NPR News: 04-13-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 13, 2025, 6 PM EDT

Hosted by NPR, "NPR News Now" delivers the latest news in five minutes, updated hourly. This summary captures the key stories, discussions, and insights from the April 13, 2025, episode.

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Arson Attack on Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [00:24] - [00:50]

In a shocking incident early this morning, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion was targeted in an arson attack. Authorities have apprehended Cody Ballmer, a 38-year-old man, in connection with the assault. District Attorney Fran Charta stated at [00:38], “The charges will include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person. These are all very serious charges.”

According to Herbst, Ballmer bypassed security by jumping a fence and evaded state troopers before forcibly entering the residence. He set the mansion ablaze using homemade incendiary devices before fleeing the scene. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, though the mansion sustained significant damage. Governor Josh Shapiro shared on social media that he and his family were awakened at two in the morning by state police knocking on their door. Despite the chaos, Governor Shapiro mentioned, “My family is doing okay but is shaken,” and confirmed they would proceed with their second seder that evening.

A comprehensive security review of the mansion is currently underway, with the FBI involved in the investigation. It remains unclear whether Ballmer will face federal charges.

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President Donald Trump's Annual Physical Exam

Reporter: Mara Liasson
Timestamp: [01:42] - [02:17]

The White House has released the results of President Donald Trump’s annual physical examination, conducted on Friday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Mara Liasson reports that the findings indicate the President "exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health" and is "fully fit to execute his duties as commander in chief and head of state" ([01:42]).

The comprehensive exam included a neurological assessment, blood work, EKG, abdominal ultrasound, and a psychological evaluation. Remarkably, Liasson adds, "14 specialists took part in the exam," ensuring a thorough examination of the President's health. The White House press office shared a letter from the White House physician to the press secretary, underscoring the President's robust health status.

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Russian Missile Attack on Sumy, Ukraine

Reporters: Jeanine Herbst & Teri Schultz
Timestamp: [02:17] - [03:17]

European leaders have condemned a recent Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which resulted in the deaths of over 30 individuals and injured approximately 100 others. Jeanine Herbst introduces the story, noting that the attack occurred as residents were celebrating Palm Sunday.

Teri Schultz provides further insights, quoting European Council President Antonio Costa at [02:36], who expressed that he is "outraged by Russia's criminal missile attack on the city center of Sumy, coming just two days after US Envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace talks." Costa emphasized, "Russia is choosing to continue this war. Those responsible must be held accountable."

Additionally, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katerina Matronova condemned the attack on Facebook, labeling it a "war crime" for targeting churchgoers during a religious celebration. She urged global support for Ukraine, stating, "We need the whole world to wake up and provide more support for Ukraine."

In response to the escalating conflict, NATO allies and other supporters have pledged billions in additional military assistance, focusing on enhanced air defense capabilities to aid Kyiv.

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Blue Origin's All-Female Space Flight

Reporter: Eva Pukach
Timestamp: [03:17] - [04:17]

In a historic milestone for commercial space travel, Blue Origin, the private space company founded by Jeff Bezos, is preparing to launch an all-female flight crew tomorrow. Eva Pukach details that the six-person crew will include prominent figures such as journalist Gayle King and pop star Katy Perry ([03:38]).

The mission, scheduled to lift off from West Texas, will involve an approximately 11-minute suborbital spaceflight. Pukach highlights Perry’s perspective, noting her statement to the Associated Press: "It's an important moment for the future of commercial space travel." She further remarks that currently, "less than a quarter of people who have gone to space have been women," underscoring the significance of this all-female mission.

This flight marks the 11th human spaceflight undertaken by Blue Origin since the commencement of their space tourism flights in 2021, representing a continued commitment to diversifying space exploration.

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Weekend Box Office Highlights

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [04:17] - [05:02]

The weekend box office sees a standout performance from the "Minecraft" movie, which has quickly risen to become the top-grossing Hollywood release of the year. After just two weeks in theaters, the video game adaptation has amassed an estimated $80 million in ticket sales.

