NPR News: 01-10-2025 12AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 10, 2025

Host: Shea Stevens

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Southern California Wildfires Devastate Thousands of Homes

At 00:18, Shea Stevens reported that the Lydia Fire in the Angeles National Forest has reached 60% containment, marking it as one of several destructive blazes in the Los Angeles area. Collectively, these fires have destroyed over 9,000 homes and structures, leaving numerous residents displaced.

Rachel Miro from Altadena provides a ground-level view at 00:51, describing the aftermath with "flaring gas lines, down power lines, and huge tree branches littering the roads." Despite the hazardous conditions, many evacuees, including Herb Wilson, have returned to assess the damage. At 01:10, Wilson shared his emotional response:

"And we're just looking down the block at all the devastation and all the houses on the block are gone with the exception of one." – Herb Wilson [01:10]

Wilson emphasized the strong community ties developed over two decades, expressing a desire to rebuild despite the overwhelming destruction.

Canada Extends Support for California Firefighting Efforts

In a show of international solidarity, Canada has offered significant resources to aid Southern California's firefighting initiatives. At 01:31, Shea Stevens introduced Dan Carpenter's report, highlighting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's commitment:

"Ottawa is offering firefighters planes and equipment as well as the military personnel to get them to California." – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau [01:43]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed the deployment of two water bombers and 165 firefighting personnel, while Quebec and British Columbia have already contributed planes and helicopters to support the frontline efforts.

Honoring Jimmy Carter: A Legacy of Friendship and Health Advocacy

World Health Organization Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus participated in honoring former President Jimmy Carter at a funeral in Washington, as reported by Shea Stevens at 02:03. Gabriela Emanuel delves into the longstanding friendship between Carter and Tedros, which began in 2005 during Carter's trip to Ethiopia. Their collaboration primarily focused on combating malaria, differing from Carter's initial intent to discuss neglected tropical diseases.

At 02:34, Tedros reminisced:

"And then the response was, you know, the problem, you know, the solution, and we don't want to prescribe something because we are here to support you. It was just amazing." – Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus [02:34]

Their partnership led to the distribution of millions of bed nets, significantly aiding malaria prevention efforts.

Legal Developments: Title IX Protections and Donald Trump's Sentencing

Shea Stevens covered pivotal legal news at 02:56, starting with the Biden administration's expansion of Title IX protections for LGBTQ students being overturned by a federal judge. Judge Danny Reeves argued that the rules exceeded presidential authority and contained legal deficiencies.

In a closely watched Supreme Court decision at 04:00, a 5-4 ruling denied a delay in sentencing former President Donald Trump. Convicted of falsifying business records during the 2016 campaign to conceal an extramarital affair, Trump faces sentencing by Judge Juan Machon on Friday. Despite the conviction, Judge Machon has indicated that jail time is unlikely. Trump continues to assert his innocence regarding the charges.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Arrested Amid Protests

Amidst escalating tensions, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corinna Machado was briefly detained on Thursday, as detailed by Shea Stevens and reported by Manuel Rueda from Bogota at 04:02. Machado, previously in hiding for four months, resurfaced to spearhead protests against President Nicolás Maduro's contested re-election.

After delivering a speech from the back of a truck, Machado was surrounded by her security team and subsequently targeted by armed men who fired at motorcycles transporting her. Her political party, Vente Venezuela, confirmed the brief detention. This incident occurs as Maduro prepares for his third term, amid widespread accusations of electoral fraud and the arrest of at least 16 activists this week.

