NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-02-2024 11AM EST

Episode Date: December 2, 2024

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This message comes from the Kresge Foundation. Established 100 years ago, the Kresge Foundation works to expand equity and opportunity in cities across America. A century of impact, a future of opportunity. More at kresge.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Biden has signed a full and unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of federal tax and gun charges. NPR's Mara Eliason reports this isn't the first time that a president has pardoned

a family member. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother on old drug charges. Donald Trump pardoned his son-in, his son-in-law's father, Jared Kushner's father. This was after the father had already served prison time and actually he just appointed him, nominated him to be the ambassador to France. But yes, presidents have done this before, but I can't think of a time when they've done this before sentencing.

That's NPR's Mara Leysen reporting. The Syrian army and allied militias are regrouping after rebel groups seized the country's second most populous city, Aleppo. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports that Syria and Russia are intensifying air strikes on opposition areas where dozens of people have been killed. Regime forces have amassed north of Hama city in central Syria after rebel forces seized large swathes of territory. The regime's ally, Iran, says it will keep military personnel in Syria. And videos posted online appear to show members of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq crossing the border into Syria to help bolster

the Syrian regime. President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to force the rebels back saying the quote language of force is the only language the militias understand. But the regime has a lot of territory to regain. In the space of a few days the rebels have taken control of Aleppo City and also tracts of a highway important for the economy in regime areas. Ruth Sherlock and PR News. A lake effect winter storm is bringing heavy snow from the Midwest to the northeastern U.S. And PR's Amy Held reports additional snow is in the forecast this week and some areas could see more than five feet. Even for an area known as the Snow Belt, it's a lot of snow.

Ashton Pettit, a hospital worker in Pennsylvania, spoke to WJET Erie. My car's been stuck for three days in the middle of the road, despite having already shoveled it for about four hours with help and even having a truck try to tow me out. From Michigan, across parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania,

and into New York, snow deep enough to trap cars is falling thanks in part to the warmer than average Great Lakes waters. Here's meteorologist Brian Hurley. Right now they're still above normal and they're still ice free. So you get more to fuel the lake effect snow band. Meanwhile, cold air from Canada is sending temperatures plunging across the eastern U.S. by as much as 15 degrees

below average. Amy Held, NPR News. On Wall Street, the Dow was down 176 points. This is NPR. The state of emergency has been declared on the Greek islands of Rhodes and Lemnos after a powerful storm hit the region, leaving widespread damage. Emergency teams carried out numerous rescues of people trapped in some of the hardest-hit areas. Strong winds and torrential rain flipped over cars, damaged roads, and caused power outages across the islands.

Here's one of the perennial debates of the holiday season. Which are more eco-friendly, real trees or fake ones? NPR's Alina Hartounian went in search of the answer. There are detailed studies out there suggesting a fake tree's environmental impact is less than a real one's if you reuse it a certain number of years. Environmentalists, however, say studies

aren't the only thing you should look at. The studies I have seen largely favor the purchasing of a real tree over an artificial tree. I would also note that the studies alone aren't the only reasons that you might want to go in that direction. That's Darby Hoover of the Natural Resources Defense Council. She suggests real trees are the way to go, in part because fake trees are usually made with harmful plastics. But if you already have a fake tree, keep using it. Mark Harmon, the CEO of faux tree maker Balsam Hill, says he knows people who still

have trees from his company's early days nearly two decades ago. Certainly good for the environment. Alina Hartunian, NPR News. Stocks are trading mixed on Wall Street at this hour. The Dow was down 183 points. The Nasdaq composite up 149. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.