NPR News: 01-02-2025 4AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 2, 2025

Release Date: January 2, 2025

Hosted by NPR’s Dale Willman

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Terrorism-Related Incidents

New Orleans Attack

At the outset of the episode, host Dale Willman reports a tragic event in New Orleans where a deadly attack on Bourbon Street resulted in 15 fatalities and dozens of injuries (00:17). Matt Bloom from WWNO details that the suspect, 42-year-old Texas resident Shamsuddin Jabbar, an army veteran, drove a rented pickup truck into the bustling New Year's Eve festivities. During the ensuing shootout, Jabbar was killed, and authorities discovered an improvised explosive device and an ISIS flag attached to his vehicle (00:36).

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy condemned the act, stating, “this is objective evil” (01:04). Bloom adds that investigators found two additional explosive devices in the French Quarter, which have been neutralized. While the FBI is probing whether Jabbar acted alone, officials have not disclosed any additional suspects (01:11).

Las Vegas Explosion

Shortly after, Willman shifts focus to Las Vegas, where an explosion outside the Trump Hotel killed the driver of a Tesla Cybertruck and injured seven others (01:27). Joe Shahneman from Nevada Public Radio informs listeners that the FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism. The vehicle, rented through the platform Turo in Colorado, contained fireworks, mortars, and fuel canisters, which contributed to the blast (01:51).

The FBI has yet to release the suspect’s identity but anticipates doing so in an upcoming press conference. The investigation continues to explore the motive behind the explosion (01:51).

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U.S. Population Update

Transitioning to demographic news, NPR’s Cheryl Corley reports that the U.S. Census Bureau projects the nation’s population to have reached 341,145,670 as of January 1, 2025 (02:14). Lauren Bowers, chief of the bureau's population estimates branch, explains that this figure is derived from accurate data on births, deaths, and international migration. Bowers notes, “one birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds” contribute to the ongoing population growth, alongside an additional person joining the population every 23 seconds through migration (03:01).

This growth places the United States as the third most populous country globally, trailing only behind India and China (03:01). Bowers also outlines expectations for population changes throughout January, emphasizing the precision of these estimates (02:32).

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Environmental Health: PFAS Ban in New York

In environmental news, Natalie Abruzzo from WSKG reports that New York has solidified its ban on clothing containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often referred to as "forever chemicals" (03:14). These chemicals have been linked to severe health issues, including reproductive problems, developmental delays in children, and certain cancers.

Kate Donovan of the National Resources Defense Council underscores the dangers, stating, “Exposure to these forever chemicals can occur through skin contact,” particularly highlighting the risks associated with apparel (03:27). New York joins California and Colorado in prohibiting the sale of textiles containing PFAS, aiming to safeguard consumer health by eliminating toxic substances from everyday clothing (03:27).

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New Year's Eve Accidents

Honolulu Fireworks Explosion

A somber note is struck as Willman reports a New Year's Eve fireworks celebration near Honolulu was marred by a tragic explosion, resulting in three deaths and twenty injuries (04:15). The incident took place outside a private residence near Honolulu's international airport and in proximity to a joint U.S. Air Force and Navy base. Fire officials are actively investigating the cause of the explosion (04:15).

UK Flooding

Shifting to international news, severe flooding continues to impact parts of the United Kingdom. Following intense rain and strong winds, New Year celebrations in several cities were disrupted (04:15). South of Manchester, floodwaters submerged vehicles entirely, leading to the evacuation of a hotel and the cancellation of multiple train services due to water-logged tracks. A government meteorologist warns that the flooding situation may deteriorate further, posing ongoing challenges for affected communities (04:15).

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Conclusion

The episode of NPR News Now on January 2, 2025, delivered a comprehensive overview of critical events spanning terrorism threats in major U.S. cities, significant population growth, environmental health advancements, and tragic accidents disrupting New Year's celebrations both domestically and abroad. Through detailed reporting and authoritative quotes, listeners are kept informed of the multifaceted issues shaping the early days of 2025.

