NPR News: 03-15-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 15, 2025, 6PM EDT – Detailed Summary

Hosted by NPR, "NPR News Now" provides the latest news in a concise, five-minute format. The March 15, 2025, episode covers significant developments in U.S. politics, severe weather events, public health studies, and cultural celebrations.

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1. President Trump Invokes the Alien Enemies Act Against Venezuelan Group

Jeanine Herbst opens the episode by reporting that President Donald Trump has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua. This action follows an executive order signed in January that designated the group as a terrorist organization, setting the stage for the current presidential declaration.

• Legal Challenges: Just hours before the declaration, a federal judge issued a temporary stay preventing the deportation of five Venezuelan men associated with the gang. The judge cited their ties to terrorism and the risk they face if deported without a court hearing. This stay allows the men to remain in the U.S. for 14 days pending an emergency hearing.

• Executive Order Implications: In addition to targeting Tren de Aragua, President Trump’s sweeping executive order aims to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) along with six other federal agencies. This move is part of an effort to reduce taxpayer spending and streamline government functions.

Chloe Veltman provides further insights into the impact of dismantling the IMLS:

• The IMLS is the primary federal funding source for 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums across the nation. Its grants support diverse programs, including children's art exhibitions at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and indigenous language workshops in Hawaiian libraries.

• A White House fact sheet justifies the cuts by claiming they will save taxpayer dollars and eliminate unnecessary government spending. The IMLS has not yet responded to NPR’s request for comment. (Timestamp: 00:16 - 01:18)

2. Severe Weather Devastates the Central United States

The episode shifts focus to the severe weather sweeping across the southern United States, with Jeanine Herbst reporting on the deadly tornadoes that have resulted in at least 17 fatalities, including 14 in Missouri and Arkansas. The widespread damage from these tornadoes sets the stage for ongoing severe weather threats.

Molly Samuel from WABE Atlanta elaborates on the situation:

• The central U.S. is experiencing damaging winds, wildfires, and tornadoes, with the National Weather Service predicting the severe weather to continue into the morning. There is a significant potential for numerous major tornadoes.

• In response, governors in several states, including Alabama and Missouri, have declared states of emergency. Specifically, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued an emergency declaration ahead of the severe weather anticipated to hit the state Saturday night. Governor Kemp emphasized the importance of preparation, noting that the storm could strike when people are least alert, such as during their nighttime routines. (Timestamp: 02:01 - 02:59)

Additional details include:

• National Weather Service has issued tornado watches for Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
• Power Outages: Over 90,000 customers in Missouri are currently without power, according to Poweroutage.us.

This segment underscores the urgent need for preparedness and the ongoing risks posed by severe weather in the region.

3. Health Risks from Wildfires in Urban Areas Highlighted by New Study

Transitioning from weather-related disasters, Jeanine Herbst introduces a new study published in Science Advances that examines the health impacts of wildfires burning into urban areas compared to those in natural landscapes.

Alejandra Burunda reports on the findings:

• Wildfire smoke is linked to a range of health issues, including respiratory and heart problems, as well as mental health emergencies. However, fires in the wildland-urban interface (areas where human-made structures and wildland vegetation meet) pose even greater risks.

• Wenfu Tung of the National Center for Atmospheric Research explains that emissions from these urban-interface fires are three times more likely to result in premature deaths compared to emissions from wildland fires alone.

• The heightened health impacts are attributed to the proximity of these fires to populations, leading to increased smoke exposure. Additionally, fires that burn through homes and vehicles release toxic materials, potentially making the smoke more hazardous. (Timestamp: 02:59 - 03:55)

This study highlights the critical need for effective wildfire management strategies, especially in areas where urban development intersects with wildlands.

4. St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Light Up Chicago

Concluding the episode on a cultural note, Jeanine Herbst describes the vibrant St. Patrick’s Day celebrations taking place in Chicago. This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday, leading to weekend festivities that include the traditional dyeing of the Chicago River a vivid Kelly green color.

