NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-16-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: November 16, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jail Snyder. The Trump administration's surge of immigration agents to Charlotte, North Carolina, drew hundreds of protesters to a city park. We are raising a united front to fight back, protect our neighbors, and drive this violent operation out of our city. The surge in Charlotte began Saturday. There have been no major clashes, but Carlos Magagna, who lives in nearby conquest, says people are afraid to leave their homes.

It's terrifying to pretty much know that at any moment, a federal agent can just come out and abuse you just because of the way you look. The Homeland Security Department says the surge is aimed at ensuring public safety, but Charlotte's Democratic mayor says it's causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty. In an unusual move, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the state Higher Education Coordination Board. Texas Public Radio's Jerry Clayton has more. argues that three state-funded work study programs violate the First Amendment. The programs,

the Texas College Work Study Program, the Works Internship Program, and the Innovative Adult Career Education Grant Program, bar participants from engaging in sectarian activities or enrolling in seminary studies. Paxton says the restrictions amount to unconstitutional discrimination against religious students and exclude religious organizations that offer only sectarian work opportunities. Paxton called the rules, quote, anti-Christian. The programs provide more than $8 million in state funding to financially disadvantaged college students with jobs both on and off campus.

I'm Jerry Clayton in San Antonio. Southern California is beginning of soaking this weekend and the National Weather Services even more rain is on the way. The forecast calling for additional heavy rain for tomorrow, prompting concerns for additional flash flooding and rock slides. U.S. Postal Service says it's planning to make changes after ending another fiscal year with a net loss in the billions. M.P.R.'s Hansi-Low-Wong reports that USPS is proposing to increase shipping prices next year to help stabilize its finances. Even though it's a government agency, the U.S. Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars

and relies on stamp and service fees to keep running. In the past fiscal year, USPS had a net loss of $9 billion. That's down about a half billion dollars compared to the previous year, in part because of drops and transportation and workers' compensation expenses. Postmaster General David Steiner says in the new year he hopes to increase shipping services, especially in rural areas that private companies don't serve and improve delivery times. Service is still not where we expect it to be, nor is it what our customers deserve. Starting in mid-January, the cost of shipping with USPS may go up between 5 and 8 percent, but a first class forever stamp is staying at 78 cents, at least for a few more months.

NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine is working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia. Zelensky made the announcement in a social media video, a day after his national security chief announced progress and negotiations for the release of 1,200 Ukrainians. Meanwhile, Zelensky is promising an overhaul of state-owned energy companies following a corruption scandal. Several of those implicated have ties to Zelensky. LGBQ Catholics are speaking out against new bans on gender-affirming care at Catholic hospitals. MPR. Jason Rose reports on the situation and says the move further

dehumanizes the reports that the groups say the move further dehumanizes an already marginalized group. This week, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops passed rules that prohibit Catholic hospitals from performing gender-affirming care for transgender people. Those treatments include hormone therapy and surgeries. The rule also bar Catholic hospitals from referring patients elsewhere for these treatments. The LGBTQ Catholic group Dignity USA says the bishop's decision will cause, quote, tremendous harm to individuals and families. Dignity USA argues the ban on gender affirming care undermines transgender people's ability to live the abundant life Jesus spoke of in the Gospels. Jason DeRos, NPR News.

voters in Chile going to the polls today in the first round of a presidential election in which crime and immigration are among top concerns. And in Ecuador, voters are deciding today whether to once again allow foreign military bases as part of the fight against drug trafficking. Critics like sovereignty concerns. I'm Jail Snyder, NPR News.