NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-20-2025 8PM EDT

Episode Date: September 21, 2025

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There's something wrong with the plumbing in Cincinnati. Billions of gallons of raw sewage ends up in waterways every year. And for some, that raw sewage is a lot closer to home. When it's coming out of the drain down there, it's sewage. The stench was terrible. Listen to the Backed Up podcast from the NPR Network and Cincinnati Public Radio. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills into law today.

aimed at reigning in aggressive immigration enforcement in the state. From Member Station KQED in San Francisco, Juan Carlos Lura has more. The bills include a ban on law enforcement officers wearing masks on duty and a requirement that they identify themselves, with some exceptions. You're going to go out and you're going to do enforcement. Provide an ID. Tell us what's agency you represent. Provide us basic information that all local law enforcement is required to provide.

Schools will not be prohibited from allowing immigration agents onto school grounds, and they'd have to notify campus communities when agents are on scene. Lastly, immigration enforcement agents would be barred from entering certain areas of education or health facilities without a judicial warrant or court order. Most of the five new laws take effect immediately, except for the mask ban, which takes effect in January. For NPR News, I'm Juan Carlos Lata in San Francisco. The White House says the proposed TikTok deal with China will make the video-sharing social media app, majority-owned in the U.S. And Pierre Zva Poucatch has more.

Speaking with Fox News, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says there will be a seven-person board controlling the app's U.S. operations with six seats held by Americans under the proposed deal. The data and privacy will be led by one of America's greatest tech companies, Oracle, and the algorithm will also be contained. controlled by America as well. Leavitt says the deal should be signed, quote, in the coming days. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone Friday about the fate of the app. Trump has repeatedly extended the deadline for Beijing owner BiteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. operations as the administration works on a deal. Eva Pukatch and PR News. The International Rescue Committee says it suspended all of its aid programs in Gaza's city

Because it says the Israeli offensive has made it too dangerous. Israel launched a new ground offensive into Gaza City to begin a takeover, despite warnings that this would worsen the humanitarian crisis. Bob Kitchin is the group's head of emergencies. He says they delivered vital aid, but that's changed. Across Gaza, we're distributing about 90,000 liters of clean water every day. We're screening malnourished kids and giving them ready to use therapeutic feedback. to help them stay alive, and we're helping children and women who've faced such obvious but

such life-changing trauma. In Gaza City specifically, we've been doing all of those three things up until recently. Kitchin says there are still a half million people in Gaza City who are desperately trying to cling to their lives. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In Arizona, authorities say they've arrested an armed man posing as a police. officer at the stadium where a memorial for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk is set to happen tomorrow morning. Police say the man was booked on suspicion of impersonating a law enforcement officer and carrying a weapon in a prohibited space. He was released on bond. This amid heightened security for the football stadium where 100,000 people are expected to attend the event,

including President Trump and Vice President Vance. Security will include drones and hundreds of police officers. Sales of electric vehicles have risen sharply in the past few months. One reason? Many shoppers are trying to take advantage of hefty federal tax credits the end September 30th. As NPR's Kamila Dominovsky reports, that means it's going to be hard to tell what demand for EVs really looks like. In August, compared to last year, new EV sales were up nearly 18 percent and used EVs up nearly 60 percent, according to Cox Automotive. Shoppers can get a credit worth up to 7,000. Shoppers can get a credit worth up to $7,500 or $4,000 on a used car, but only if a binding contract is signed by September 30th. The vehicle itself can be delivered later.

The Republican tax and spending package this summer ended the tax credit, causing a scramble. Higher sales now and an expected slump starting next month means it'll take a while before companies can properly gauge the demand for battery-powered cars. Camila Dominovsky, NPR News. And I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. 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.

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