• Historical Tradition: Members of the Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Union Local 130 have been dyeing the river green for 63 years, marking the occasion with boats spraying non-toxic green dye into the water.

• Public Engagement: Thousands of people gather along the river and bridges, cheering as the transformation unfolds, showcasing Chicago’s enduring cultural heritage.

Officials assure the public that the dye used is non-toxic, ensuring the event is both celebratory and safe for the environment. (Timestamp: 04:18 - 04:56)

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Conclusion

This episode of "NPR News Now" delivered a comprehensive overview of pressing national issues, including presidential actions affecting immigration and federal agencies, severe weather disasters with significant human and infrastructural costs, important public health research on wildfires, and cultural celebrations that bring communities together. Through engaging reporting and expert insights, listeners are kept informed on current events shaping the United States.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump has invoked the Alien enemies Act of 1798, targeting the Venezuelan prison gang Train de Aragua. He signed an executive order in January designating the group as a terrorist organization, paving the way for today's presidential declaration. There are already legal challenges in the works. Just hours before Trump's action, a federal judge issued a preemptive temporary stay blocking the deportation of the five men from Venezuela in anticipation of the move, saying the men are connected to the terrorist group and that they are in danger of being deported without a court hearing. The stay allows the men to stay in the US for 14 days. An emergency hearing on the matter takes place. President Trump called for the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services as part of a sweeping executive order issued yesterday targeting seven federal agencies. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. The IMLS supports museums, libraries and archives.

[Chloe Veltman]

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal funding for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Its grants support programs like a children's art exhibition at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum and indigenous language workshops in Hawaiian libraries. A fact sheet issued by the White House states that cutting this and six other governmental entities, including the United States Agency for Global Media and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, will save taxpayer dollars, reduce unnecessary government spending and streamline government priorities. The IMLS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Forecasters are warning of severe weather across much of the south today and tomorrow with damaging winds, hail and tornadoes. This follows a series of tornadoes overnight that killed at least 17 people, 14 of them in Missouri and Arkansas. Damage was extensive. Molly Samuel from member station WABE in Atlanta has more severe weather swept across.

[Molly Samuel]

The central US Friday, damaging buildings, fanning wildfires and spinning off tornadoes. The weather service expects the severe weather to continue this evening and into the morning, warning of the potential for numerous significant tornadoes. Governors, including in Alabama and Missouri, have declared states of emergency. In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp issued an emergency declaration ahead of the severe weather, which is expected to begin hitting the state Saturday night. In a statement, the governor urged people to prepare ahead of time, writing that the storm will hit at the worst possible time as people are heading to or already in bed. For NPR News, I'm Molly Samuel in Atlanta.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And the National Weather Service has issued tornado watches for Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. The storms have also left tens of thousands without power. According to Poweroutage us more than 90,000 customers in Missouri are in the dark. You're listening to NPR News. Wildfires that burn into urban areas are more dangerous to people's health than ones that burn in natural landscapes. That's the finding from a new study published in Science Advances. NPR's Alejandra Burunda has more.

[Alejandra Burunda]

Wildfire smoke triggers all kinds of health issues, from respiratory and heart problems to mental health emergencies, but those that burn in what's called the wildland urban interface are worse.

[Wenfu Tung]

Fire emissions from wildland urban interface fires are three times more likely to lead to annual premature deaths than emissions from wildland fires in general.

[Alejandra Burunda]

Wenfu Tung of the national center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado led the study. The bigger health impacts are largely because wuwe fires happen closer to people and douse them with more smoke. Fatang says it's possible the smoke is even more dangerous because those fires burn houses and cars, which are full of toxic materials. Alejandra Varunda, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

It's nearly St. Patrick's Day, which this year falls on Monday, so celebrations are taking place across the country this weekend in Chicago. The Chicago river is once again a vibrant Kelly green as thousands of people line the river and the bridges today, cheering as members of the Chicago Journeyman plumbers union local 130 sprayed green dye into the water from boats. That tradition started 63 years ago. Officials say that dye is non toxic. I'm Jeanine Herst, NPR News, in Washington.

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