NPR News: 01-09-2025 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 9, 2025, 1AM EST Summary

Hosted by NPR's Shea Stevens, this episode of NPR News Now delivers the latest updates in a concise, engaging format. Below are the key stories covered, complete with notable quotes and timestamps.

---

Southern California Wildfires Intensify

Reporter: Elise Hu
Timestamp: [00:18 - 01:08]

The Santa Ana winds continue to exacerbate five major wildfires across Los Angeles County, resulting in the destruction of over a thousand homes and businesses. The relentless high winds have led to mandatory evacuation orders expanding into densely populated areas, including Santa Monica. In response, Los Angeles County has established evacuation shelters, and local school districts have canceled classes due to elevated fire risks and hazardous air quality caused by smoke.

Evacuee Perspective:
Cheryl Houghton, a resident affected by the fires, shared her distress:
"Houses are still being burned. Beloved businesses and landmarks near our house have gone up in flames."
[01:01]

The Eaton Fire, which initially devastated Pasadena and Altadena, has now become the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles city history. Authorities are still investigating the origin of these fires.

---

President Biden Redirects Focus to Fire Emergency

Timestamp: [01:21 - 01:54]

President Joe Biden has postponed his planned trip to Italy to concentrate on managing the severe wildfire crisis in California. Currently, multiple wildfires are ravaging approximately 27,000 acres. A new blaze ignited in the Hollywood Hills late Wednesday, leading to additional evacuation orders.

Former President Trump's Response:
While visiting the U.S. Capitol, President-elect Donald Trump was queried about the situation:
"The governor has not done a good job with that being said, I got along well with him when he was governor. We worked together very well and we would work together. I guess it looks like we're going to be the one having to rebuild it."
[01:44]

---

Infrastructure Under Strain Amid Wildfires

Timestamp: [01:54 - 02:26]

The ongoing wildfires have caused widespread power outages, affecting approximately 385,000 residents in Southern California. Additionally, the region's water systems are experiencing significant pressure. Meteorologists warn that the Santa Ana winds are expected to intensify once more, potentially spreading flames, ash, and embers into more populated regions.

---

Dock Workers Avoid Strike with New Contract Agreement

Reporter: Andrea Hsu
Timestamp: [02:26 - 03:09]

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), representing tens of thousands of dockworkers, has reached a tentative six-year contract agreement with ocean carriers and port operators. This breakthrough ends the looming threat of a strike on the East and Gulf coasts.

The agreement includes substantial wage increases, totaling a 62% raise over six years, and addresses concerns about automation in port operations. While the union had previously demanded a complete ban on automation, the finalized terms—though not fully disclosed—aim to protect current jobs while integrating technology to enhance port safety and efficiency. Dock workers are set to vote on ratifying the agreement in the coming days.

Andrea Hsu concludes:
"The agreement protects current jobs and establishes a framework for bringing in technology that will make the port safer and more efficient and capable of handling more cargo."
[02:26]

---

Financial Markets Update

Timestamp: [03:09 - 04:53]

U.S. futures are experiencing a decline in after-hours trading on Wall Street.

---

Justice Department Seeks Partial Release of Report on Trump Probe

Timestamp: [03:09 - 04:12]

In a recent court filing, the Justice Department (DOJ) has requested the release of portions of its final report concerning investigations into former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. This move follows a temporary court order from a federal judge in Florida that blocked the report's disclosure. The DOJ aims to withhold certain sections pending an ongoing investigation into the handling of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. Special Counsel Jack Smith, overseeing the probes, has indicated plans to retire before Trump’s inauguration to pursue a second term.

---

Grizzly Bears Face Extinction Risks Despite Recovery Efforts

Reporter: Jonathan Lambert
Timestamp: [04:12 - 04:53]

The Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed that grizzly bears remain at risk of extinction, necessitating continued protection under the Endangered Species Act. Originally listed in 1975 when fewer than 800 grizzlies inhabited the lower 48 states, their population has since grown to over 2,000. However, this recovery has prompted states like Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming to petition for the removal of federal protections, intending to allow state-regulated hunting while maintaining their endangered status federally.

The Trump administration previously attempted to delist the species in 2017 without success and may pursue similar efforts upon taking office again later this month. The government's proposal includes relaxing the conditions under which grizzlies can be killed, addressing increasing interactions between bears and private landowners or ranchers.

