NPR News: 05-17-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 17, 2025, 7 PM EDT

1. Vehicle Explosion Near Palm Springs Fertility Clinic

At 00:16, Jeanine Herbst reports a concerning incident in Palm Springs, California. Authorities are investigating a vehicle explosion near a fertility clinic that resulted in significant property damage and scattered debris. Tragically, one person lost their life in the blast. Palm Springs Police have indicated that the explosion appears intentional, though no motive or connection to the deceased has been established yet.

Jeanine Herbst stated, “[…] it appears to have been an intentional act” (00:16). The FBI and ATF have joined the investigation to determine the underlying reasons behind this attack. Despite the damage to the building, the head of the clinic assured the public that the IVF lab and stored embryos remained intact. Authorities are continuing their efforts to uncover the motive behind this tragic event.

2. Severe Storms Devastate St. Louis

Moving to severe weather impacts, Jeanine Herbst transitions to the aftermath of destructive storms in St. Louis, Missouri. The storms, which swept through the city yesterday afternoon, have resulted in at least seven fatalities across the state. Holly Edgell of the Midwest Newsroom provides an on-the-ground perspective at 01:04.

Holly Edgell described the recovery efforts: “Recovery and cleanup were already underway in the city's central West End on Saturday, where high and low income neighborhoods were hit hard by the storms” (01:04). She highlights the widespread damage affecting both affluent and impoverished areas alike, showcasing a unified community response. Community members, business owners, and volunteers are actively clearing debris, including glass and slate, while roofing crews tackle the removal of fallen branches obstructing streets and public spaces.

Local resident Rolissa Lakhine shared her personal experience at 01:29: “I was affected by the storm, but luckily for me, my house is still standing just one street over.” This sentiment echoes the resilience of St. Louis residents as they work tirelessly to restore normalcy amidst the devastation.

3. Escalating Tensions in Ukraine

The international spotlight shifts to Ukraine. At 01:43, Jeanine Herbst reports on escalating tensions following recent developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. President Trump has announced plans to engage in direct talks with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, aiming to broker a ceasefire.

Jeanine Herbst elaborates, “President Trump says he will speak with Russian President Putin on Monday morning and then with Ukrainian President Zelensky in an all-cap post on social media” (01:43). These discussions come on the heels of the first bilateral talks between the two nations in three years, initiated yesterday. However, the efforts towards peace face setbacks as a Russian drone attack targeted a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine shortly after the negotiations concluded, resulting in at least nine fatalities.

4. U.S. Census Bureau Reopens Hiring Amid Freeze

Shifting focus to domestic affairs, the U.S. Census Bureau is set to hire temporary workers despite a broader federal hiring freeze. Jeanine Herbst introduces this topic at 02:36, with detailed insights from NPR's An Zi Lo Wang.

An Zi Lo Wang explains, “Most parts of the federal government are banned from hiring workers through mid-July, but the Census Bureau has new job postings for temporary field representatives to conduct interviews for government surveys” (02:36). This move addresses the longstanding challenge of recruiting sufficient interviewers, a critical factor in ensuring the reliability of governmental statistics, including the monthly jobs report.

A recent report by the Commerce Department’s inspector general warns that staffing issues could compromise data accuracy, impacting important measures such as the 2030 Census results. These results are pivotal for redrawing voting maps and influencing electoral outcomes for U.S. Presidents and Congress members over the next decade.

5. Trump Administration Alters Gun Control Regulations

At 03:14, Jeanine Herbst covers the Trump administration's recent decision to permit the sale of "forced reset" triggers—devices that enable semi-automatic weapons to fire more rapidly. The Justice Department has reached a settlement that lifts the previous ban on these triggers, contingent upon returning seized devices.

Jeanine Herbst reports, “The settlement resolves a series of cases over the aftermarket trigger the government had previously argued qualified as machine guns under federal law” (03:14). This regulatory change has sparked controversy, with gun control advocates arguing that it will exacerbate gun violence in the United States.

6. Polio Outbreak Declared in Papua New Guinea

In a significant public health update, Jeanine Herbst discusses the World Health Organization’s declaration of a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea (PNG) at 04:01. This marks a concerning development in a region that had remained polio-free since 2000, except for a contained outbreak in 2018.

Rachel Buongiorno reports, “Papua New Guinea has been polio free since 2000, except for an outbreak in 2018 that it managed to contain within the same year” (04:01). The recent outbreak was initially detected through wastewater testing, and subsequent cases have confirmed community transmission. Despite the high efficacy of the polio vaccine—99% with three doses—current vaccination rates in PNG fall below 50%, posing a significant risk to public health.

