NPR News Now: January 2, 2025, 4PM EST

Tesla Cybertruck Explosion in Las Vegas

NPR Host Louise Schiavone reported that authorities have identified Matthew Allen Livelsberger, 37, as the driver responsible for the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Livelsberger, a former active-duty special operations soldier with the Army who later joined the National Guard and the Army Reserve, was found to have shot himself in the head before the blast.

Sheriff Kevin McMayhill of Las Vegas detailed the investigative findings:

“There’s a SLR model B30 semiautomatic firearm, number of fireworks that were still in the vehicle that had to be removed. Notably, we found an iPhone and a smartwatch and then several credit cards were also in the name of our subject.”
(01:07)

The FBI has determined there is no connection between this incident and the earlier truck attack in New Orleans.

New Year's Truck Attack in New Orleans

On New Year's Day, a deadly truck attack occurred in the French Quarter of New Orleans, less than a mile from the Superdome where the Sugar Bowl was scheduled. The driver, Sharmshuddin Jabbar, 42, an American-born veteran from Houston, was killed in a subsequent shootout with police. Officials have confirmed that Jabbar was unrelated to Livelsberger’s Las Vegas incident.

Sugar Bowl Postponed Due to Security Concerns

The Sugar Bowl college football playoff game was postponed as a security precaution following the truck attack near the New Orleans Superdome. Becky Sullivan reported:

“The Sugar Bowl was originally scheduled to kick off last night at the Superdome in downtown New Orleans, but the attack on Bourbon Street took place less than a mile from the stadium. That put the facilities on lockdown as authorities conducted a security sweep.”
(01:43)

Thousands of fans had traveled to New Orleans for the game, but the attack resulted in the critical injury of a Georgia student and the death of Tiger Besh, a Louisiana native and former Princeton football player (2016-2021). Both Notre Dame and Georgia have assured that their teams and personnel remain safe.

Congressional Challenges Ahead

With Congress set to reconvene, Lexi Schapitl highlighted the precarious position of the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate:

“If the House hasn't chosen a speaker by Monday, that could delay the certification of Trump's 2024 presidential victory.”
(02:36)

Incoming Speaker Mike Johnson, endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, faces potential obstacles from a few Republican defectors. Trump’s legislative agenda, which includes a border security package and extending previously passed tax cuts, may encounter significant hurdles. Additionally, lawmakers must secure government funding by March to prevent a shutdown, and the Senate is preparing to begin confirmation hearings for Trump’s cabinet nominees, some of whom lack sufficient support.

Wall Street Takes a Hit

As the trading day nears its close, Wall Street is experiencing a downturn:

“The Dow is down 151 points, the NASDAQ off 30 points.”
(03:14)

Puerto Rico Faces Ongoing Blackout Amid Governor Inauguration

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jennifer Gonzalez Colon has been sworn in as governor, marking a historic third consecutive term for her pro-statehood New Progressive party. However, the celebration was marred by widespread frustration over a massive blackout that affected 1.3 million customers on New Year's Eve. Louise Schiavone reported:

“Outages were still being reported today as crews tried to stabilize Puerto Rico's power grid.”
(03:14)

Bats Utilize Storms to Aid Migration

NPR’s Jonathan Lambert shared insights from a new study on bat migration:

“The study found that bats time their departure to leave just before a storm comes. Through surfing storm tailwinds can make the bats migration, which can span hundreds of miles, a little bit easier.”
(04:02)

Researchers employed tiny trackers to monitor noctule bats across central Europe, revealing that bats strategically time their migrations to leverage passing storms, facilitating their long-distance journeys.

Dinosaur Highway Discovered in England

In Oxfordshire, England, paleontologists from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham have uncovered a dinosaur highway during excavations in a limestone quarry. The team identified nearly 200 dinosaur tracks dating back 166 million years, attributed to species such as Cetiosaurus and the predatory Megalosaurus. Louise Schiavone reported:

“The dinosaurs were the Cetiosaurus and the Megalosaurus, a ferocious predator.”
(04:37)

This significant discovery provides valuable insights into dinosaur behavior and movement patterns during the Jurassic period.

This summary was prepared based on the transcript of NPR News Now's episode released on January 2, 2025.