Jonathan Lambert explains:
"Their numbers have improved substantially since then to more than 2,000 bears. That recovery prompted Montana, Idaho and Wyoming to petition the government to remove federal protections..."
[04:12]

---

Asian Markets Mixed

Timestamp: [04:53 - 04:57]

Asian stock markets are showing mixed performance in the latest trading session.

---

This summary encapsulates the key developments reported in the NPR News Now episode released on January 9, 2025. For comprehensive coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

[Advertiser]

This message comes from Intuit. TurboTax now taxes is matching with an expert backed by tech to get you the most money [e-mail] experts only available with TurboTax Live. See guarantee [e-mail] guarantees.

[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The fast moving wildfires in Southern California have burned more than a thousand homes and businesses so far. From Los Angeles, Elise Hu reports that the ongoing high winds are making it difficult for crews to contain the flames.

[Elise Hu]

The Santa Ana winds have fueled five major wildfires burning in Los Angeles County. Mandatory evacuation zones have now expanded into densely populated communities like Santa Monica. Los Angeles county has set up evacuation shelters. School districts have canceled classes because of fire risk and dangerous air quality levels from the smoke. Cheryl Houghton is one of the tens of thousands of fire evacuees in the Los Angeles area.

[Cheryl Houghton]

Houses are still being burned. Beloved businesses and landmarks near our house have gone up in flames.

[Elise Hu]

The Eaton fire, which first ripped through communities of Pasadena and Altadena, is now the most destructive wildfire in LA city history. The cause of the fires is under investigation. For NPR News, I'm Elise Hu in Los Angeles.

[Shea Stevens]

President Biden has postponed a planned trip to Italy to focus instead on the fire emergency in California. Multiple wildfires are burning across roughly 27,000 acres there. The newest blaze broke out in the Hollywood Hills late Wednesday, prompting more evacuations. President elect Donald Trump was asked to weigh in on the tragedy while visiting the US Capitol Wednesday.

[Donald Trump]

The governor has not done a good job with that being said, I got along well with him when he was governor. We worked together very well and we would work together. I guess it looks like we're going to be the one having to rebuild it.

[Shea Stevens]

Some 385,000 residents have lost power in Southern California and the region's water system is under strain. Forecasters say that the powerful Santa Ana winds will pick up once again, pushing flames, ash and embers to spread into more densely populated areas. The union representing US Dock workers has reached a tentative six year contract agreement with ocean carriers and port operators. For now, NPR's Andrea Hsu reports that the deal ends the threat of a strike on east and Gulf coasts.

[Andrea Hsu]

The International Longshoremen's association, representing tens of thousands of dockworkers, had threatened to strike again next week if they couldn't reach a deal. A three day strike last fall ended when the two sides agreed to raises for dock workers totaling 62% over six years. The outstanding issue was automation. Earlier, the union had demanded a complete ban on automation on that front. The terms have not been released, but the two sides said the agreement protects current jobs and establishes a framework for bringing in technology that will make the port safer and more efficient and capable of handling more cargo. In coming days, dock workers will vote on whether to ratify the agreement. Andrea HSU, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are lower in after hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR News. In a court filing on Wednesday, the Justice Department said it wanted to release part of its final report on one of the probes of President Elect Donald Trump. The report deals with efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The filing was made in response to a federal judge in Florida's temporary decision to block the release. DOJ wants to delay the disclosure of other parts of its report because of an ongoing investigation into the handling of classified documents found at Mar A Lago. The probes were conducted by special counsel Jack Smith, who says he plans to retire before Trump's inauguration to a second term. The Fish and Wildlife Service's grizzly bears still face possible extinction and require protection under the endangered species act. NPR's Jonathan Lambert says that decision comes after Western states sued the federal government to delist the species.

[Jonathan Lambert]

Grizzly bears were listed under the Endangered species Act in 1975 when there were fewer than 800 bears in the lower 48 states. Their numbers have improved substantially since then to more than 2,000 bears. That recovery prompted Montana, Idaho and Wyoming to petition the government to remove federal protections, which would have allowed states to approve hunting while keeping them listed. The government did propose relaxing restrictions on when grizzly bears can be killed, as the bears are increasingly interacting with private landowners and ranchers. The first Trump administration unsuccessfully attempted to delist the species in 2017 and could try again after taking power later this month. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Asians Markets shares are mixed at this hour. This is npr.

[Advertiser]

This message comes from bombas. Socks, underwear and T shirts are the top three requested clothing items by people experiencing homelessness. Bombas makes all three and donates one item for every item purchased. Go to bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.