The WHO emphasizes that global efforts to eradicate polio are being undermined by sudden cuts in U.S. aid funding, as noted by the WHO Director-General. This reduction in support hampers vaccination campaigns, especially in vulnerable regions facing recent violence and instability. Rachel Buongiorno concludes, “The WHO's director general told NPR that the sudden cuts to U.S. aid funding are also affecting efforts to eradicate the disease” (04:01).

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive overview of pressing local and international issues, from tragic incidents in California and Missouri to critical developments in Ukraine and public health challenges in Papua New Guinea. The coverage underscores the interconnectedness of global events and their profound impact on communities worldwide.

Transcript

[Unknown Announcer]

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. In California, authorities are investigating a vehicle explosion near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs today that damaged several buildings and left a trail of debris. Palm Springs Springs police say one person died, but it's not clear if they had anything to do with the blast. Police also say it appears to have been an intentional act. The head of the clinic tells the Associated Press that the building was damaged but that the IVF lab and stored embryos are okay. There's no word on a motive, and the FBI and the ATF are also investigating. Cleanup is underway in St. Louis after severe storms barrel through the city yesterday afternoon lift leaving at least seven people dead in the state. The Midwest Newsroom's Holly Edgell has more.

[Holly Edgell]

Recovery and cleanup were already underway in the city's central West End on Saturday, where high and low income neighborhoods were hit hard by the storms. At one intersection, business owners and volunteers swept up glass and pieces of slate. Roofing crews removed branches from streets, sidewalks and parking lots. Rolissa Lakhine cleaned up an area near a bus shelter. I was affected by the storm, but.

[Rachel Buongiorno]

Luckily for me, my house is still.

[Holly Edgell]

Standing just one street over. Nearly every house appears affected by the storm as neighbors work to clean up as best they can. For NPR News, I'm Holly Edgell in St. Louis.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And the severe storms also left at least 18 people dead in Ukraine, President Trump says he will speak with Russian President Putin on Monday morning and then with Ukrainian President Zelensky in an all cap post on social media. He also said after the calls with the two leaders he will speak with Zelensky and NATO member states trying to reach the goal of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Yesterday, the two sides held talks for the first time since the early days of Russia's invasion three years ago. Meanwhile, hours after yesterday's talks ended, a Russian drone struck a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine, killing at least nine people. The U.S. census Bureau is hiring again for temporary workers to carry out government surveys after a Months long pause. NPR's Hansi Loang reports. The bureau was granted an exemption from President Trump's hiring freeze on federal workers.

[An Zi Lo Wang]

Most parts of the federal government are banned from hiring workers through mid July, but the Census Bureau has new job postings for temporary field representatives to conduct interviews for government surveys. Recruiting and retaining enough interviewers has been a major challenge for the bureau. A recent report by the Commerce Department inspector general's office found that could hurt the reliability of the situation statistics the government produces, including the monthly jobs report. Still, like other federal agencies, the bureau has been under pressure from the Trump administration to shrink its workforce. It's raised concerns about the bureau's ability to produce accurate 2030 census results. They're set to be used to redraw voting maps and determine how US Presidents and members of Congress are elected in the next decade. An Zi Lo Wang, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is NPR News. The Trump administration says it will allow the sale of forced reset triggers, which make a semi automatic weapon fire fire more rapidly. The Justice Department says it reached a settlement that ends the ban as part of a deal that also requires it to return seized devices. The settlement resolves a series of cases over the aftermarket trigger the government had previously argued qualified as machine guns under federal law. Gun control advocates, though, say the settlement will only worsen gun violence. The World Health Organization has declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea. Rachel Bungiorno reports. The PNG government is rushing to vaccinate young children who are particularly vulnerable to the disease.

[Rachel Buongiorno]

Papua New guinea has been polio free since 2000, except for an outbreak in 2018 that it managed to contain within the same year. This new outbreak was identified in wastewater testing, but the WHO have now recorded cases of community transmission. Three doses of the polio vaccine have a 99% efficacy rate, but PNG's current vaccination rate sits just below 50%. Since 2020, the virus has almost been eradic worldwide, but last year, small outbreaks were recorded in Pakistan and Afghanistan and in Gaza. Amid the recent violence there, the WHO's director general told NPR that the sudden cuts to U.S. aid funding are also affecting efforts to eradicate the disease. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Buongiorno in Melbourne.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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