NPR News: 01-01-2025 7AM EST

Summary

Detailed Summary of NPR News Now - January 1, 2025, 7AM EST

NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing events in its January 1, 2025, 7AM EST episode. Hosted by NPR, the five-minute broadcast covers a range of topics from tragic incidents and political updates to public health concerns and shifts in media consumption. Below is a detailed, sectioned summary capturing all key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

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1. Tragic Attack in New Orleans

Nora Ramm opens the broadcast with a report on a devastating incident in New Orleans:

• Incident Details:
  • Casualties: At least 10 people were killed early this morning.
  • Method: A pickup truck drove through a crowd of New Year's revelers.
  • Aftermath: Eyewitnesses reported that the driver exchanged gunfire with police before fleeing the scene.
  • Investigation Status: Authorities have not yet identified a suspect or determined a motive.

Notable Quote:

• Nora Ramm [00:17]: "Police have no information yet on a suspect or a motive."

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2. President-Elect Donald Trump's Attendance at Jimmy Carter's Funeral

The episode highlights President-elect Donald Trump's plans regarding the passing of former President Jimmy Carter:

• Jimmy Carter's Passing:

  • Date of Death: January 1, 2025, at the age of 100.
  • Legacy: Carter is celebrated for his efforts in promoting the role of women in government.

• Trump's Attendance:

  • Event: Next week's funeral for Jimmy Carter.
  • Significance: Marks a moment of national reflection on Carter's contributions.

Extended Coverage by Molly Samuel: Molly Samuel from WA abe provides an in-depth look at Carter's legacy in staffing cabinet-level positions with women:

• Historical Context:

  • Patricia Roberts Harris: The nation's first black woman in a cabinet-level position, serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and head of what became Health and Human Services.
  • Juanita Kreps: Served as Secretary of Commerce.
  • Shirley Hefstetler: Served as Secretary of Education.

• Statistical Insight:

  • Rutgers University Center for American Women and Politics: Highlights that 66 women have served in presidential cabinets or cabinet-level positions, with Frances Perkins being the first appointed by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933.

Notable Quote:

• Molly Samuel [01:02]: "Patricia Roberts Harris was the nation's first black woman in a cabinet level position... Juanita Kreps served as secretary of commerce and Shirley Hefstetler as secretary of education."

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3. Bird Flu Outbreak Affecting Dairy Herds and Humans

Nora Ramm reports on the ongoing bird flu situation:

• Impact on Agriculture:

  • Affected Herds: Primarily in California.
  • Human Infections: Over 65 people in the U.S. have contracted the virus in the past year.

• Transmission Details:

  • Animal to Human: Most cases result from close contact with infected animals, especially dairy farm workers exposed during milking.

Insights from Will Stone: Will Stone elaborates on the public health implications:

• Expert Opinion:

  • Benjamin Anderson (Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, University of Florida):
    • Quote [02:26]: "We're very concerned about this virus. You know, we have to temper that with, okay, no, there's not a lot of risk right now to you directly."

• Preventative Measures:

  • Avoid handling wild birds.
  • Keep pets away from wild birds to reduce transmission risks.

Notable Quote:

• Will Stone [02:33]: "His advice is not to handle wild birds and keep your pets away from them if possible."

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4. South Korean Plane Crash Fatalities Identified

Tragedy struck South Korea with a recent plane crash:

• Casualties:

  • Total Deaths: 179 people identified.
  • Condition of Remains: Many victims were severely injured, making identification and recovery efforts challenging.

• Crash Details:

  • Location: The plane collided with a concrete wall housing navigation equipment at the end of the runway.
  • Investigative Focus: Determining if the airport's placement was a factor in the disaster.

Reporting by Anthony Kuhn: Anthony Kuhn provides updates on the aftermath:

• Funeral Preparations: Now able to commence three days post-disaster, though families await remains.

Notable Quote:

• Anthony Kuhn [02:53]: "Investigators will look at whether it was a mistake to put it there when the airport was built."

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5. Restoration of Power in Puerto Rico and Shifts in Media Consumption

Nora Ramm covers two distinct but significant topics:

a. Power Restoration in Puerto Rico

• Situation: The power grid in Puerto Rico collapsed yesterday, leaving nearly the entire island without electricity.
• Recovery Effort: Electrical services are being gradually restored, with officials estimating full restoration within 48 hours.

b. American Radio Listening Trends

Netta Ulaby discusses a study by Edison Research on audio consumption habits in 2024:

• Key Findings:

  • Traditional Radio: Listeners over age 13 spend 32% of their listening time on AM/FM radio.
  • Streaming Services: Account for 28% of listening time.

• Driving Influence: A significant portion of radio listening occurs in cars.

• Content Preferences: Approximately 75% of audio time is dedicated to music, leaving the remaining 25% for podcasts, audiobooks, and NPR content.

