NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-29-2025 7AM EDT

Episode Date: October 29, 2025

NPR News: 10-29-2025 7AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Krova Coleman. Hurricane Melissa made landfall overnight in eastern Cuba. It's still a major Category 3 storm with winds of 115 miles per hour. But N.P.R. Zader Peralta reports the hurricane smashed into Jamaica first with top winds of 185 miles per hour. In Jamaica, authorities say the storm left some western provinces completely underwater. The Minister of Local Government, Desmond McKenzie, said some families were trapped in their homes by floodwaters. Rescue workers had not been able to get to them. And we are hoping and praying that the situation will ease

so that some attempts can be made to get to those persons. In Cuba, the storm came on shore west of Santiago de Cuba. Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated. The island is especially vulnerable because it is in the midst of a deep economic crisis. The government says it expects serious damage from the hurricane. Adirr-Pralta, NPR News, Mexico City. It is quieter today in Gaza after intense Israeli attacks overnight. Officials in Gaza say the Israeli strikes killed more than 100 people.

Of that number, 46 of them are children. NPR's Rob Schmidt's reports from Tel Aviv, Israel says it has stopped the airstrikes and declares the ceasefire has resumed. A spokesman for Gaza's civil defense called the attacks a humanitarian failure. In a statement, Israel's military said it had struck dozens of, quote, terror targets in the attack, including striking 30, quote, terrorists holding what it called command positions in terrorist organizations in Gaza. It went on to say it will uphold the ceasefire and will respond firmly to any violation of it. Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the attacks after he accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by killing an Israeli soldier in Israeli held territory in Gaza, a charge Hamas denies. Netanyahu also accused Hamas of staging the discovery and return of partial remains of a deceased hostage. Rob Schmitz, then Pierre News, Tel Aviv. The federal government shutdown is now starting its fifth week. Most federal government workers are not getting paid. Republicans and Democrats in Congress need to agree on a spending bill before they can resolve the impasse. Tammy Norton works for the IRS in Dania Beach, Florida. The Democrats against the Republicans, they're fighting against each other, but they're not

thinking about us civilized Americans out here. They're not thinking about us. And we what we're going through. Federal funding for programs such as Head Start and food assistance will dry up on Saturday. Democratic leaders in more than half of the states are suing the federal government over the suspension of the food assistance known as SNAP. More than 42 million Americans use SNAP benefits to obtain food. Vice President Van says he believes members of the U.S. military will be paid at the end of the week. He's not explained how the Trump administration will move money to accomplish this. It's NPR. President Trump is concluding talks with South Korean leaders about trade issues. He's highlighting his meeting tomorrow with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Big Tech

Company OpenAI has restructured itself as a for-profit company. It's known for its main product, the chat bot chat GPT. The move prepares OpenAI for an initial public offering. NPR's John Rewitt reports. OpenAI says it's transformed itself into a PBC or Public Benefit Corporation. That's a type of company that's legally obligated to create public or social goods. Previously, it was a non-profit, and under the new structure, an OpenAI Foundation will hold an equity stake in the corporation worth about $130 billion. OpenAI says that makes the foundation one of the best-resourced philanthropic organizations ever. The transition of the main business into a PBC now gives OpenAI the chance to raise capital by listing shares.

In a live stream after the announcement, CEO Sam Altby, said an IPO is the most likely path for the company, although they don't have specific plans or an exact time frame yet. The change of corporate structure got the blessing of the attorneys general in the states where the company is based and incorporated, California and Delaware. John Rewich, NPR News. The University of California, San Diego, says a new manuscript has come to light by late children's author Dr. Seuss. It's called Sing the 50 United States. Dr. Seuss's book will be published next year in time for the country's 250th birthday. The manuscript was found in the archives at U.C. San Diego, along with a cover

sketch by Dr. Seuss. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News.