NPR News: 01-02-2025 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 2, 2025, 2AM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Release Date: January 2, 2025
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes
Source: NPR

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Terrorist Attack on Bourbon Street, New Orleans

At the outset of the episode, Dale Willman reports a tragic incident in New Orleans where a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd on the famed Bourbon Street, resulting in at least 15 fatalities.

Key Details:

• Perpetrator: Shamsuddin Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texan and Army veteran.
• Vehicle: Ford pickup truck, allegedly rented, adorned with an ISIS flag on the trailer hitch.
• Investigation: The FBI is probing the incident as a potential act of terrorism, scrutinizing Jabbar's associations with terrorist organizations.

Notable Quotes:

• Alethea Duncan, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge ([00:34]):
  “The driver of the truck was a 42-year-old Texan and Army veteran named Shamsuddin Jabbar.”

• Alethea Duncan ([00:58]):
  “They say Jabbar drove through the crowd, crashed the truck and was killed in a firefight with officers.”

Presidential Response: President Joe Biden addressed the nation from Camp David, expressing solidarity with the people of New Orleans.

Notable Quote:

• Joe Biden ([01:23]):
  “New Orleans is a place unlike any other place in the world. It's a city full of charm and joy... the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated.”

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Cybertruck Explosion in Las Vegas

Later in the broadcast, Dale Willman covers a startling event in Las Vegas where a Cybertruck exploded in front of the Trump Hotel.

Key Details:

• Casualties: One person inside the truck was killed, and seven others were injured.
• Findings: Authorities discovered gas canisters, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars in the vehicle, indicating possible terrorism-related motives.

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New California Crime Legislation

Megan Myskovsky reports on significant legislative changes in California aimed at curbing crime.

Key Provisions:

• Crime Consolidation: Simplifies combining similar crimes across different jurisdictions.
• Enhanced Penalties: Increased penalties for felonies, including those related to retail theft damage.
• Vehicle Security: Criminalizes the act of breaking into an unlocked car.
• E-commerce Regulations: Imposes new requirements on third-party sellers on platforms like Amazon.

Context:
These laws are part of a broader initiative proposed by Democrats, bolstered by a recent ballot measure that passed with 70% voter support.

Notable Quote:

• Megan Myskovsky ([02:13]):
  “Democrats proposed many of the new crime laws after a measure increasing penalties and treatment requirements for theft and drug-related crimes made it to the ballot that passed with 70% of voters in support.”

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South Korea's Deadly Plane Crash Investigation

Dale Willman reports on a devastating plane crash in South Korea, which claimed 179 lives.

Key Details:

• Affected Parties: Jeju Air and Muon International Airport are under investigation.
• Survivors: Two flight attendants survived but sustained injuries.
• Investigation Efforts: Authorities are searching for operational and maintenance documents related to both the aircraft and airport facilities.

Further Insights: Anthony Kuhn elaborates on the identification of victims and the extensive investigative collaboration involving the FAA, NTSB, and Boeing.

Notable Quotes:

• Anthony Kuhn ([03:33]):
  “Authorities confirmed the identities of the last five unidentified victims, allowing funeral preparations to begin.”

• Anthony Kuhn:
  “About two dozen investigators from the US Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and the airline's maker, Boeing, headed to the scene of the crash Monday to help with the investigation.”

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Strained Saudi-Iran Relations Over Executions

In international news, Dale Willman reports that Saudi Arabia has executed six Iranian men for drug smuggling, exacerbating tensions between the two nations.

Key Details:

• Crimes: Smuggling of hashish into Saudi Arabia.
• Diplomatic Fallout: Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Saudi ambassador to protest the executions.
• Background: Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were re-established in early 2023, making these executions particularly sensitive.

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New York State's Paid Leave Legislation for Pregnant Women

The episode also highlights a progressive move by New York State to support pregnant women.

