NPR News Now: January 6, 2025, 4AM EST

Host: Dale Willman

1. Severe Winter Storm Hits the Mid Atlantic

Dale Willman opens the episode with a report on a major winter storm that has wreaked havoc across the Central Plains and Midwest before moving into the Mid Atlantic region. Washington, D.C., is bracing for up to a foot of snow, potentially bringing the capital to a standstill. The polar vortex responsible for the extreme cold and significant snowfall has prompted several Midwestern governors to declare a State of Emergency.

Chandelyse Duster provides detailed coverage of the situation:

• [00:44] Dangerous travel conditions have led to over 200 highway calls since Saturday morning, including a fatal crash reported by Kansas Highway Patrol Officer Trooper Ben Gardner.

• Governor Jeff Landry emphasizes the state’s response:
  “We have first responders actively helping and responding to calls and KDOT's out here trying to get the roadways cleared, salting and blading the roadways, and we will continue to do so as the storm moves through our state.” [00:56]

Officials are urging residents in the storm’s path to stay home and adhere to weather alerts to ensure safety.

2. New Orleans Recovers After Fatal New Year's Day Attack

Life in New Orleans is gradually returning to normal following a tragic incident on New Year's Day, where a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd, resulting in 14 fatalities. Dale Willman reports that Governor Jeff Landry acknowledges the ongoing impact of the event:

• Governor Jeff Landry:
  “We have all been focused on addressing the needs of each of these victims' families and to ensure that they are properly honored. We began on January 2 by ordering all the flags in the state at half staff from sunrise to sunset.” [01:29]

The FBI has revealed that the perpetrator, Shamsuddin Jabbar, had visited New Orleans twice prior to the attack, using meta glasses to record activities in the French Quarter where the tragedy later unfolded.

3. Nation Mourns Former President Jimmy Carter in Atlanta

Dale Willman covers the public repose for former President Jimmy Carter in Atlanta, which will continue until Tuesday. Sarah Kalis of Georgia Public Broadcasting reports on the outpouring of respect and remembrance:

• Mourners, including 19-year-old William Mendoza who traveled 214 miles from Knoxville, Tennessee, express admiration:
  “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.” [02:23]

Visitors traverse the Carter Museum and Presidential Library to view artifacts from Carter’s life and presidency before paying their final respects at his casket. The Carter Center anticipates thousands of attendees each day, highlighting Carter’s enduring legacy.

4. Asian Markets Respond to Wall Street Trends

In the financial sector, Dale Willman reports on the mixed performance of Asian stock markets following Wall Street’s resurgence from the holiday slump. Markets in Tokyo and China both saw declines:

• Japan’s Finance Minister marked the New Year as Tokyo’s market resumed trading after the traditional holiday, with notable downturns including Nippon Steel falling by 0.8% and U.S. Steel Corp. sinking by 6.5%.

The fluctuating markets indicate ongoing volatility and investor caution as the global economy navigates post-holiday adjustments.

5. California Kicks Off Commercial Dungeness Crab Season

Mayor Billy Cruz from KQED discusses the commencement of California’s commercial Dungeness crab season at the Port of San Francisco:

• This season marks a return to direct-to-consumer crab sales, addressing previous delays caused by whale entanglement concerns and restrictions on commercial crabbing nets. These delays have financially impacted crabbers for six years.

• Billy Cruz highlights new initiatives:
  “This year's off-the-boat sales will include a new ADA accessible float. The port says they hope this float supports local fishers and increases public access.” [03:29]

The Port of San Francisco aims to bolster the local fishing industry while enhancing accessibility for the public.

6. President Biden Signs Social Security Fairness Act

Dale Willman announces a significant legislative development as President Joe Biden signs the Social Security Fairness Act:

• The Act is designed to increase Social Security benefits for certain retirees, including police officers, firefighters, and postal workers. This legislation repeals provisions from 20 years ago that had previously reduced benefits for these groups.

This move is seen as a step towards greater financial fairness and support for public service workers.

7. Box Office Update: Mufasa Triumphs in New Year’s Opening

Concluding the episode, Dale Willman provides insights into the North American box office performance for the New Year’s week:

• Walt Disney’s "Mufasa", a prequel to "The Lion King," leads the box office with a $23.8 million opening weekend, maintaining its top position into its third week.

• "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" follows in second place.
  Additionally, the 2025 box office is up approximately 20% compared to the same week last year, indicating a strong recovery and positive trends in movie-going habits post-holidays.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the January 6, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with a clear and detailed overview of the latest news events.