NPR News: 01-02-2025 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 2, 2025, 5 PM EST Episode Summary

Released on January 2, 2025

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1. Deadly New Year's Day Rampage in New Orleans

Timestamp: [00:24]

NPR's Jack Spear opens the episode with a tragic update from New Orleans, where a deadly rampage on New Year's Day resulted in the loss of 14 lives. According to FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Christopher Reyes, the perpetrator, 42-year-old Shamsuddin Jamar, acted alone in the attack.

Christopher Reyes:
"At this point, investigators believe Jabbar picked up the rented F150 in Houston, Texas on December 30th. He then drove from Houston to New Orleans on the evening of the 31st, and he posted several videos to an online platform proclaiming his support for ISIS."
[00:51]

2. Investigation and Evidence

Timestamp: [00:51]

Reyes elaborates on the evidence suggesting Jamar's meticulous planning. Videos emerged showing Jamar planting explosives in coolers on the streets, indicating premeditation. The attack coincided with the Sugar Bowl game between Notre Dame and Georgia, an event initially expected to attract 80,000 spectators but was postponed due to the tragedy.

3. President Biden's Response to the Attack

Timestamp: [01:35]

President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House, condemning the act of terrorism and reaffirming the administration's commitment to combating extremist groups.

Joe Biden:
"Relentlessly pursue ISIS and other terrorist organizations where they are and they'll find no safe harbor here."
[01:35]

Biden emphasized vigilance and strategic action to prevent future attacks, assuring the public of continued efforts to safeguard national security.

4. Las Vegas Explosive Incident

Timestamp: [01:42]

In a separate incident, a man in Las Vegas tragically took his own life by shooting himself in the head inside an explosives-laden Tesla Cybertruck, which subsequently burst into flames outside a Trump Hotel property. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, although seven individuals sustained injuries. President Biden noted that, as of now, there appears to be no connection between this incident and the New Orleans attack.

5. Arctic Outbreak Brings Severe Cold to the U.S.

Timestamp: [02:09]

NPR's Rachel Treisman reports on a significant Arctic outbreak sweeping across the United States. The National Weather Service warns that cold air blasts from Siberia are causing the central and eastern parts of the country to experience their coldest temperatures of the season.

Rachel Treisman:
"The cold front is likely to bring below average temperatures as far south as Florida and the Gulf Coast. Forecasters are also warning of a weekend storm that could dump heavy snow and hazardous ice from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast."
[02:09]

Residents are advised to prepare by stocking up on at least three days' worth of provisions, insulating pipes, monitoring emergency alerts, and checking in on loved ones. The forecast includes a potential storm this weekend, adding to the region's challenges.

6. Amazon Mandates Return to Office in Seattle

Timestamp: [02:40]

Amazon is implementing a significant shift in its work policy, requiring employees at its Seattle main campus to return to the office five days a week. Previously, employees enjoyed the flexibility of working from home three days a week. With approximately 55,000 employees affected, there are emerging concerns about the impact on the local Seattle economy and workforce dynamics.

7. Wall Street Declines Amid Market Uncertainty

Timestamp: [02:40]

The stock market experienced a downturn on the first trading day of the new year. Major U.S. Market indexes fell, influenced in part by disappointing sales figures from electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla.

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Lost 151 points, closing at 42,392.
• S&P 500: Down 13 points.
• NASDAQ: Fell 30 points.

Investors are closely monitoring these developments as the market navigates early-year uncertainties.

8. Gracie Mansion Break-In Arrest

Timestamp: [03:55]

A peculiar incident unfolded in New York City when a 20-year-old man broke into Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York. Allegedly seeking a Christmas ornament, the man was apprehended by Mayor Eric Adams' security detail during the early hours after being found in an upstairs bathroom of the mansion.

Police Statement:
"The mayor was not home at the time of the pre-dawn incident."
[04:30]

The individual is now due to appear in court, facing charges related to the unauthorized entry and theft.

9. Genetic Study Sheds Light on Elusive Marsupial Mole

Timestamp: [03:55]

In a fascinating scientific revelation, researchers have analyzed DNA from a rare marsupial mole, an animal known for its elusive nature and subterranean lifestyle in the deserts of Australia. The study, published in Science Advances, suggests that the marsupial mole's population experienced a significant decline approximately 70,000 years ago, likely due to past climate changes.

Sarah Lucas, University of Munster:
"I think that is definitely one of the major findings of this paper because they were listed as extremely endangered because we had no idea about what their population dynamics were happening. And again, it's really hard to find a living one."
[04:18]

This research provides crucial insights into the species' survival challenges and underscores the impact of historical climate shifts on biodiversity.

