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Shea Stevens
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Federal and local authorities say a rescue effort continues in the Potomac river near Washington, D.C. s Reagan National Airport. A passenger plane carrying 64 people and a military helicopter with three soldiers aboard collided in midair near the airport before landing in the river last night. The passenger plane was an American Airlines regional jet that departed from Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kansas. NPR's Brian Mann is there.
Brian Mann
Officials here at the airport in Wichita, Kansas, say they've set up a family support area and some family members of those on board this flight are here with chaplain now. Jesse Romo, who's director of the airport authority in Wichita, told reporters that the community is devastated by this event. Lily Wu, who's the mayor of Wichita, was also here. She said the thoughts and prayers of the community are with these families.
Shea Stevens
NPR's Brian Mann in Wichita. US figure skating officials say that several members were aboard the American Airlines Flight 5342 and said these athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from the national development camp held in Kentucky with the U.S. figure Skating Championships in Wichita. An executive order signed by President Trump is designed to limit the teaching of race and gender in public schools. As NPR's Adrian Florido reports, the order aims to pull federal funding from certain K12 schools that promote what the administration calls discriminatory equity ideology.
Adrienne Florido
The president's order borrows language from bills that some Republican led states have adopted to restrict the teaching of critical race theory and gender identity. Those states have made it harder or illegal for teachers to talk about subject like white privilege, unconscious bias or non binary genders. Critics have blasted those laws as attempts to stifle honest and inclusive lessons about race and gender. But Trump's executive order calls those and similar concepts anti American and subversive. It gives the Education Department and other federal agencies three months to produce a report with recommendations for eliminating federal funding used to teach them. Adrienne Florido, NPR News.
Shea Stevens
The Smithsonian is closing its diversity office. NPR's Neta Ulugy reports.
Neta Ulibi
Smithsonian is not a traditional government agency, but much of its billion dollar budget comes from federal appropriations. The move to eliminate its Office of Diversity comes in the wake of an executive order from President Trump that describes DEI initiatives as legal and immoral. A Smithsonian spokesperson told NPR in an email that although the institution is closing this office, it will be retaining our efforts at visitor accessibility. Right now, almost all Smithsonian museums are entirely free to visitors. Currently, the Smithsonian institution employs about 6,500 people. Neta Ulibi, NPR News.
Shea Stevens
You're listening to NPR. Facebook parent company Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump after his social media accounts were suspended in wake of the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol in 20 alleged that Facebook and owner Mark Zuckerberg had engaged in impermissible censorship. In Syria, military factions say they're dissolving the country's constitution and Parliament. As NPR's Emily Fang reports, a former rebel leader is being appointed to serve as president until a new constitution is formed.
Emily Fang
A coalition of military factions announced. Ahmed al Sharah, the leader of Hayet Tahrir al Sham, or hts, would act as the country's interim president. He is already the de facto head of Syria's government ever since a coalition of rebel fighters anchored by HDS swept through most of Syria and forcibly ousted the former regime after a grinding civil war. But his appointment further cements his power, and the military factions announced several political parties affiliated with the former regime would be dissolved. It also said all other military and political factions would be absorbed into state institutions, perhaps a nod to ethnic Kurdish militias still fighting other Syrian forces in the country's north, where much of Syria's valuable oil reserves are located. Emily Fang and Piraneuz holmes, Syria Preliminary.
Shea Stevens
Analysis of samples from a near Earth asteroid has detected organic compounds scientists say are necessary for life. The rock and dust samples were collected in 2023 and could be further evidence that asteroids may have planted the seeds of life here on Earth. This is NPR News.
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NPR News Now: January 30, 2025
Hosted by NPR’s Shea Stevens, this edition of NPR News Now delivers the latest updates on pivotal events shaping the world. From tragic aviation accidents to significant policy changes, here are the key stories covered in today’s episode.
00:18 - 01:14
Shea Stevens opened the broadcast with breaking news about a devastating midair collision involving an American Airlines regional jet and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport. The crash resulted in the plane landing in the Potomac River, claiming the lives of all 67 individuals aboard—64 passengers and three military personnel.
