NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-22-2024 1AM EST

Episode Date: December 22, 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, I'm Dale Willman. Once again, Congress has narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a short-term spending measure overnight, but one thing it did not include was an end to the debt ceiling, something President-elect Donald Trump had demanded all week.

NPR's Sarah McCammon says that decision is now up to the Republicans next year, and its fate is still not certain. Sarah McCammon, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News Well, a month from now, Trump and his party will control both the presidency and both houses of Congress. So they'll have to deal with this. They will have a very narrow margin in the House. And Speaker Johnson, assuming he holds on to his job until this time, will once again

have to make a deal that will appeal either to some Democrats or to virtually his entire conference. And that includes conservative Republicans who are often reluctant to vote for any spending bill. A 14 year old victim of last week's school shooting in Madison Wisconsin was buried on Saturday as Wisconsin Public Radio's Anya van Wagtendonk reports Ruby Vergara is being remembered for creativity and kindness. Vergara's uncle Andy Ramis asked mourners to celebrate the life of his young niece.

If something is funny that's said about a memory of Ruby, laugh. If you need to clap in confirmation, clap. If this is truly a celebration of life, then let's do it. Speakers honored Vergara's love of music and animals and her handmade gifts. Abby Stamm said her daughter and Vergara had been inseparable best friends since preschool. I thought they'd grow up and do something amazing with all their creative ideas together. Vergara was a freshman at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison when it became the site of Wisconsin's deadliest school shooting.

The tight-knit religious community says they're leaning on faith to process their grief. For NPR News, I'm Anjave Nwagdhundong in Madison. The Department of Education has reopened two old student loan repayment plans, as NPR's Corey Turner reports. The move came about because the department's newest plan is being tied up in courts. That new plan, called the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan, or SAVE, was created by the Biden administration but has been paused by the courts. SAVE offers the lowest payments and fastest track to loan forgiveness of any federal repayment

plan, which is what got it into trouble. Republican state attorneys general have argued in court that the White House does not have the authority to create a plan as expensive as SAVE, which could cost hundreds of billions of dollars. While the court's debate, some 8 million borrowers enrolled in SAVE remain in limbo, not having to make payments. But for borrowers looking to change plans, the Education Department just reopened to older options that it had phased out. Corey Turner, NPR News. Israel's military says a rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv on Saturday

At least 16 people were injured in that attack for months The Houthis have been targeting Israel in solidarity with Palestinians and Gaza the attack comes two days after Israel launched attacks on two cities In Yemen, this is NPR news An out-of-control bush brush fire in Australia's Victoria State is prompted an evacuation order for hundreds of local residents. That fire is burning near Grampians National Park, west of Melbourne. Hundreds of firefighters are trying to bring the blaze under control. That fire was started earlier in the week by lightning.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a weight loss drug to treat sleep apnea among people who are obese. And as NPR's Julianna Kim reports, it's also become the first FDA-approved medication to treat sleep apnea among people who are obese. And as NPR's Juliana Kim reports, it's also become the first FDA approved medication to treat that issue. Sleep apnea occurs when a person's upper airway becomes blocked. It can affect anyone, but it tends to be more common among people who are obese. That's where the weight loss drug ZetBound comes in. The Food and Drug Administration referred to two studies involving adults with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. After about a year, participants on ZetBound reported

significantly fewer sleep apnea symptoms compared to those on a placebo. That was true for both participants who use a CPAT machine and those who don't. The FDA approval highlights the growing potential of weight loss drugs. Last year another brand was approved by the FDA to prevent heart problems and patients who are overweight. Julianna Kim, NPR News. Jaden Blue scored two touchdowns as Texas beat Clemson Saturday in the college football playoffs 38 to 24. The Ohio State University meanwhile manhandled SMU 42 to 17. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 21 to nothing lead early and never looked back and Penn State dominated SMU in State College winning 38 to 10.

Penn State returned two interceptions for touchdowns in that win. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.