U.S. Financial Markets Show Mixed Activity

Concluding the episode, Shea Stevens provided an update on the financial markets at 04:41. U.S. futures are trending lower in after-hours trading following a mixed close on Wall Street. Specifically:

• Dow Jones Industrials: Rose by 106 points
• NASDAQ Composite Index: Declined by 10 points
• S&P 500: Dropped by 10 points

These fluctuations reflect investor responses to the day's varied economic and political news.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the January 10, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, ensuring listeners are well-informed on critical national and international developments.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The Lydia fire in Angeles National Forest is is now 60% contained. It is one of several blazes burning in the Los Angeles area that officials say destroyed more than 9,000 homes and other structures in the region. Some of the evacuees in Southern California have returned to their neighborhoods to see what's left of their homes and to comfort one another following massive destruction from the so called Eaton Fire. Remember station kqed? Rachel Miro has more from Altadena.

[Rachel Miro]

Flaring gas lines, down power lines and huge tree branches littering the roads aren't enough to keep locals away from checking on their homes, but in many cases those homes are no longer standing. That was the case for Herb Wilson, who was on vacation with his wife in Hawaii when his daughter called him Monday to tell him what was going on.

[Herb Wilson]

And we're just looking down the block at all the devastation and all the houses on the block are gone with the exception of one.

[Rachel Miro]

Wilson says he's made friends with many neighbors over 20 years. He says it's too soon to say whether he he'll rebuild, but right now, despite the devastation, he wants to. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Myro in Altadena, California.

[Shea Stevens]

The nation of Canada is offering to aid firefighting efforts in Southern California. As Dan Carpenter reports, officials in Ottawa say the resources are available and that they're standing by to deploy them.

[Justin Trudeau]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ottawa is offering firefighters planes and equipment as well as the military personnel to get them to California. And Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he has two water bombers and 165 firefight standby. Quebec and British Columbia have already sent planes and helicopters to the front lines in California.

[Shea Stevens]

Dan Sharpenschuck reporting. World Health Organization Director Tedros Adhanam Ghebreyesis was among those honoring former President Jimmy Carter at a funeral in Washington on Thursday. NPR's Gabriela Emanuel reports that Dr. Tedros and Carter had been close friends for two decades.

[Gabriela Emanuel]

On a trip to Ethiopia in 2005, Carter and Tedros met for the first time. Carter went to talk about neglected tropical diseases, but Tedros, who was then Ethiopia's minister of health, says he wanted to discuss malaria instead.

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]

And then the response was, you know, the problem, you know, the solution, and we don't want to prescribe something because we are here to support you. It was just amazing.

[Gabriela Emanuel]

In the end, Tedro says Carter sent millions of bed nets to help combat malaria and then visited to help distribute the nets. Gabriela Emanuel, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Last year, the Biden administration finalized new rules expanding Title IX protections for LGBTQ students. On Thursday, a federal judge threw out the additional rules, saying they overstepped the president's authority. Judge Danny Reeves also cited what he called some legal shortcomings. This is NPR News. In a 5 to 4 ruling Thursday, the U.S. supreme Court rejected a request to delay the sentencing of Donald Trump. The president elect was convicted of falsifying business records during the 2016 campaign, allegedly to hide a nearly decade old extramarital affair. Judge Juan Machon is to sentence Trump on Friday and has already indicated he will not issue any jail time. Trump maintains that he did nothing wrong. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corinna Machado was briefly arrested on Thursday, according to members of her political party. The news comes as President Nicolas Maduro faces a new wave of protests over his re election. Manuel Rueda has more from Bogota.

[Manuel Rueda]

Machado had been in hiding for four months, but today she resurfaced to lead protests against the Venezuelan government. After delivering a speech on the back of a truck, Machado disappeared into a large crowd surrounded by her security team. Her political party, Vente Venezuela, said that minutes later, armed men shot at a group of motorcycles, transported Machado and briefly detained her. Venezuela's government has arrested at least 16 activists this week as Maduro prepares to be sworn in for a third term on Friday. The Venezuelan president is widely believed to have stolen last year's election. For NPR News, I'm Manuel rueda in Bogota.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are lower in after hours trading on Wall street following Thursday's mixed close. The Dow Jones Industrials rose 106 points. The NASDAQ Composite Index and the S&P 500 lost 10 points. This is NPR.

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