NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-14-2024 3AM EST

Episode Date: December 14, 2024

NPR News: 12-14-2024 3AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahleysa Ikaotow. President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are attending the Army-Navy game this weekend in Maryland, and they're bringing a controversial guest, Daniel Penny. NPR's Deepa Sivaram reports. Daniel Penny was acquitted this week by a New York City jury on a charge of criminally negligent homicide. Last year, Penny, who was white, put a choke hold on a homeless man who was having a mental health crisis and yelling at passengers on the subway train. Jordan Neely, who was black, died. The

incident and the trial stoked tensions over race, mental illness, and criminal justice. Vice President-elect Vance has praised Penny and called him a good guy. Vance also criticized the New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg for going after Penny. Bragg is the same DA who successfully prosecuted Trump in his hush money trial. Penny, who is a former Marine, will join Vance and the President-elect in Trump's suite at the Army-Navy game, which takes place today in Maryland. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has met with the incoming Trump administration's nominee to oversee U.S. border security.

And Pierce Quill Lawrence reports New York is a so-called sanctuary city for immigrants who are in the country illegally. Adams met with Thomas D. Homan, who Trump has named as border czar. Homan has been critical of cities like New York, where police do not hand over unauthorized immigrants to ICE without a warrant for a serious crime. Adams acknowledged the basis for some of the criticisms after what he said was a good meeting. We're gonna protect the rights of immigrants in the city

that are hardworking, giving back to the city in a real way. We're not going to be a safe haven for those who commit repeated violent crimes. Critics say Adams is courting President-elect Trump because of his own legal troubles. The mayor is fighting federal corruption charges. Quir Lawrence, NPR News, New York. There's increasing frustration and greater demands by local leaders in the Northeast

about mysterious drone sightings from Maryland to Connecticut, even as the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security say there is evidence that the drone activity posed a national security or public safety threat. In New Jersey, Mayor Matthew Morella of Washington Township said on ABC that federal authorities have not authorized local police to shoot down the drones. Until the federal government tells the state government to take action, they can do nothing but watch them. And I'm sorry, but that's just disconcerting to those of us that are living out here. And we're just watching these things up in the sky and have absolutely no idea what they're

doing. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandra Mayorkas told CNN, the government doesn't have authority to take down the drones and he said he believes some sightings are cases of mistaken identity. You're listening to NPR News. Canada's four-week-old postal strike could end as early as next week. The Minister of Labour says negotiations are going nowhere, and he's referred the dispute to the Industrial Relations Board. Dan Karpanchuk reports. If Canada's Industrial Relations Board agrees with Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon, it could force an end to the national strike by 55,000 postal workers.

Such a move would return workers to the job under the current agreement, which is in place until the end of May. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has denounced the move by McKinnon, saying it's an assault on bargaining rights and the right to strike. For its part, Canada Post says it's ready to welcome employees back to work. The two sides are deadlocked over the key issues of wages, job security and minimum hours. There is still a chance for a negotiated settlement but that would have to come soon. Minister McKinnon has also ordered an inquiry into why negotiations fell apart.

For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. For a second time, South Korean lawmakers are voting today on an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yul. This is tens of thousands of people are protesting. Authorities are investigating allegations of rebellion over his controversial December 3rd martial law decree that lasted just a number of hours and caused huge political turmoil in that country. The non-profit Catholic Charities of the Diocese in Superior Wisconsin wants the Supreme Court to decide if its charitable organizations

must pay unemployment taxes. This is NPR News. I'm Dwahleesai Kowtow.