10. Aeromexico Tops Airline On-Time Performance Rankings

Timestamp: [04:41]

Aeromexico has been recognized for having the best on-time performance globally in the past year, with approximately 87% of its flights arriving as scheduled. In contrast, Delta Airlines secured the lowest ranking among U.S. carriers. Other airlines notable in the rankings include Canadian Airlines, WestJet, Air Canada, and Denver-based Frontier.

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant events ranging from national security threats and economic shifts to intriguing scientific discoveries and industry rankings. With insightful reporting and authoritative voices, the summary encapsulates the critical narratives shaping the early days of 2025.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. FBI officials now say it appears the responsible for a deadly rampage on New Year's Day in New Orleans was acting alone. FBI Counterterrorism Division assistant Christopher Reyes sang evidence shows the timeline before 42 year old Shamsuddin Jamar drove a pickup truck into a street packed with revelers, killing 14 people before being shot and killed by police.

[Christopher Reyes]

At this point, investigators believe Jabbar picked up the rented F150 in Houston, Texas on December 30th. He then drove from Houston to New Orleans on the evening of the 31st, and he posted several videos to an online platform proclaiming his support for isis.

[Jack Spear]

Videos showed Jabbar planting explosives in coolers on the street before the attack. The incident occurred hours before the Sugar bowl game between Notre Dame and Georgia, which was postponed until today and was expected to draw 80,000 people. President Joe Biden during event at the White House Day, also talked about the apparent act of terrorism in New Orleans, promising the US Will remain vigilant in pursuing terror groups who seek to attack the U.S. we're going to continue to.

[Joe Biden]

Relentlessly pursue ISIS and other terrorist organizations where they are and they'll find no safe harbor here.

[Jack Spear]

Speaking about the separate incident in Las Vegas where a man shot himself in the head inside an explosives laden Tesla cybertruck, which then burst into flames, Biden said as of now, there appears to be no link in that incident. In front of a Trump Hotel property. There were seven injuries but no deaths. A cold front known as an Arctic outbreak is spreading through much of the U.S. as NPR's Rachel Treisman reports, the central and eastern parts of the country could see their coldest air of the season.

[Rachel Treisman]

The National Weather Service says blasts of air from Siberia have reached the northern plains and will spread east and south into next week. The cold front is likely to bring below average temperatures as far south as Florida and the Gulf Coast. Forecasters are also warning of a weekend storm that could dump heavy snow and hazardous ice from the Central Plains to the mid Atlantic and Northeast. They're encouraging people to stock up on three days worth of provisions, insulate their pipes, monitor emergency alerts and check in on their loved ones. Rachel Treisman NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Back to the office today for workers at Amazon, and already there are concerns about what that will mean in Seattle, where the E commerce giant employs about 55,000 people at its main campus there. Amazon had been allowing its employees to work from home three days a week, but now is requiring workers to be back in the office five days a week beginning today. Stocks helped to move Wall street lower on the first trading day of the new year. Three of the major US Market indexes dragged down in part by disappointing sales numbers from electric vehicle maker Tesla. The Dow lost 151 points to close at 42,392. The S&P was down 13 points. The NASDAQ fell 30 points. This is NPR. A 20 year old man who broke into Gracie Mansion in New York and allegedly stole a Christmas ornament was due to be a rain today. Police say the man was apprehended by the mayor's security detail during the early morning hours after being found in an upstair mayor's bathroom. A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams says the mayor was not home at the time of the pre dawn incident. Scientists have analyzed DNA from a mysterious and elusive animal, the marsupial mole. As NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports, the mole tunnels beneath the sands of remote deserts in Australia.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

This mole is so rare, a mere sighting in the wild makes headlines. To learn more about it, researchers analyzed DNA from a single dead mole stored in a museum. Sarah Lucas is with the University of Munster in Germany. She says the genetic evidence suggests that this mole's population size abruptly crashed about 70,000 years ago.

[Sarah Lucas]

I think that is definitely one of the major findings of this paper because they were listed as extremely endangered because we had no idea about what their population dynamics were happening. And again, it's really hard to find a living one.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

A report on the finding in the journal Science Advances says the decline may have happened during a period of past climate change. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

New data company rankings are showing Aeromexico with the best on time record globally last year. Cerium in its annual rankings released today says nearly 87% of the carrier's flights arrived on time. Also doing well in the US Was Delta at the bottom of the rankings, Canadian Airlines, WestJet, Air Canada and Denver based Frontier. This is NPR.

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