NPR News: 01-09-2025 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 9, 2025, 5 PM EST

Host: Jack Spear
Release Date: January 9, 2025
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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Wildfires in Los Angeles: Containment Efforts and Climate Concerns

Timestamp: [00:13]
Reporter: Jack Spear

Firefighters in the Los Angeles area are making strides in slowing the devastating wildfires that have ravaged the region. Despite the progress, officials remain cautious, acknowledging the fluid and unpredictable nature of the situation. The current death toll stands at five, but with inaccessible areas, there is concern it may rise.

Timestamp: [00:40]
Speaker: Brent Pasqua, Battalion Chief with Cal Fire
Quote: “This welcomed break in the winds is going to allow us to get that number to come up to at least get some containment on this fire because the last two days with those strong winds, 80 mile an hour winds, there was just nowhere to anchor in and start putting this fire out. It was just trying to save lives.”

With winds calming down, Pasqua expressed optimism that containment efforts would accelerate. Approximately 180,000 people remain under evacuation orders as at least four wildfires continue to consume tens of thousands of acres across the Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and the Hollywood Hills.

President Biden has pledged to cover 100% of the costs for 180 days of fire recovery, underscoring the administration's commitment to addressing the crisis.

Timestamp: [01:22]
Reporter: Ezra David Romero, KQED

New research highlights the role of climate change in exacerbating these wildfires. After two unusually wet years, grasses in Southern California grew almost twice their average rate. Subsequent dry spells left these grasses highly susceptible to ignition. UC Merced climatologist Janna Botzoglu, a co-author of the study, described the phenomenon as “hydroclement whiplash,” a rapid transition between wet and arid conditions that creates ideal wildfire conditions.

Timestamp: [01:45]
Speaker: Janna Botzoglu
Quote: “It seems like that is the recipe.”

Botzoglu warned that such extreme swings in weather patterns are likely to become more frequent as global temperatures continue to rise, setting the stage for more severe wildfire seasons in Southern California.

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New Orleans Strengthens Security with Former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton

Timestamp: [02:01]
Reporter: Jack Spear

In a strategic move to enhance city security, New Orleans has enlisted former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton to review and bolster the city's defenses against potential future attacks. Bratton, renowned for his “broken windows” policing approach, aims to address both petty and serious crimes to create a safer community.

Timestamp: [02:11]
Speaker: Janna Botzoglu

Bratton brings extensive experience, having previously served as the police chief of Los Angeles and Commissioner of the NYPD. His appointment comes at a time when Chief Ann Kirkpatrick is determined to prevent further attacks following last week's truck incident on New Year's Day.

Timestamp: [02:26]
Speaker: Maria Aspen
Quote: “He is here to serve all of us. This is a community endeavor.”

Chief Kirkpatrick emphasized her commitment to collaborating closely with Bratton over the forthcoming months to implement effective security measures without resigning in the wake of recent tragedies.

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Farewell to Former President Jimmy Carter: A National Mourning

Timestamp: [02:43]
Reporter: Jack Spear

Washington witnessed a poignant farewell as the nation bid goodbye to former President Jimmy Carter during a funeral service attended by all five living US Presidents. Carter, the nation's longest-living president, passed away last month at the age of 98. His body has been transported to Plains, Georgia, where he will be laid to rest beside his wife, Rosalynn Carter.

President Joe Biden delivered a moving eulogy at the Washington National Cathedral, celebrating Carter’s legacy and contributions. Family members also shared heartfelt tributes, honoring the former president's enduring impact on the country.

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Stock Market Closes in Honor of President Carter

Timestamp: [03:25]
Reporter: Maria Aspen, San Pierre

In tribute to former President Carter, U.S. financial markets have closed today as part of a national day of mourning. This closure aligns with a longstanding tradition dating back nearly 160 years to the closure following President Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865.

Timestamp: [03:48]
Speaker: Brent Pasqua
Quote: “We also did it for President Roosevelt, President Kennedy, President Nixon, President Reagan. Collectively, we want to make the decision to honor former President Carter.”

NASDAQ President Tal Cohen confirmed that the closure was coordinated with other exchanges, regulators, and key financial industry entities to ensure a unified sign of respect.

Timestamp: [03:57]
Speaker: Maria Aspen
Quote: “Cohen says his company coordinated its one day closure with other exchanges, regulators and other entities within the financial industry.”

The stock market's closure serves as a somber reminder of President Carter’s enduring legacy and the nation's respect for its leaders.