Key Provisions:

• Paid Leave: At least 20 hours of paid leave for pregnant individuals.
• Coverage: Includes prenatal medical appointments.
• Objective: Aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rates across the state.

Notable Quote:

• Dale Willman ([04:09]):
  "The state's governor pushed for the measure to help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates across the state."

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant national and international events, blending investigative reports with policy updates and presidential remarks to inform and engage listeners effectively.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Authorities in New Orleans are trying to understand why a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon street in the early hours of Wednesday morning. At least 15 people were killed. NPR's Martin Costi says the FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism.

[Alethea Duncan]

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan says the driver of the truck was a 42 year old Texan and Army veteran named Shamsuddin Jabbar.

[Martin Kasti]

He was driving a Ford pickup truck which appears to be rented. An ISIS flag was located on the trailer hitch of the vehicle. And the FBI is working to determine the subject's potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations.

[Alethea Duncan]

Police say they had parked a squad car across the entrance to Bourbon street, but the truck got around it by driving up on the sidewalk. They say Jabbar drove through the crowd, crashed the truck and was killed in a firefight with officers. Martin Kasti, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

President Joe Biden says the FBI is keeping his administration fully updated on their investigation into the incident. Speaking from Camp David, he also said the nation is grieving alongside everyone in New Orleans.

[Joe Biden]

New Orleans is a place unlike any other place in the world. It's a city full of charm and joy. So many people around the world love New Orleans because of its history, its culture and above all, its people. So I know while this person committed a terrible assault on the city, the spirit of our New Orleans will never, never, never be defeated. It always will shine for A Tesla.

[Dale Willman]

Cybertruck exploded Wednesday in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. There was one person inside the truck who police say was dead. The expl also injured seven people. Las Vegas police say its crews found gas canisters, camp fuel canisters and large firework mortars in the back of the truck. New laws now in effect in California are designed to curb crime in that state. Megan Myskovsky with CAP Radio reports from Sacramento.

[Megan Myskovsky]

Together, the new California laws make it easier to combine similar crimes and charges, even across jurisdictions. They also raise penalties for felonies, felonies including for damage done during retail theft. And they make it a crime to break into an unlocked car and add new requirements for third party sellers on websites like Amazon. Democrats proposed many of the new crime laws after a measure increasing penalties and treatment requirements for theft and drug related crimes made it to the ballot that passed with 70% of voters in support. For NPR News, I'm Megan Myskovsky.

[Dale Willman]

Police in South Korea have raided the offices of Jeju Air and the operator of the Muon International Airport. It's part of their investigation into Sunday's plane crash that killed 179 people. Two crew members were pulled alive from the wreckage, but they're both injured. Police say they're looking for documents that are related to the operation and maintenance of the craft as well as the operation of the airport's facilities. You're listening to NPR News. Four days after a deadly crash took the lives of those 179 passengers and crew on board the plane, authorities have finally finished identifying all the victims. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul that only two flight attendants survived the worst aviation disaster ever on Korean soil.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Authorities confirmed the identities of the last five unidentified victims, allowing funeral preparations to begin. Most family members are still waiting for their loved ones remains to be returned. Authorities say the force of the collision meant many of the bodies were in pieces and must be reassembled. About two dozen investigators from the US Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and the airline's maker, Boeing, headed to the scene of the crash Monday to help with the investigation. The plane's flight data recorder was damaged and will be sent to the US for analysis. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

[Dale Willman]

Officials in Saudi Arabia say six Iranian men have been executed there for drug smuggling. They said the men had been caught smuggling hashish into the country. Their appeal to the country's Supreme Court was rejected. The executions have strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iran's foreign ministry summoned a Saudi ambassador to protest the deaths. The two countries just re established diplomatic relations in early 2023. A new law took effect in New York on New Year's that offers at least 20 hours of paid leave to who are pregnant. The 20 hours will cover prenatal medical appointments. The state's governor pushed for the measure to help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates across the state. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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