NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-18-2025 2PM EST

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Janine Herbst. Multiple media reports say there are fatalities in a business plane crash in North Carolina this morning. The FAA says a C-550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte. Video shows first responders rushing to the scene as flames burn near the wreckage. That airport provides corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and NASCAR teams. States around the country are looking at ways to keep health care costs low in the face of expiring health care subsidies. Doug Khalil of VPM News reports on where Virginia's incoming governor wants that support to be targeted. Abigail Spamberger ran on lowering the cost of living. On Thursday, she showcased over a dozen policy proposals to do that. Among them is a proposal to keep people in the health care marketplace. The idea is that if it's only higher risk people in the insurance pool, premiums go up for everyone.

This program, with its targeted efforts to stabilize, at least here in Virginia, the ACA marketplace, given the chaos we're seeing out of Washington, is meant to counter those efforts. A health care bill passed through the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday, but didn't include extensions of the subsidies. The affordability proposals Spamberger shared address energy and housing costs, too. She faces the challenge of risks to Virginia's economy due to federal workforce cuts. For NPR News, I'm Jack. Khalil in Richmond.

European Union leaders and the Ukrainian president are meeting in Brussels as the Europeans try to hash out a deal that will provide financial support for Ukraine for the next two years. Terry Schultz reports EU officials are hoping a controversial plan to use frozen Russian assets can be agreed upon. The main question is whether more than a hundred billion dollars worth of Russian funds frozen in EU financial institutions can be used for Ukraine. It's seen as a test of EU unity and support for Ukraine. Repayment would only be due if and when Moscow pays reparations to Kyiv.

90% of the frozen funds are held in Belgium, and the country's prime minister says he's not willing to risk having to pay back the loan. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy came to Brussels to try to push the plan over the finish line. We just need a bit more time, he says. EU officials warn leaders the summit will last as long as it takes to get a deal. For NPR news, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. The name of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could be changing to become the Trump Kennedy Center. This after the board appointed by President Trump voted today for that name change.

White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt says on social media that the vote was unanimous. Wall Street's trading higher at this hour. The Dow is up 147 points. The NASDAQ is up 337 points. The S&P 500 is up 58 points. listening to NPR News from Washington. After three weeks of testimony, Luigi Mangione's pre-trial hearing has wrapped up in his New York state case where he faces charges of murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a forged instrument. The judge will rule in May on whether key pieces of evidence will be admissible in his state trial, the date of which hasn't been set yet. The 27-year-old is

accused of killing United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson in New York City nearly a year ago. His next court appearance is scheduled for next month in his federal case, which is separate from the state case. A funeral has been held in Australia for the youngest victim of last

Sunday's mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration. 10-year-old Matilda was the youngest of the 15 people killed. Christina Kukula has more. Morning has gathered at a memorial center in East Sydney to bid farewell to the little girl described as righteous and kind.

Matilda's casket was adorned with a toy bumblebee. The rabbi who delivered her eulogy said the death of the girl who came to Australia from Ukraine with her family was cruel and unfathomable. Earlier in the day, surrounded by a heavy police presence, family and friends held a funeral for the oldest victim, 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alex Claydman. In a statement, his family says he will be remembered as a fascinating person with an understanding. wavering spirit. For NPR news, I'm Christina Kukholy in Sydney. Inflation cooled a bit in November. The Labor Department says consumer prices slowed to 2.7% from a year ago. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.