NPR News: May 17, 2025 – Comprehensive Morning Update
Host: Dale Willman
Source: NPR News Now
Release Date: May 17, 2025
Severe Storms and Tornado Devastate St. Louis Region
Early Friday morning, severe storms, including a suspected tornado, struck the St. Louis area, leading to significant devastation. According to St. Louis Public Radio's Chad Davis, the impact was widespread, affecting over 5,000 homes and causing the collapse of several buildings across St. Louis County and various neighborhoods in St. Louis City.
St. Louis Mayor Kara Spencer addressed the situation, emphasizing the immediate focus on safety and recovery:
"We're going to have a lot of work to do in the coming days. There is no doubt there. But tonight we are focused on life, saving lives and keeping people safe and allowing our community to grieve." [00:47]
In response to the emergency, Mayor Spencer announced a curfew for the northern parts of the city, effective Friday evening through Saturday morning. Additionally, city leaders advised residents to limit phone usage to ensure critical communications channels remain open for emergency services. Chad Davis concluded the report by highlighting the ongoing challenges the city faces in the aftermath of the storms.
Supreme Court Blocks Deportation of Venezuelan Immigrants in Texas
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has temporarily halted the Trump administration's attempt to deport a group of Venezuelan immigrants under a 1798 law. NPR’s Sergio Martinez Beltran provided an in-depth analysis of the court's decision.
The Court determined that the administration failed to provide adequate notice to the detainees, allowing them insufficient time to contest their deportation under the Alien Enemies Act. Specifically, the detainees at a northern Texas center were given only about 24 hours notice, which the Court deemed inadequate:
"Detainees are entitled to more notice than the roughly 24 hours the government gave the Venezuelan men at the center of this case." [01:35]
Notably, conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the majority opinion. Importantly, the ruling did not resolve the broader legal questions regarding the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act by the Trump administration.
Federal Judge Dismisses Trespassing Charges for Migrants in New Mexico
In a landmark decision, a federal judge in New Mexico has dismissed trespassing charges against dozens of migrants who were apprehended within a newly established military buffer zone along the southern border. This move marks the largest dismissal of its kind amidst the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts.
Federal Magistrate Judge Gregory B. Warmuth ruled that the original criminal complaint lacked probable cause to justify the charges. New Mexico Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez criticized the administration’s actions:
"The Trump administration imposed this military zone without transparency, and to this day, we still don't know where it begins or where it ends. It's not clear to the public, not to local officials, and certainly it's not clear to the people who are being." [02:24]
Despite the dismissal of charges, the migrants involved remain detained and face potential deportation. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico has yet to comment on the ruling.
U.S. Consumer Sentiment Plummets to Three-Year Low Amid Economic Concerns
Consumer confidence in the United States has reached a three-year low, as indicated by the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, which fell to 50.8 in May—the lowest since June 2022. This marks the fifth consecutive month of decline in the index.
Consumers are increasingly worried that President Trump's ongoing trade war could exacerbate inflationary pressures. In related economic news, while Wall Street's stock market closed higher on Friday, Moody's downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA1. The downgrade was attributed to rising national debt and interest rates. The Trump administration swiftly responded to the downgrade, launching a personal attack on a Moody's trader earlier in the spring.
Evolution in Home Buying: Flat Fee Realtor Commissions Gain Traction
The real estate market is experiencing a shift in how Realtors are compensated, following a settlement with the National Association of Realtors last year. Previously, home sellers typically paid commissions totaling 5 to 6% for both buyer’s and seller’s agents. However, new regulations now require agents to inform clients that commission rates are fully negotiable.
NPR’s Laura Wamsley reports that some buyers and sellers are adopting a flat fee model for Realtor services. For instance, Jim Hsiao, a homebuyer in Georgia, opted for an agent who agreed to a flat fee, allowing him to receive $14,000 back towards closing costs:
"When you try to negotiate, you basically just told, nope, that's our rate." [04:02]
Despite these changes, overall commissions for buyer’s agents have seen minimal reductions. Hsiao emphasizes the need for consumers to feel confident in seeking alternatives to traditional commission structures:
"Consumers just need the confidence to ask for options beyond the status quo." [04:07]
New Jersey Transit Engineers' Strike Disrupts Commuters
Commuters in New Jersey faced significant challenges on Friday as New Jersey Transit engineers went on strike. The commuter rail system, a vital transportation hub for approximately 350,000 passengers daily, experienced service disruptions, forcing many to seek alternative means of transportation such as buses, cars, taxis, and boats.
Despite the scale of the strike, reports indicated that major traffic jams were avoided. Dale Willman highlighted the resilience of commuters amidst the transportation upheaval:
"The strike did not seem to cause major traffic jams." [04:32]
The strike underscores ongoing tensions between transit workers and the administration, with broader implications for daily commuters in the region.
This summary is based on the NPR News Now episode released on May 17, 2025.