Notable Quote:

• Netta Ulaby [03:44]: "No matter where they tune in, they might hear one of 2024's top singles, 'Lose Control' by Teddy Swims."

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6. Passing of Harry Chandler, Pearl Harbor Survivor

In a poignant segment, Nora Ramm reports the death of a historical figure:

• Harry Chandler:

  • Age at Death: 103 years old.
  • Service: Served as a Navy medic during the Pearl Harbor attack.
  • Legacy: One of the last surviving veterans of the attack, contributing to medical efforts amidst chaos.

• Personal Reflections:

  • Chandler's Words: "It got so busy you weren't scared. It was after you got scared."

Notable Quote:

• Harry Chandler [04:26]: "It got so busy you weren't scared. It was after you got scared."

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7. Closing Notes

The episode concludes without additional news segments, focusing instead on informational content and updates on ongoing stories.

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This summary encapsulates the key developments and insightful discussions presented in the January 1, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. From tragic events and historical retrospectives to public health alerts and media consumption trends, the broadcast provides listeners with a well-rounded snapshot of current affairs.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Police in New Orleans say at least 10 people were killed early this morning when a pickup truck drove through a crowd of New Year's revelers. Eyewitnesses say the driver exchanged gunfire with police before speeding away. Police have no information yet on a suspect or a motive. President elect Donald Trump said last night he plans to attend next week's funeral for the former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100. Carter is being remembered this week for his term in office, including the way he promoted the role of women in government. Carter has staffed four cabinet level positions with women, more than any president before him. From member station WA abe, Molly Samuel reports.

[Molly Samuel]

Subsequent presidents have had more positions filled by women in their cabinets, but Carter surpassed his predecessors. Patricia Roberts Harris was the nation's first black woman in a cabinet level position. She served in the Carter administration both as secretary of Housing and Urban Development and as head of the department that became Health and Human Services. Juanita Kreps served as secretary of commerce and Shirley Hefstetler as secretary of education. According to the Rutgers University center for American women and politics, 66 women have served in presidential cabinets or cabinet level positions. The first was Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. For NPR News, I'm Molly Samuel in Atlanta.

[Nora Ramm]

Bird flu continues to infect more dairy herds, primarily in California, and more than 65 people have caught the virus in the U.S. over the past year. NPR's Will Stone reports.

[Will Stone]

Almost all of the human cases of bird flu have occurred after someone had close contact with infected animals. Those working on dairy farms appear to be contracting the virus as they're milking dairy cattle raw milk and splash them in the face and get into the air. Close contact with infected birds generally means people who are handling and culling infected poultry and other birds. Benjamin Anderson, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Florida, says the worry right now is mostly about what could happen if more people get infected and the virus mutates.

[Benjamin Anderson]

We're very concerned about this virus. You know, we have to temper that with, okay, no, there's not a lot of risk right now to you directly.

[Will Stone]

His advice is not to handle wild birds and keep your pets away from them if possible. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

South Korean authorities have NOW identified all 179 people who died in a plane crash Sunday. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports that three days after the disaster, funeral preparations are now able to get underway.

[Anthony Kuhn]

The last five bodies were identified, but most of the families have yet to reclaim the victims bodies because all but a few were torn apart in the crash. The plane slammed into a concrete wall housing navigation equipment at the end of the Runway. Investigators will look at whether it was a mistake to put it there when the airport was built.

[Nora Ramm]

You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Electrical service is slowly being restored in Puerto Rico, where the power grid collapsed yesterday, leaving nearly the entire island without power. Officials say it may take 48 hours to get everyone back online. Americans still enjoy tuning into the radio when listening to music. As NPR's Netta Ulaby reports. A new study found that AM FM radio edged out Apple, Spotify and other streaming services in 2024.

[Netta Ulaby]

The study by Edison Research says American listener listeners over the age of 13 spend 32% of their listening time on old fashioned radio and 28% of their time on streaming. Now, no matter where they tune in, they might Hear one of 2024's top singles, lose Control by Teddy Swims. According to Edison Research, the reliance on radio is driven still by people in their cars, it says. Overall, listeners spend nearly three quarters of their audio time listening to music. That leaves a mere quarter for PODC Audiobooks and, well, npr. Netta Ulibi, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

One of the last remaining survivors of the attack on Pearl harbor has died, his family said. Harry Chandler died in Florida Monday. He was a Navy medic when waves of Japanese fighter planes dropped bombs and fired torpedoes at battleships in the harbor. More than 2,300 servicemen were killed. Chandler helped the wounded in a Pacific Historic Parks interview. He said, it got so busy you weren't scared. It was after you got scared. He was 103. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

[Rene Haas]

Support for this podcast and the following message come from arm. ARM CEO Rene Haas discusses leadership and the role of AI in national security with the head of Palantir's defense business, Mike Gallagher. In the latest episode of Tech Unheard, available on all podcast platforms.