NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-20-2024 8AM EST

Episode Date: December 20, 2024

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Support for this podcast and the following message come from Autograph Collection Hotels, with over 300 independent hotels around the world, each exactly like nothing else. Autograph Collection is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotel brands. Find the unforgettable at autographcollection.com. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. Congress has until late tonight to pass a spending bill or the federal government will partially shut down. Last night, the House rejected a GOP-backed spending measure that President-elect Trump supported.

That failed bill was drafted after Trump and his billionaire ally, Elon Musk, blasted an earlier spending plan that had previously won bipartisan support. NPR's Claudia Grisales reports. The new House Republican bill drafted without input from Democrats failed with 38 Republicans joining Democrats in voting against it. The measure needed a two-thirds majority to pass under an expedited process after House GOP leaders crafted the plan in the last day.

The failure leaves lawmakers back at the drawing board with the shutdown deadline looming at the end of the day on Friday. Senate and House Democrats blasted Republicans for reneging on a bipartisan compromise funding plan reached earlier this week. The House Republicans who helped tank the new proposal said it violated traditional Republican goals of cutting spending and reducing the deficit. Claudia Rizales, NPR News. This is day two of a strike against seven Amazon facilities across the U.S. The Teamsters Union says thousands of drivers and other people who work for the online retailer are on picket lines from Los Angeles to Atlanta.

Here's NPR's Alina Seljuk. The Teamsters want Amazon to recognize the union and to negotiate collective bargaining agreements. That's where you get into all the pay and the benefits and here's what we heard from Samantha Thomas who's been driving for Amazon in Georgia since May. We're fighting for better benefits, better vacation time, better pay, most importantly. And we're also fighting for safer working conditions, like having our proper winter uniforms that have not been provided for us. Amazon disputes the union claim it represents the thousands of Amazon workers. Amazon is a financial supporter of NPR. A new study finds the number of executions in the U.S.

remains about the same this year as it has been recently. 25 people have been put to death in 2024. NPR's Martin Kosty reports. Robin Maher is the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, which just published its annual report. She says the death penalty was not a major political issue this year, and not much has changed. Public support says the death penalty was not a major political issue this year,

and not much has changed. Public support for the death penalty remains at a bare majority, which is 53 percent. That's a five-decade low. But active use of the death penalty remains limited to just a minority of states. Just four states accounted for three-quarters of all executions this year, and Maher says that has contributed to making the death penalty a quote local issue which escapes the notice of most Americans. 27 states have the death penalty on the books though five of those have paused executions by order of their governors. Martin Costi, NPR News. This is NPR. President Biden will travel to Rome early next year before he leaves office. The White House says he's been invited by Pope Francis to visit the Vatican.

Biden will also meet Italy's prime minister. The White House says President Biden is moving to forgive more than $4 billion in student loans for about 55,000 borrowers. They're part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. This is intended for borrowers such as eligible teachers and nurses. New York State will soon require schools to relocate students if classroom temperatures become too hot. For Member Station WSKG, Rebecca Rettelmeyer reports this comes as the number of hot school days increases.

The new legislation requires New York schools to take action if classroom temps reach 82 degrees. That means turning on fans or providing water breaks. If classrooms reach 88 degrees, schools must take steps to relocate students and staff. A few states, such as California, Minnesota, and Nevada, also have heat protection laws that apply to schools. But there are no federal regulations for this. Researchers have found that students

don't learn as well in hot classrooms. But in New York and nationwide, many schools have limited access to air conditioning. New York's largest teachers union has welcomed the new legislation. For NPR News, I'm Rebecca Rettelmeier in Ithaca, New York. Officials with the Los Angeles Zoo say they have helped hatch two baby parenti lizards. These are among the largest types of lizards in the world and can grow to more than eight feet long. The LA Zoo officials say the hatchlings are the first to be bred there and that they're doing well.

I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.