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Notable Quotes:

• Louisiana Senator John Kennedy: “This is objective evil” (01:04)
• Lauren Bowers: “One birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds” (03:01)
• Kate Donovan: “Exposure to these forever chemicals can occur through skin contact” (03:27)

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The death toll now stands at 15 in the deadly attack in New Orleans Tuesday night. Dozens of other people were injured. FBI officials say they're investigating the incident on Bourbon street as an act of terrorism and say the likely didn't act alone. Matt Bluma, member station WWNO, has more.

[Matt Bloom]

Federal investigators say army veteran Shamsuddin Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck down Bourbon street as hundreds of New Year's Eve revelers were celebrating. Police killed the 42 year old Texas resident during a shootout and afterwards discovered an improvised explosive device and an ISIS flag attached to the vehicle. In a press conference with federal and local officials, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy called the act objective evil.

[Dale Willman]

If this doesn't trigger the gag reflex of every American, every fair minded American, I'll be very surprised.

[Matt Bloom]

Investigators say they identified at least two other explosive devices in the French Quarter and have since neutralized them. Officials declined to answer questions about whether they had identified any additional suspects. For NPR News, I'm Matt Bloom in New Orleans.

[Dale Willman]

Police in Las Vegas say fireworks, mortars and fuel canisters were found in the back of a Tesla cybertruck that exploded Wednesday outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. The blast killed the suspect, who was found sitting inside the truck. Seven other people were injured. Joe Shahneman hosts Nevada Public Radio's morning show. He says the investigation by the FBI is now underway.

[Joe Shahneman]

They still have yet to release the name of the person who was driving it, and that is the person who was killed, but they said that would be forthcoming in a future press conference. And they were saying that the truck was rented through a company called Turo, which is a company that facilitates the rental of private vehicles. And it was rented in Colorado driven to Las Vegas.

[Dale Willman]

The FBI is also investigating whether that explosion was an act of terrorism. There are a few million more residents of the U.S. this New Year's Day than there were on January 1st of last year. As NPR's Cheryl Corley reports, the U.S. census Bureau now projects the country's population at 341 million people.

[Lauren Bowers]

The Census Bureau's population estimate is based on births, deaths and international migration, and it's extremely precise. Lauren Bowers, chief of the bureau's population estimates branch, says the projected number of people living in the US today is 341,145,670 people. And here's what we can expect throughout January, says Bowers.

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One birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds.

[Lauren Bowers]

And add another person every 23 seconds through international migration. It makes the US the third most populous nation in the world, following India and China. Cheryl Corley, NPR News, Chicago.

[Dale Willman]

This is NPR News. Certain clothing containing pfas, which are also known as forever chemicals, are now banned from being sold in New York. Natalie Abruzzo from member station WSKG has more.

[Natalie Abruzzo]

New York's new apparel PFAS ban, which passed in 2022, is meant to protect consumers from exposure to PFAS, forever chemicals that have been linked to reproductive health issues, developmental delays in children and some cancers. Kate Donovan is the Northeast director of environmental health with the National Resources Defense Council. She says exposure to these forever chemicals can occur through skin contact. PFAS in apparel in particular is certainly a concern because we certainly don't want to be wearing pieces of clothing with toxic chemicals on them. California and Colorado also recently banned the sale of certain textiles with pfas. For NPR News, I'm Natalie Abruzzo in Corning, New York.

[Dale Willman]

A New Year's Eve fireworks celebration near Honolulu turned tragic when an explosion killed three people and injured 20 others. The accident occurred outside a private home near Honolulu's international airport. It's also close to a joint U.S. air Force and Navy base. Fire officials say the accident remains under investigation. Heavy flooding continues in parts of the UK One day after rain and wind led to cancellations of New Year celebrations in a number of cities. Flooding flooding south of Manchester, submerged vehicles to their roofs, and a hotel was evacuated. Several trains were canceled because of high water around the tracks, and a government meteorologist says the flooding situation could get even worse. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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