said this is the succession plan that Charlie Kirk wanted. The couple married in 2021 and have two young children. Erica Kirk, who runs a Christian clothing line and devotional podcast, often appeared with her husband at events, calling on women to prioritize family. Kirk has vowed to carry out her husband's mission and said Turning Point's annual conference and campus tour will continue. She is scheduled to speak alongside President Trump and Vice President Vance at Kirk's Memorial in Arizona on Sunday. Rachel Treesman and PR News An influential advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made changes to vaccine policy, at a two-day meeting this week, NPR's Peng Huang reports from Atlanta.

The panel is handpicked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and skews towards being critical of COVID vaccines. They voted to recommend that people consult with a medical provider before they get one. Panel member Retz-F-Levy, who led the discussions, wanted input on what people hear about the vaccines. Do we have a culture of safety? This has to do with acknowledging what the risks are and be truthful to parents and patients about what are the risks. The documented side effects are well known, fever, body aches, a rare risk of heart problems for young men. But the committee voted to add theoretical risks to a consumer information sheet, even though some of those harms have not been proven, despite billions of doses being given out.

Ping Huang, NPR News. A right-wing demonstration in the Netherlands turned violent on Saturday. Demonstrators clashed with police and vandalized the office of a political party. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the rioters. The demonstration took place just weeks before national election. You're listening to NPR News. Russian forces launched a major attack at nine regions of Ukraine this weekend. Ukraine's military says many of the drones and missiles were knocked down,

but explosions killed at least three people and dozens of others have been injured. Ukraine's president says a missile equipped with cluster munitions hit a multi-story building in the city of Denepro, and he said the attack was a strategy to intimidate civilians and destroy that country's infrastructure. Thousands of people are flocking to a small town in West Virginia to celebrate the mythical creature called Mothman. And Parisville Chapel has more. In the 1960s, two young couples saw an eerie sight on a dirt road in Point Pleasant. Here's Steve Ward, a local historian.

Now, this thing was roughly humanoid, six, seven foot tall, red glowing eyes and about a 10-foot wingspan. Newspapers called it The Mothman, and a legend was born. It spawned a movie and this annual festival, which is helping the local economy, me fly. Denny Bellamy is the county tourism director. Our main street was a ghost town, but it is filled with gift shops now and a waiting list to get on Main Street. He expects more than 20,000 visitors over the weekend. Bill Chapel, NPR News. Dante Moore threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns as number six Oregon beat Oregon estate 41 to 7 today. Moore was 21 to 31 for passing and the ducks finished

with 585 yards and total offense. Number 11 Oklahoma, meanwhile, beat number 22 Auburn 24 to 17. Number 21 Michigan squeaked out a win against Nebraska 30 to 27 and Mitchell Summers ran for 119 yards as Sacred Heart held off Norfolk State 31 to 28. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR 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. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. Tease and Cs apply.