NPR News: 01-02-2025 5AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 2, 2025 – Comprehensive Summary

Host: Kristen Wright
Release Date: January 2, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

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1. New Year's Day Tragedy in New Orleans

The episode opens with a harrowing report on the devastating truck attack that occurred on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter during New Year's celebrations. Kristen Wright details the FBI's ongoing investigation into whether the perpetrator acted alone.

• Incident Overview:

  • Victims: At least 15 fatalities with dozens more injured, some critically.
  • Perpetrator: Shamsu Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old Army veteran from Houston, Texas.
  • Aftermath: Jabbar was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police. Investigations revealed improvised explosive devices and an ISIS flag attached to the truck.

• Presidential Response:

  • Joe Biden's Statements:
    • At [01:03], President Biden expressed national grief:
      "The nation is grieving with the victims and families."
    • Highlighting the ISIS connection, Biden mentioned:
      "The attacker posted videos saying he was inspired by ISIS to kill just hours before the attack." [01:03]
    • Emphasizing federal support, he added at [01:15]:
      "I directed my team to make sure every resource is made available to federal, state, and local law enforcement to complete the investigation in New Orleans quickly and to make sure there's no remaining threat to the American people."

2. Cyber Attack Outside Trump Hotel, Las Vegas

Shortly after reporting on the New Orleans incident, NPR addresses a separate cyber attack involving a Tesla Cybertruck near the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.

• Incident Details:

  • Fatality: The individual operating the Cybertruck died in the explosion.
  • Surveillance Footage: Joe Scheneman from Nevada Public Radio describes the dramatic explosion:
    "In the video, the truck is sitting there and police said it was only there for about 15 seconds. Then it completely erupts, flames shooting 20ft or more into the air." [01:53]
  • Explosives Found: Authorities discovered fireworks, mortar-like devices, and gas canisters in the truck.
  • Connection to New Orleans: The Cybertruck was rented from the same Colorado-based company as the one used in the Bourbon Street attack.

• Federal Investigation:

  • President Biden addressed potential links between the two incidents at [01:30], stating:
    "Officials are investigating whether there may be any connection but have found none yet."

3. Jeju Air Plane Crash in South Korea

Shifting focus internationally, the episode covers the tragic plane crash involving Jeju Air in South Korea.

• Crash Details:

  • Location: Muon International Airport.
  • Impact: The aircraft collided with a concrete barrier after overshooting the runway, resulting in the highest aviation casualty count on Korean soil.
  • Casualties: Identification of all 179 victims was completed, with at least two dozen remains returned to families. Only two flight attendants survived.

• Legal and Safety Actions:

  • Police Actions: Authorities raided Jeju Air's offices and the airport on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.
    Anthony Kuhn reports:
    "Police had a search warrant issued on charges of professional negligence resulting in death." [02:25]
  • Safety Measures: A nationwide inspection of aviation safety equipment near airport runways has been launched to prevent future tragedies.

4. College Football Amidst Tragedy

Despite the somber mood following the New Orleans attack, college football proceeded with its traditional January 1st games, albeit under the shadow of recent events.

• Key Games:

  • Rose Bowl – Ohio State vs. Oregon:
    • Outcome: Ohio State dominated, defeating the previously undefeated Oregon team 41-21.
      Steve Futterman notes:
      "Ohio State jumped out to a 34-0 lead in the second quarter. The game was never in doubt." [03:27]
  • Arizona State vs. Texas:
    • Outcome: Arizona State overcame a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime but ultimately lost to Texas in the second overtime.

• Sugar Bowl Postponement:

  • Impact of New Orleans Tragedy:
    • The Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed by one day due to the Bourbon Street attack.
      Steve Futterman adds:
      "The Sugar bowl is now set to be played at the Superdome in New Orleans this afternoon." [04:15]
  • Future Events: New Orleans is also slated to host the Super Bowl next month.

5. Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter

The episode also pays tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100.

• Funeral Arrangements:
  • Memorial Services:
    • A motorcade will transport Carter's body through his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
    • He will lie in repose at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta to honor his legacy.
  • Final Resting Place:
    • Carter's funeral is scheduled at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., one week from the report date.
      Kristen Wright states:
      "The 39th president will lie in repose at the Carter Presidential center in Atlanta for people to pay respects before he's brought to Washington to Lie in state at the U.S. Capitol." [04:15]

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Joe Biden on ISIS Inspiration:
  "The attacker posted videos saying he was inspired by ISIS to kill just hours before the attack." [01:03]

• Joe Biden on Federal Support:
  "I directed my team to make sure every resource is made available to federal, state, and local law enforcement to complete the investigation in New Orleans quickly and to make sure there's no remaining threat to the American people." [01:15]

