NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-21-2024 2AM EST

Episode Date: November 21, 2024

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Shae Stevens. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. The ranking Democrat on the House Ethics Committee says the panel is not releasing a report on its investigation of former Congressman Matt Gaetz at this time. Susan Wilde of Pennsylvania says that's because members are deadlocked on the issue. SUSAN WILDE, WKYT NEWS ANCHOR, NPR NEWS ANCHOR, NPR NEWS ANCHOR, WKYT NEWS ANCHOR, WKYT NEWS ANCHOR, I will say that a vote was taken. As many of you know, this committee is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans,

five Dems, five Republicans, which means that in order to affirmatively move something forward, somebody has to cross party lines and vote with the other side, which happens a lot, by the way, and we often vote unanimously. That did not happen in today's vote. Wild Toad reporters, the committee will reconvene on December 5th to discuss the matter. The Ethics Committee was investigating Gates for alleged illegal drug use and having sex with minors until last week, when he resigned and became the nominee for attorney general. Republican legislators in North Carolina have voted to strip power from the state's incoming

governor and other newly elected Democrats. As Colin Campbell of Member Station WUNC reports, the move would give the GOP control of election oversight in the swing state. North Carolina was a rare bright spot for Democrats who won the governor's race and other statewide offices, even as Donald Trump won the state. But now Republicans in the legislature want to weaken those offices. Their bill calls for the state auditor, a post that will soon be filled by Republican, to appoint the State Board of Elections instead of the governor. The bill would also shift power away from the Attorney General and

Superintendent of Public Instruction. Democrats like State Senator Dan Blue argued the changes were attached to a Hurricane Helene relief bill. This is a retaliation for not winning at the ballot box. Current Governor Roy Cooper is expected to veto the bill, but Republicans could have enough votes to override it. For NPR News, I'm Colin Campbell in Raleigh. A deadly bomb cyclone continues to pummel parts of the Pacific Northwest with strong winds and soaking rain.

More than 373,000 customers have been left without power. For member station KUOW, Natalie Newcomb has the latest. Utility and cleanup crews say it could take several days to fully restore service after more than half a million people lost power across Western Washington. Winds reaching speeds of 74 miles per hour downed trees, which landed on power lines, buses, and homes. Several highways were shut down for hours.

In the greater Seattle area, one person was killed when a tree fell into a home, and another person died when a tree fell into a homeless encampment. Officials are asking residents to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines. For NPR News, I'm Natalie Newcomb in Seattle. NPR News. U.S. futures are lower in after hours trading on Wall Street following Wednesday's mixed close. This is NPR.

The United States is providing Ukraine with long-condemned anti-personnel landmines to use against Russian ground forces. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the weapons are safer because their effectiveness fades over time. Ukraine also has U.S. permission to fire long-range ballistic missiles into Russia. The U.S. has vetoed another U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, some diplomats say the U.N. should do more to stop

a war that they describe as catastrophic and apocalyptic. U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood cast the lone no vote in the 15-member Security Council, saying the only way the war will end is if Hamas releases the hostages they took from Israel on Oct 7th of last year. Hamas would have seen it as a vindication of its cynical strategy to hope and pray the international community forgets about the fate of more than 100 hostages for more than 20 member states who have been held for 410 days.

U.S. officials say that Hamas has rejected recent offers for a temporary ceasefire in exchange for hostages. Qatar suspended its mediation efforts and there are no signs of any real diplomacy. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. Russia and China oppose a Security Council resolution to transform the Kenyallet force in Haiti. China's ambassador says that would put peacekeepers on the front line of battles with gangs, which the UN estimates control 85 percent of the Haitian capital.

In September, the U.S. proposed a UN mission to secure financing for the multinational force already in Haiti. This is NPR.