NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-17-2024 5PM EST

Episode Date: December 17, 2024

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You care about what's happening in the world. Let State of the World from NPR keep you informed. Each day we transport you to a different point on the globe and introduce you to the people living world events. We don't just tell you world news, we take you there. And you can make this journey while you're doing the dishes or driving your car. State of the World podcast from NPR, vital international stories every day. podcast from NPR. Vital international stories every day. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The man accused of shooting United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson has been indicted in New York on one count of first degree murder and two counts of second degree murder, including murder as an act of terrorism. 26-year-old

Luigi Mangione also faces weapons charges for allegedly using a ghost gun to carry out the shooting. At a news conference, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said the numerous counts were warranted. This was a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation. It occurred in one of the most bustling parts of our city, threatening the safety of local residents and tourists alike, commuters and business people just starting out on their day. Thompson was shot and killed as he walked to a Manhattan hotel days later, a tip resulted in Mangione's

arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he's still being held. At State Capitol's presidential electors are meeting to formalize President-elect Donald Trump's win over Vice President Kamala Harris. Among those casting votes on behalf of their state, some of the so-called fake electors from the 2020 election. Beers Hansi LeLong reports the GOP electors still face criminal charges from four years ago. In Nevada, Mr. Secretary, we have six votes for Donald J. Trump for president.

And in Michigan. Donald J. Trump has unanimously received 15 electoral votes. Eight of today's electors for president-elect Donald Trump have been indicted for sending false certificates to state and federal officials in 2020. Those documents claim Trump won Michigan and Nevada's electoral votes four years ago

and were part of the attempt to overturn those election results, an attempt that culminated in the January 6th insurrection. The Michigan cases against the six returning electors are working their way through state court and Nevada prosecutors recently filed new forgery charges against two returning electors. Five of today's Pennsylvania electors also signed documents in 2020 that became part of the so-called fake elector scheme but have not been charged. Hansi Luong, NPR News. Investigators are still trying to determine what prompted a 15-year-old girl to open fire to school in Wisconsin yesterday, killing a teacher and another student and wounding

six others before apparently shooting herself. Madison Police Chief Sean Barnes says they're aware of writings or a letter left behind by the shooter but say they're still gathering information. Retail sales rose more than expected last month. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. Retail spending rose by seven tenths of a percent in November. Much of the extra spending came at car dealers where sales

jumped nearly three percent. Spending at home improvement stores was also up, fueled in part by rebuilding efforts after hurricanes Milton and Helene. By contrast, spending at grocery stores and restaurants was down in November. Sales at online retailers jumped nearly two percent. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. By contrast, spending at grocery stores and restaurants was down in November. Sales at online retailers jumped nearly 2 percent.

Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. Stocks lost ground on Wall Street today ahead of the conclusion of a Fed meeting, and on investor worry strong economic growth could mean fewer interest rate reductions than hoped for next year. The Dow was down 267 points. You're listening to NPR. A new musical with songs by the late Jonathan Larson, who posthumously won the Pulitzer and Tony Award for Rent, is scheduled to open off-Broadway early next year. The show features

more than 20 songs Larson left behind. Jeff London reports. The night before Rent gave its first performance off-Broad Broadway in 1996, Jonathan Larson had an aortic aneurysm and passed away. He was only 35. Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes. But Larson left behind dozens of songs, finished and unfinished, from various unproduced shows. Musical theater historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper has culled many of these undiscovered pieces and put together the Jonathan Larson Project, a musical which will begin performances

off-Broadway at the Orpheum Theater on Valentine's Day just a few blocks from where Rent had its premiere. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York. Scientists say they have spotted what appears to be a couple of stars whipping around the black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, where nearly every large galaxy seems to have a massive black hole at its heart. Scientists say these particular stars are orbiting far nearer to the black hole than usual. Also, scientists believe the stars to be relatively young, about 2.7 million years old. The research was published in the

journal Nature. Critical futures prices eased a bit today amid worries about the release of negative economic news from Germany and China oiled down 63 cents a barrel to 70.08 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.