NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-23-2024 5PM EST

Episode Date: December 23, 2024

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Hi, I'm Katherine Maher, CEO of NPR, where we're guided by a bold mission to create a more informed public. Join us today by giving at donate.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The House Ethics Committee has released its final report on former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz after looking into sexual misconduct allegations against him. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration to be the nation's next attorney general last month.

The House Ethics Committee concluded that there was substantial evidence that Gaetz had violated House rules by engaging in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use. The panel also accused the Republican of having sex with an underage girl in 2017 in violation of Florida law. Gates had repeatedly denied the accusations and had filed a last-minute lawsuit to prevent the committee from releasing its report. NPR's Windsor Johnston. Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting United Health Care's CEO Brian Thompson, has pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges that are running parallel to the federal charges against him. The Manhattan DA formally charged

Mangione last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism. President Biden is commuting the sentences of 37 inmates who are on Federal death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. MPR's Deepa Sivaram reports it's a major move against capital punishment in the US. Biden says his conscience and his experience as a former public defender and his time in elected office led him to commute the sentences of the 37 men. But there are three men who will remain on federal death row, who were involved in cases of terrorism and hate-fueled mass murder, like Dylann Roof,

who killed several people at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina. Biden said he sympathizes with the victims of the crimes committed by those on death row. But he cited President-elect Donald Trump as a reason he took this action. Biden put a moratorium on federal executions in 2021. But Trump, who had a high execution rate in his first term, could undo that action. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News. The container stores filed were bankruptcy due to growing debt. It comes days after Big Lots and Party City announced they're closing their stores.

And viewers, Julianna Kim has more. The container store was once the go-to shop for all things storage and organization. But over the years, it struggled financially. Big box chains generally have seen more and more consumers pivot online or to discount stores. According to court documents, the container store has accumulated over $240 million in debt while only having about $11 million in cash on hand. The container store said in a statement that the bankruptcy process will help the company

get back on track financially and they have no plans of going anywhere. The retailer assured customers that its some hundred locations will continue business as usual. Julianna Kim, NPR News. On Wall Street, the Dow is up 66 points. You're listening to NPR. A former president and current president-elect, Donald Trump, has talked about his desire to buy Greenland, and it appears the topic has come up again. Trump renewing calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy the ice covered semi-autonomous Danish territory. Trump's initial calls to purchase Greenland came to nothing and the

territory is once again saying it's not for sale. The holidays may be a time when you start noticing memory loss in family members you don't see every day. For Member Station WSF Stephanie Columbini reports on some warning signs families can look for. Tampa resident Melissa Malone says she was worried when her mom, who loved Christmas, hadn't decorated one year. She didn't seem to realize the holiday was approaching. When Malone helped her put up her tree, memories about ornaments they cherished weren't clicking.

Months later, her mom was diagnosed with dementia. The signs can be so minute and so spaced out. And as a family member, you're so close to them, you're almost in denial. The Alzheimer's Association says if your loved one seems withdrawn or has trouble completing familiar tasks, those are some signs they should see a doctor. For NPR News, I'm Stephanie Columbini in Tampa.

A NASA spacecraft is expected to make its closest approach yet to the sun. Officials say the Parker Solar Probe, which was launched in 2018, will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun's surface, nearly seven times closer than previous approaches, where it will be a few days after the flyby before Parker can phone home. The probe will continue circling the sun at its current distance through September. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

All this year, NPR traveled the country, hearing from voters not just about the issues, but about their hopes for the country's future. We should be able to disagree with each other without bullying each other into submission. And what it means to be a part of a democracy. Invest in coverage that moves us forward together by giving today at donate.npr.org.