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US-Canada Trade Tensions Rise Over Proposed Tariffs

Timestamp: [04:08]
Reporter: Jack Spear

Trade tensions between the United States and Canada have escalated as President-elect Donald Trump has signaled the imposition of 25% tariffs on all Canadian products. Senior Canadian officials are contemplating retaliatory measures, targeting American goods such as orange juice, sinks, toilets, and certain steel products.

Trump’s rhetoric emphasizes the use of economic coercion to pressure Canada into becoming the 51st state, reflecting a more aggressive stance on international trade relations.

Meanwhile, crude oil futures prices have surged by 60 cents a barrel to reach $73.92 per barrel. This increase is attributed to the anticipation of higher demand for heating fuel oil due to colder winter weather forecasts in the US and Europe.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded to focus on the substantive news covered in this episode.

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For more updates and in-depth reporting, visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Firefighters are making some progress in terms of slowing the spread of catastrophic wildfires in the Los Angeles area, but acknowledge the situation. There is fluid. The current current death toll from the fires is listed at 5, but with the inability to get into some areas, it may well go higher. Brent Pasqua is a battalion chief with Cal Fire. He says with lessening winds today, there are hopes some percent of the blazes can be contained.

[Brent Pasqua]

This welcomed break in the winds is going to allow us to get that number to come up to at least get some containment on this fire because the last two days with Those strong winds, 80 mile an hour winds, there was just nowhere to anchor in and start putting this fire out. It was just trying to save lives.

[Jack Spear]

Around 180,000 people are under evacuation orders there. At least four wildfires are burning, consuming tens of thousands of acres in the Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and the Hollywood Hills. President Biden today pledged to pay 100% of the cost for 180 days of fire recovery. New research, meanwhile, suggests climate change is helping stoke the wildfires. In Los Angeles, Ezra David Romero of member station KQED has more.

[Carvana Advertisement]

After two wet years, grasses grew nearly double their average rate and Southern California received little rain since last spring, drying out all that grass. Researchers call this hydroclement whiplash and say the conditions were perfect for a wildfire to spark. Then came strong winter winds. UC Merced climatologist Janna Botzoglu is one of the study's co authors.

[Janna Botzoglu]

It seems like that is the recipe.

[Carvana Advertisement]

For many of the catastrophic fires that we've seen in Southern California. The scientists say swings between alarmingly wet and arid conditions will only worsen as the world continues to warm. For NPR News, I'm Ezra David Romero in San Francisco.

[Jack Spear]

New Orleans has hired former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton to review the city's security and harden it against future attacks. Matt Blum with member station WWNO has more.

[Janna Botzoglu]

Bratton twice served as New York's police commissioner and chief of police of Los Angeles, where he became known for his broken windows policing style, which targets petty crimes. New Orleans Chief Ann Kirkpatrick says he'll work closely with her over the coming months.

[Maria Aspen]

He is here to serve all of us. This is a community endeavor.

[Janna Botzoglu]

Kirkpatrick made the announcement during a city council meeting where she also said she would not resign in the wake of last week's truck attack on New Year's Day. For NPR News, I'm Matt Bloom in New Orleans.

[Jack Spear]

At a funeral service in Washington today, where all five living US Presidents were in attendance, the nation said goodbye to former President Jimmy Carter. Nation's longest living President Carter died last month at the age of one. His body was then flown to Plains, Georgia, will be buried beside his wife Rosalynn. 39th President was eulogized at Washington National Cathedral by President Joe Biden. Members of Carter's family also paid tribute. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. U.S. financial markets are closed today, joining a national day of mourning for former President Carter. San Pierre's Maria Aspen reports. The trading shutdown is part of a tradition that goes back almost 160 years.

[Maria Aspen]

Wall street rarely closes on a, but it makes an exception to more in US Presidents. It's part of a tradition that dates back to 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. The New York Stock Exchange closed for days. Since then, the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ have stopped trading to mourn several presidents. Tal Cohen is nasdaq's president.

[Brent Pasqua]

We also did it for President Roosevelt, President Kennedy, President Nixon, President Reagan. Collectively, we want to make the decision to honor former President Carter.

[Maria Aspen]

Cohen says his company coordinated its its one day closure with other exchanges, regulators and other entities within the financial industry. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.

[Jack Spear]

With President elect Donald Trump talking tariffs against some major US Trading partners, including Canada, officials north of the border are apparently not going to sit idly by senior Canadian officials saying Canada is looking at retaliatory tariffs on American orange juice, sinks, toilets and some steel products, depending on whether President elect Trump makes good on a threat to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products. Trump, for his part, has said he'll use economic coercion to pressure Canada to become the 51st state crude oil futures prices moved higher today as colder winter weather in the US And Europe was expected to drive up demand for heating fuel oil up 60 cents a barrel to $73.92 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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