NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-13-2024 6PM EST

Episode Date: December 13, 2024

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When it came out in 1843, a Christmas carol was a sensation, and Charles Dickens became a legend. Some people would consider him the originator of Christmas or the inventor of Christmas. The past, present, and future of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Listen to Thulein wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. An American citizen who was among thousands of prisoners, freed from Syrian jails, has been handed over to U.S. forces.

NPR's Jane Araf reports the 29-year-old man from Missouri was held for seven months at a Damascus prison after being arrested for illegally entering the country. U.S. fighter jets flew overhead as Pete Timmerman, who goes by the name Travis, identified himself to an American officer. Can I get your full name? Travis. Last name? I-I just- Travis. Can I get your birthday?

Travis answered a couple more questions from the Special Forces officer. How long were you in detention? Seven months. And which country did you come from to come into Syria? Lebanon. And then? Travis, welcome home. Thank you.

Not home yet, although a step towards it. Travis, who is Christian, said he crossed by foot from Lebanon into Syria on a religious pilgrimage. He had been fasting for three days on a mountain when he was arrested. Jane Araf and PR News in southeastern Syria. California regulators are now officially enforcing an agreement with the state's largest insurance

companies. They hope will stem the home insurance crisis there. Kevin Stark of Member Station KQED has more. The state's insurance department is requiring companies to write more policies in risky wildfire areas. In exchange, it will let them use forward-looking risk models to set rates, a common practice in most other states. That will likely mean consumers will pay more for home insurance, but state officials say

that's far better than the alternative. Many Californians have been unable to get home insurance at all after companies pulled back from the state following years of disastrous fires and high inflation. Previously, California required the insurance industry to use historical data to set rates, but that did not account for how wildfires have intensified as the climate changes. For NPR News, I'm Kevin Stark in Santa Cruz. Authorities had offered a sizable reward for information during the five-day search for the suspect accused in the shooting death of UnitedHealthCare executive, but as NPR's Rachel Triesman reports, it may be a while before tipsters cash in.

New York City police and the FBI collectively offered up to $60,000 for information leading to the suspect in last week's shooting. On Monday, Luigi Mangione was arrested after a customer recognized him at a Pennsylvania McDonald's and an employee called in the authorities. It may be some time before any tipsters get their rewards. Both agencies say the information must lead not only to an arrest but to a conviction, and the total amount could be smaller based on how many people split it and factoring in taxes. Rachel Triesman, NPR News.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murthy is calling on the Biden administration to do more to get to the bottom of a wave of what appear to be drones that have been darting around in the skies over the Garden State and also in some other areas. While saying there's no evidence the drones pose a national security threat, there have been as many as 180 sightings since last month. You're listening to NPR. OpenAI head Sam Altman has joined the parade of tech execs and others writing a million dollar checks to help fund President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural celebration.

He joins other big givers including Meta head Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon chief Jeff Bezos. Big money donations come even as Elon Musk, who's currently the world's richest man, has heavily supported Trump, has expressed concerns about what he believes are censorship efforts at Metta-owned social media giant Facebook. It's Friday the 13th. This day can be considered as unlucky but not in the world of tattoos. Colorado Public Radio's Stina Sieg reports it's become tradition for tattoo shops all across the country to offer cheap designs on these days.

Some call it the Black Friday of tattoos. In Grand Junction, Colorado, a long line stretched out the door at 1st Street Tattoo Parlor on the last Friday the 13th in September. Evan Linko got the first tat of the day, the cartoon Felix the Cat on his cap. Oh, it looks so cool. Lincoln got the first tat of the day, the cartoon Felix the cat on his cat. Oh, it looks so cool. Artist Tobias Peltier vowed to stay until everyone who wanted a tattoo got one. Until the sun comes up.

He ended up working until nearly 4 a.m. The next Friday, the 13th is in June. For NPR News, I'm Stina Sieg. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is hospitalized in Luxembourg after taking a fall during a social engagement there. According to a spokesman, the 84-year-old Pelosi sustained an injury during an official engagement as she was marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge from World War II. No official details about the injuries. A person said she fell. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.