NPR News Now – January 24, 2026, 6PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst

Overview

This episode delivers succinct coverage of the United States’ most pressing late-day news on January 24, 2026. Highlights include a fatal shooting by Border Patrol in Minneapolis, a historic winter storm sweeping much of the country, major Russian attacks against Ukraine during peace talks, an ongoing anti-corruption purge in China’s military, and a serious sewage spill in Washington, D.C.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Minneapolis Border Patrol Shooting

• Incident:
  • A Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man, identified as Alex Preddy, in Minneapolis.
  • Officials claimed the deceased was a U.S. citizen who allegedly approached officers with a weapon during a targeted operation for an undocumented person.
• Conflicting Accounts:
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asserted, “officers tried to disarm him, but the man allegedly violently resisted.” [00:38]
  • Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey contest this, referencing video evidence.
  • Mayor Frey attributes blame to policies of the Trump administration.
• City Response:
  • A city official announced legal action:

    “The city of Minneapolis is filing a declaration after today’s shooting to encourage the judge to rule on a temporary restraining order… to help stop this operation that has been so harmful.” [00:53]

  • Noted that recent operations have resulted in multiple shootings and deaths.
• Casualties: Three people shot; two have died.

2. Historic Winter Storm Hits U.S.

• Scope & Severity:
  • A massive storm moving from the Southwest through New England is affecting about 200 million people; over a dozen states under emergency declarations.
  • Meteorologist Frank Pereira (National Weather Service):

    “This may be the all time [in] both population impact and geographical scope.” [01:40]

  • Effects include:
    • Snow exceeding one foot in places
    • Ice accumulation up to an inch
    • Subzero temperatures
• Human Impact:
  • Many are seeking shelter in warming centers.
  • Whitney Slater, storm victim in Detroit:

    “It’s brutal out there. It’s so cold it hurts, like, it hurts.” [01:59]

  • Officials strongly advise staying indoors; concerns of catastrophic ice and threats to power infrastructure in the southern states.

3. Russian Assaults & Ukraine Peace Talks

• Ongoing Conflict:
  • Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities even as peace talks were concurrently held in the UAE.
  • Strikes targeted the energy grid at the peak of winter.
• Kyiv’s Situation:
  • Mayor Vitaly Klitschko:

    “Heating system and to rebuild [a] new one. Right now and during the wartime, it’s impossible. We need a lot of money and time for that.” [02:56]

  • Half of Kyiv’s apartment buildings are without heat.
  • Ongoing requests for more air defense aid from allies.

4. China’s High-Ranking Military Purge

• New Investigation:
  • China announces a probe into General Zhang Youxia, the country’s most senior military figure implicated so far in President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign.
  • Emily Fang, NPR:

    “General Zhang Youxia is being investigated for suspected violations of Communist Party discipline.” [03:32]

    • Zhang is a regime ‘princeling’ and veteran of China’s few foreign military conflicts.
• Political Context:
  • Accompanied by removal of nine generals in October and ongoing high-level reshuffles aimed at cementing President Xi’s power and reducing corruption.

5. Major Sewage Spill in Washington, D.C.

• Environmental Emergency:
  • Collapse of a major sewer line has caused untreated wastewater from Maryland and Virginia to spill into the Potomac River for several days.
  • Crews have installed high-powered pumps to divert flow and limit further contamination.
• Scale:
  • Around 40 million gallons per day have entered the river since the rupture began on Monday.
  • Cause of the break remains under investigation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Border Patrol Shooting:
  • Minneapolis official:

    “…help stop this operation that has been so harmful to the city of Minneapolis. The state of Minnesota has resulted in multiple shootings and tragic deaths.” [00:53]

• Describing the winter storm:
  • Meteorologist Frank Pereira:

    “This may be the all time both population impact and geographical scope.” [01:40]

  • Storm victim Whitney Slater, on the cold:

    “It’s brutal out there. It’s so cold it hurts like it hurts.” [01:59]

• On Ukraine’s heating crisis:
  • Mayor Vitaly Klitschko:

    “We need a lot of money and time for that.” [02:56]

• On China’s military purge:
  • Emily Fang:

    “General Zhang Youxia is being investigated for suspected violations of Communist Party discipline.” [03:32]

Important Timestamps for Segments

• Minneapolis Shooting:
  00:15 – 01:16
• Winter Storm Coverage:
  01:16 – 02:18
• Ukraine Attacks & Peace Talks:
  02:18 – 03:10
• China Military Purge:
  03:10 – 04:17
• Washington, D.C. Sewage Spill:
  04:17 – 04:55

This episode of NPR News Now provided a rapid but detailed overview of urgent domestic and international crises as of January 24, 2026, with first-hand statements and official reactions at every step.