NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-13-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: October 13, 2025

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At Alt Latino, we celebrate Latin music all year round. But during Latin Music Month, we really amp it up. Once again, we're turning the Tiny Desk into El Taini and bringing you 11 hot-off-the-desk performances. Hear musical giants like Gloria Estefan in a more intimate setting. And get to know newer artists like Macario Martinez. Celebrate Latinidad with us all month long on the Alt Latino podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton.

Around 1700 Palestinians were released from Israeli prison and returned to Gaza today as part of a ceasefire deal in the war between Israel and Hamas. In return, the remaining 20 hostages still alive after being held in Gaza for more than two years were returned to Israel, along with several bodies of hostages. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf has more. The Palestinians returned to Gaza were part of thousands, seized by Israeli forces and imprisoned without charges during the war. In the city of Han Yunus, loved ones cheered at their release. Islam Ahmed, a journalist from northern Gaza, who was detained by the Israeli military late last year, spoke with NPR's Anas Baba. It was miserable in prison, we were beaten and humiliated, Ahmed said, noting he lost

more than 60 pounds in 10 months. Israel's prison service has defended its treatment of Palestinians, although human rights groups in Israel and abroad have documented serious mistreatment. Around 200 Palestinian prisoners were also released, many who had been serving sentences for serious crimes against Israelis and exiled to other countries. Kat Wandsdorf, NPR News. Major questions remain about the future of Gaza, including whether Hamas will disarm and

who will govern the enclave. But after celebrating the first steps of the U.S. brokered ceasefire deal, President Trump is trying to advance a broader peace in the region. He's calling for a new era of harmony in the Middle East. All the momentum now is toward a great, glorious and lasting peace. and our commitment to fulfilling the 20-point plan we developed together will be the crucial foundation for achieving that bright future and it's being worked on right now as we speak.

Trump spoke during a global summit in Egypt on Gaza's future. Trump urged world leaders to end old feuds and said the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is the first step to peace. About 20% of the U.S. Department of Education's remaining staff received reduction in force or RIF notices on Friday As NPR's Corey Turner reports, that includes nearly everyone inside the department's Office of Special Education. This office collects and analyzes data and annual reports from states, making sure they're following the federal law and serving the nearly 8 million kids with disabilities in the U.S. If staff worry a state has fallen out of compliance, they step in.

They even have customer service reps who answer calls directly from parents and families. I spoke with six staffers who received Rift notices. they told me nearly the entire staff had been laid off Friday, except for a few top executives and support staff. One said, quote, this is decimating the office responsible for safeguarding the rights of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. The Education Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Corey Turner, NPR News. U.S. stocks recovered more than half of their sell-off from Friday. The S&P 500 climbed one and a half percent.

From Washington, you're listening to NPR. News. Republican leaders of North Carolina's legislature say they will go ahead with redrawing the state's congressional districts next week to be more favorable for GOP candidates. It's part of President Trump's national gerrymandering effort, which started with a new map in Texas that could help Republicans win five additional seats in Congress there. Voters in California will decide whether to allow a new map there that would allow Democrats to win five seats.

Halloween candy is pricier than ever. ever this year with costs up by more than 20% since 2021, but that's not slowing down American consumers, as NPR's NETA Ulaby reports. Candy prices are up 8% this year alone, according to the National Confectioners Association. That's largely because of a cocoa shortage from West Africa. That area produces the majority of the world's cocoa. It's been deeply affected by climate change, like extreme droughts and rain. That in turn affects big chocolate companies like Hershey, which doubled prices.

earlier this year. Some consumer advocates are urging Americans to buy non-ch chocolate treats that could mean a lot of jolly ranchers for trick-or-treaters. Americans are expected to spend nearly $4 billion this year on Halloween candy. That's according to the National Retail Federation. Netta Ulibee, NPR News. Cape Verde will play in the World Cup for the first time next year after beating Eswatini, 3 to 0, securing one of the nine automatic spots for the African continent. It'll be the second smallest country by population to be featured in the World Cup after Iceland in 2018. I'm Rylan Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.