• Joe Scheneman on Cybertruck Explosion:
  "In the video, the truck is sitting there and police said it was only there for about 15 seconds. Then it completely erupts, flames shooting 20ft or more into the air." [01:53]

• Steve Futterman on Ohio State vs. Oregon Game:
  "Ohio State jumped out to a 34-0 lead in the second quarter. The game was never in doubt." [03:27]

• Kristen Wright on Jimmy Carter's Funeral:
  "The 39th president will lie in repose at the Carter Presidential center in Atlanta for people to pay respects before he's brought to Washington to Lie in state at the U.S. Capitol." [04:15]

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant events, ranging from national tragedies and international disasters to major sports outcomes and the passing of a revered statesman. Through detailed reporting and direct quotes from key figures, listeners receive an in-depth understanding of the day's most pressing news stories.

Transcript

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[Kristen Wright]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. The FBI is investigating whether the man who plowed a truck into crowds celebrating the New Year on Bourbon street in the French Quarter acted alone. At least 15 people were killed, doz hurt some critically. Officials identify the driver as 42 year old Shamsu Din Jabbar, an Army veteran from Houston, Texas. Federal agents are searching his home. Jabbar was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police on Bourbon Street. The FBI says Jabbar may have made improvised explosive devices found in the French Quarter and that a flag of the Islamic State terror group was attached to the truck. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. President Biden says the nation is grieving with the victims and families.

[Joe Biden]

Speaking from Camp David, President Biden said the attacker posted videos saying he was inspired by ISIS to kill just hours before the attack and that investigators were looking into whether he acted alone.

I directed my team to make sure every resource, every resource is made available to federal, state and local law enforcement to complete the investigation in New Orleans quickly and to make sure there's no remaining threat to the American people.

Biden was also briefed on the cyber attack explosion outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Biden said officials are investigating whether there may be any connection but have found none yet. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Kristen Wright]

The person in the Tesla cybertruck died. Joe Scheneman with Nevada Public Radio says surveillance video shows the truck explode at the entrance to the Trump Hotel.

[Joe Scheneman]

In the video, the truck is sitting there and police said it was only there for about 15 seconds. The then it completely erupts, flames shooting 20ft or more into the air. Authorities also said fireworks, mortar like fireworks were found in the truck along with gas canisters.

[Kristen Wright]

Authorities say the cybertruck was rented in Colorado from the same company as the truck used in New Orleans. Police in South Korea raided the offices of the airline and airport at the center of Sunday's plane crash that killed almost everyone on board. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Now police raided the Muon International Airport, the offices of low cost carrier Jeju Air and other sites. Police had a search warrant issued on charges of professional negligence resulting in death. Attention is focused on a concrete barrier housing landing navigation equipment which the Jeju Air flight collided with after overshooting the Runway. Authorities have launched a nationwide inspection of all aviation safety equipment near airport runways. Identification of all 179 victims. Remains was completed Wednesday, and so far, at least two dozen have been returned to their families. Two flight attendants were the only ones to survive the worst aviation disaster ever on Korean soil. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

[Kristen Wright]

You're listening to NPR news from Washington. January 1st is a traditional day for college football. Two quarter final games in the newly expanded playoffs took place, but the day was impacted by the tragedy in New Orleans. Steve Futterman reports.

[Steve Futterman]

In the Rose bowl game here in Pasadena, Ohio State beat number one in previously undefeated Oregon 41 to 21. It was no contest. Ohio State jumped out to a 34 nothing lead in the second quarter. The game was never in doubt. Oregon coach Dan Lanning, you know, sometimes.

[Joe Biden]

It'S not your day and I think that was us today, right? It wasn't our day to day.

[Steve Futterman]

In the day's first game, Arizona State overcame a 16 point fourth quarter deficit to Tye Texas, forcing the game into overtime. In the second overtime, Texas finally prevailed. Meanwhile, in New Orleans, the Sugar bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed one day following the deadly truck attack in the French Quarter. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Pasadena, California.

[Kristen Wright]

The Sugar bowl is now set to be played at the Superdome in New Orleans this afternoon. New Orleans is also scheduled to host the super bowl next month. Days of remembrances to honor former President Jimmy Carter begin Saturday in Georgia. A motorcade will take Carter's body through his hometown of Plains. The 39th president will lie in repose at the Carter Presidential center in Atlanta for people to pay respects before he's brought to Washington to Lyon state at the U.S. capitol. Carter's funeral will be held at Washington National Cathedral one week from today. He died Sunday at home at the age of 100. I'm Kristen Wright and this is NPR News from Washington.

[Joe Biden]

Support for NPR 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.