In second place, "The King of Kings," an animated retelling of Jesus' life inspired by a children's book by Charles Dickens, garnered $19 million. The film boasts a star-studded voice cast, including Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh, and Uma Thurman.

Claiming the third spot is "The Amateur," a 20th Century production featuring Rami Malek as a CIA cryptographer on a quest to uncover his wife's killers. This thriller has attracted $15 million at the box office, indicating strong audience interest in diverse genres.

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Transcript

[NPR]

NPR informs and connects communities around the country, providing reliable information in times of crisis. Federal funding helps us fulfill our mission to create a more informed public and ensures that public radio remains available to everyone. Learn more about safeguarding the future of public media. Visit protectmypublicmedia.org live from NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Police in Pennsylvania have a 38 year old man, Cody Ballmer, in in connection with an arson attack on the governor's mansion earlier this morning. District Attorney Fran Charta.

[Fran Charta]

The charges will include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault against an enumerated person. These are all very serious charges.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Police say Ballmer jumped a fence, managed to avoid state troopers and then forcibly entered the residence and set it on fire with homemade incendiary devices before fleeing. A security review of the mansion is underway. The FBI is involved, but it's not clear if Ballmer, who was apprehended in the Harrisburg area, will face federal charges. No one was injured, but the mansion sustained significant damage. Governor Josh Shapiro posted on social media that he and his family were awakened at two in the morning by the state police banging on their door. Police are still looking for a motive. Shapiro, who is Jewish, offered Passover well wishes just hours before the attack on the house. He says his family is doing okay but is shaken and that they will celebrate their second seder. Tonight. The White House released what it says are the results of President Trump's annual physical exam conducted on Friday. And Piers Mara liaison has more.

[Mara Liasson]

The White House press office released a letter from the White House physician to the press secretary. The letter reports that President Trump, quote, exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and that he is fully fit to execute his duties as commander in chief and head of state. Trump's exam took place at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. It included a neurological exam, blood work and ekg, an abdominal ultrasound and a psychological examination. According to the report, 14 specialists took part in the exam. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

European leaders are expressing their horror over a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed more than 30 people and injured 100 others. Terry Schultz reports that the ballistic missiles hit while residents were gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday.

[Teri Schultz]

European Council President Antonio Costa says he is, quote, outraged by Russia's criminal missile attack on the city center of Sumi, coming just two days after US Envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace talks. Costa says Russia is choosing to continue this war. Those responsible must be held accountable, he added. EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katerina Matronova wrote on Facebook that attacking churchgoers on Palm Sunday is a war crime. She called on the whole world to wake up and provide more support for Ukraine. On Friday, NATO allies and other supporters of Kyiv pledged billions more in military assistance, including additional air defense. For NPR News, I'm Teri Schultz in Brussels.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Blue Origin, the private space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is getting set to launch an all female flight crew tomorrow. NPR's Eva Puketsch reports. It's the first all female flight since 1963.

[Eva Pukach]

The six person crew includes journalist Gayle King and pop star Katy Perry. They'll take a roughly 11 minute space flight lifting off from West Texas. In an interview with the Associated Press, Perry said it's an important moment for the future of commercial space travel. Less than a quarter of people who have gone to space have been women. This marks the 11th human space flight from Blue Origin since it began space tourism flights in 2021. Eva Pukach, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the weekend box office after just two weeks in theaters, a Minecraft movie is already the top grossing Hollywood release of the year so far. The video game adaptation also took the top spot again with an estimated $80 million in ticket sales. In second place, the King of Kings, an animated tale of Jesus Life with $19 million. The film is loosely based on a children's book by Charles Dickens with a voice cast including Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh and Uma Thurman. In third place, the amateur with $15 million. The 20th century production stars Rami Malek as a CIA cryptographer hunting down his wife's killers. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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