NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-27-2024 6PM EST

Episode Date: November 27, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon appears largely to be holding. It went into effect before dawn today. Israeli forces do report having opened fire in one area of southern Lebanon. More from NPR's Daniel Estrin. Hours into the ceasefire, the Israeli military said it fired toward suspects in a prohibited zone and the suspects left. Israel's defense minister said they were Hezbollah operatives in a border village.

The ceasefire deal calls for a gradual Israeli military withdrawal over 60 days. Israelis are not yet returning to their homes near the border. Many mayors of Israeli border towns oppose the ceasefire deal. Some are demanding a buffer zone free of Lebanese. On Israeli radio, Davida Zulay, mayor of Metula, called the deal shameful. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. At least some of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks have apparently been subjected to bomb threats or so-called swatting attacks.

That's according to a spokesperson for the Trump transition team. Melgo is apparently targeted, where Trump's picked to serve as UN ambassador, New York representative Lee Stefanik, and Trump's incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles. The FBI says it is investigating the incidents. The Energy Department is announcing major loans this week to support renewable energy and electric vehicles.

NPR's Kamila Dominovski reports there's a narrow window of time for the department to finalize the loans before they could be canceled by the incoming Trump administration. Loans announced just this week include $6 billion for an EV plant in Georgia and nearly $5 billion for a Midwestern transmission line. Those loans are conditional with financial requirements and the Biden team's environmental and pro-union stipulations before companies access funds. But if they're not finalized by President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, they face an uncertain fate.

The Vakramaswami, who will be recommending budget cuts, said on X it was insane to fork over billions of dollars to create thousands of jobs. The loan program's office gives loans and charges interest. Overall, the program has made money for the government. Camila Dominovski, NPR News. Well, the idea of Black Friday sales coming early is nothing new. It appears the nation's largest retailer is taking things a step further this year. Walmart announcing it will team up with the NBC Universal Studios during tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day football broadcast to give shoppers an opportunity to buy without ever getting off the couch.

Viewers will be able to scan QR codes during commercial breaks that will take them to Walmart.com shopping pages where they'll be able to buy featured items. It's not entirely new, but Walmart through its Walmart Connect advertising platform says it expects the synergy between customers and football to result in increased sales. Losses by some major tech companies including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Broadcom helped pull down the markets. The Dow fell 138 points today. You're listening to NPR.

The state of Ohio has passed a ban on transgender students from kindergarten through college using multi-person bathrooms that fit their gender identities. Under the new measure, signed into law, public and private schools would be required to designate separate bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations for the exclusive use of either males or females based on their gender assigned at birth. Opponents of the measure had hoped it might be vetoed by Ohio's governor. The first online auction of alcohol confiscated from closed criminal investigations is now underway in Kentucky. John McGarry from Member Station WEKU reports the proceeds will help

fund efforts to prevent alcohol abuse. Through December 11th, some rare and valuable examples of Kentucky's signature drink are up for auction through the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's website. Before this new law, alcohol confiscated after criminal investigations had to be destroyed. The ABC now has the authorization to auction off confiscated alcohol as long as it's in its original container and hasn't been tampered with. That's Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers Association, which backed the new law. Proceeds from the auction will support programs promoting responsible alcohol use

on college campuses and elsewhere. For NPR News in Versailles, Kentucky, I'm John McGarry. More celestial light shows in the form of auroras may be visible in some northernmost parts of the U.S. this Thanksgiving. Meteorologists say the pale auroras could be visible tomorrow and Friday across northern states including Montana, Minnesota and upper New York State. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.