NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-22-2024 7AM EST

Episode Date: December 22, 2024

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Jile Snyder Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jile Snyder. A Saudi man suspected of carrying out a deadly attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg has been remanded in custody. The man is facing multiple charges of murder and attempted murder. Five people were killed and more than 200 injured when a car was driven through a crowd on Friday, the BBC's Bethany Bell reports. Bethany Bell, BBC News Reporter, Magdeburg, New York, New Very, very mixed emotions here in Magdeburg, deep, deep sadness. But also there's anger. We saw last night the vigil held at the cathedral. At the same time, there was a demonstration

in the town at which far-right slogans and xenophobic slogans were heard. So, a very uncertain, quite swift moving picture here in terms of the mood. The prosecutor says investigators are looking into whether the attack might have been motivated by dissatisfaction with Germany's treatment of Saudi refugees. Two Navy pilots ejected safely from their plane over the Red Sea early this morning. The U.S. military says their plane was hit in an apparent friendly fire incident, saying in a statement that a guided missile cruiser mistakenly fired on the plane. One of the pilots suffered minor injuries.

The military was conducting airstrikes at the time targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels. New York City Mayor Eric Adams says the city's police department is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against the highest-ranking uniformed officer. The allegations are extremely concerning and alarming. The police commissioner is doing a full review of all personnel but she's also doing a full review of this issue. Chief of Department Jeffrey Madri resigned Friday amid allegations that he demanded sacks from a subordinate. His attorney says the allegations are meritless and a result of an overtime pay issue that Madri's accuser found herself embroiled in. A 14-year-old victim of last week's school

shooting in Madison, Wisconsin was buried on Saturday. Wisconsin Public Radio's Anya VanWagendonk reports that Ruby Vergara is being remembered for her 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. And 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 Nwagdendonk in Madison. Pete Slauson And you're listening to NPR News. The death toll from separate stampeds at two Christmas charity events in Nigeria is rising.

Police now say 32 people were killed, 22 at an event in the southeastern Anampura state where a philanthropist had organized a feud distribution effort and 10 more died in a bouj at the Capitol during a similar event organized by a church. In Congo, officials say 38 people were killed and more than 100 remained missing after an overloaded ferry capsized. Actress Blake Lively has filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in which she accuses actor and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment, as well as campaigning to destroy her career. The complaint follows the star's troubled collaboration on the movie. It ends with us as NPR's Chloe Veldman reports.

Blake Lively's lawyers filed the complaint, a precursor to a lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios. In the 80-page document, the actress accuses Baldoni and film producer Jamie Heath of oversharing about their sex lives and showing her images of naked women, among other unwanted behaviors. The complaint alleges the two enlisted a team to ruin Lively's reputation by orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Lively experienced a deluge of negative media attention following the film's release in August. In a statement to the Associated Press, the lawyer for Baldoni, Heath and their associates rejected the claims and insisted these are false. Chloe Valtman, NPR News. Baseball Hall of Famer Ricky Henderson has died. According to a statement, Henderson died Friday. He was 65. A cause is not clear.

He's considered one of the best players in the history of the game and holds a career record for stolen bases. I'm Trial Snyder, NPR News.