NPR’s Brian Mann reported from Wichita, Kansas, where the American Airlines flight had originated.
Brian Mann [00:48]:
"Officials here at the airport in Wichita, Kansas, say they've set up a family support area, and some family members of those on board this flight are here with chaplain now."
The Wichita community is reeling from the tragedy. Jesse Romo, Director of the Airport Authority, expressed the collective devastation, while Mayor Lily Wu conveyed the city's shared grief.
Lily Wu [00:48]:
"The thoughts and prayers of the community are with these families."
Further distressing news emerged as it was confirmed that several members of the U.S. figure skating team were among the passengers. These athletes and their families were returning from a national development camp in Kentucky, having participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships held in Wichita.
01:14 - 02:28
In a significant policy shift, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at limiting the teaching of race and gender in public schools. The order seeks to withdraw federal funding from K-12 schools that promote what the administration labels as "discriminatory equity ideology."
NPR’s Adrienne Florido provided an in-depth analysis of the order’s implications.
Adrienne Florido [01:49]:
"The president's order borrows language from bills that some Republican-led states have adopted to restrict the teaching of critical race theory and gender identity."
The executive order specifically targets concepts such as white privilege, unconscious bias, and non-binary genders, deeming them "anti-American and subversive." Federal agencies, including the Department of Education, have been given a three-month deadline to report recommendations for ceasing the funding of these curricula.
Critics argue that the order is an attempt to suppress comprehensive and inclusive education on race and gender issues, labeling it as politically motivated censorship.
02:28 - 03:12
Following President Trump’s executive order, the Smithsonian Institution announced the closure of its Office of Diversity. Although the Smithsonian is not a traditional government agency, it relies heavily on federal funding, much of which supports its extensive operations and exhibits.
NPR’s Neta Uliby reported on the institution’s response.
Neta Uliby [02:33]:
"Although the institution is closing this office, it will be retaining our efforts at visitor accessibility."
Currently, the Smithsonian employs approximately 6,500 people and continues to offer free admission to all its museums. The decision reflects the broader national pushback against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within federally funded institutions.
03:12 - 03:49
In a notable development, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former President Trump. The lawsuit alleged that Facebook and CEO Mark Zuckerberg engaged in "impermissible censorship" by suspending Trump’s social media accounts following the January 6 Capitol attacks.
NPR’s Shea Stevens provided an update on the settlement.
This settlement marks a significant concession by Meta, highlighting the ongoing legal and financial repercussions social media companies face over content moderation decisions.
03:49 - 04:37
Shifting focus to the Middle East, Syria is undergoing profound political changes as military factions announce the dissolution of the country’s constitution and Parliament. In a move reported by NPR’s Emily Fang, Ahmed al-Sharah, leader of Hayet Tahrir al Sham (HTS), has been appointed as Syria’s interim president.
Emily Fang [03:49]:
"Ahmed al-Sharah would act as the country's interim president. He is already the de facto head of Syria's government ever since a coalition of rebel fighters anchored by HTS swept through most of Syria and forcibly ousted the former regime after a grinding civil war."
This consolidation of power involves dissolving political parties linked to the former regime and integrating other military and political factions into state institutions. The announcement hints at a possible strategy to integrate Kurdish militias still active in Syria's oil-rich northern regions, potentially stabilizing the area under centralized control.
04:37 - 04:56
In scientific news, researchers have identified organic compounds in samples from a near Earth asteroid. These findings, reported by Shea Stevens, indicate that such asteroids may have played a role in seeding life on Earth.
The analysis of rock and dust collected in 2023 provides crucial evidence supporting the theory that extraterrestrial materials could have contributed to the emergence of life on our planet.
This discovery opens new avenues for understanding the origins of life and the potential for life elsewhere in the universe.
Stay Informed with NPR News Now
This summary captures the critical discussions and insights from NPR News Now’s January 30, 2025 episode. For more detailed coverage, tune into NPR’s latest broadcasts.