NPR News Now: January 5, 2025, 4 PM EST

Host: Nora Ramm
Release Date: January 5, 2025

Tragic Incident in New Orleans

[00:24] Nora Ramm:
Nora Ramm reports on a tragic incident that unfolded in New Orleans on New Year's Day. Shamsuddin Jabbar drove his pickup truck into a crowd, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals. The FBI has been actively investigating the case.

[00:55] FBI Special Agent Joshua Jackson:
"He also set a half gallon of accelerant gasoline in a plastic gasoline container in that hallway. He also poured accelerant in different rooms throughout the house. We believe he did this and his hope was to burn the entire house down and hide evidence of his crimes."

Jabbar had visited the French Quarter twice prior to the attack, utilizing hands-free glasses to record videos. Authorities confirmed that Jabbar acted alone, with no accomplices identified either domestically or internationally. The motive behind his actions and his choice of New Orleans as the location remain unclear.

Donald Trump's Imminent Re-Election

[01:13] Nora Ramm:
As the nation anticipates the upcoming presidential transition, Donald Trump is set to become president again in just 15 days. House Speaker Mike Johnson expresses his commitment to advancing Trump's agenda.

[01:39] Mike Johnson:
"We've got to revive the US Economy, and we can. We know how to do it. Part of that is preventing the largest tax increase in U.S. history, which would happen automatically at the end of next year if we don't get our ducks in a row. So we're going to make sure that happens. We're going to incentivize American companies to manufacture in the US Again, and we're going to make sure that the regulatory burden and the red tape that has smothered our free market is reduced and eliminated. And we're going to be dismantling the deep state all along the way."

Johnson emphasizes the extension of Trump's tax cuts as a priority and outlines plans to stimulate the economy by encouraging domestic manufacturing and reducing regulatory obstacles. He also mentioned efforts to dismantle what he refers to as the "deep state."

[02:07] Nora Ramm:
On January 6th, Congress is scheduled to count electoral votes and certify Trump's presidential victory. Speaker Johnson is optimistic that a predicted snowstorm will not impede the process, drawing parallels to the disruptions caused by Trump supporters four years prior.

Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter

[02:38] Sarah Kalis (Georgia Public Broadcasting):
Mourners are gathering at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta to pay their respects to former President Jimmy Carter. The center will remain open around the clock until Tuesday, accommodating thousands of visitors each day.

[02:52] William Mendoza:
"It's a really great refresher of how and who Jimmy Carter was such a man who was willing to work for everyone, no matter who you are, a man that was willing to put the people first and not their political party."

Mendoza, a 19-year-old from Knoxville, Tennessee, traveled 214 miles to attend the public repose, reflecting the widespread admiration for Carter's legacy of public service and dedication to impartial governance.

Major Winter Storm Hits Central U.S.

[03:21] Nora Ramm:
A significant winter storm is currently sweeping across the central United States, bringing heavy snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Blizzard warnings have been issued for Kansas and Missouri.

[03:38] Quentin Lucas (Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri):
"This is not something that's unusual for us. Major winter storms are a thing that we have. It doesn't mean that we are unserious about them. It does mean that we're realistic and our city will reopen in the days ahead."

Mayor Lucas assures residents that Kansas City is well-prepared for such weather events and remains committed to restoring normalcy promptly. The National Weather Service advises the public to avoid unnecessary travel as the storm is expected to extend to the mid-Atlantic states by the following day, with a hard freeze anticipated as far south as Florida.

Dinosaur Footprints Discovered in Southern England

[03:48] Nora Ramm:
In an exciting paleontological discovery, researchers in southern England have uncovered over 200 Jurassic-era footprints, dating back approximately 166 million years, at a site known as the "dinosaur highway."

[04:10] Host:
"The discovery started last June when a worker at a limestone quarry in Oxfordshire spotted unusual bumps as he was digging up clay. Now a team of over 100 people has confirmed those bumps are in fact dinosaur footprints dating back to the middle Jurassic period, roughly 166 million years ago. They uncovered five trackways, four made by Long necked herbivores called sauropods, and one believed to have been made by a carnivorous megalosaurus. In one area, sauropod and megalosaurus tracks overlap, sparking questions about possible interactions between the species. Tracks were first found in the area nearly 30 years ago, leading the British government to designate the quarry as one of the world's most significant dinosaur track sites."

This remarkable find provides valuable insights into the behaviors and interactions of Jurassic dinosaurs, highlighting the significance of the quarry as a key location for paleontological research.

This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on January 5, 2025, at 4 PM EST. For more detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full podcast episode.