NPR News: 07-06-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: July 6, 2025, 3 PM EDT

The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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1. Devastating Floods in Kerr County, Texas

Nora Ramm opens the broadcast with a heart-wrenching update on the ongoing flood situation in Kerr County, Texas.

• Death Toll: As of the latest reports, 59 lives have been lost, including 21 children. Governor Greg Abbott has assured that rescue operations will continue around the clock despite challenging conditions.

• Rescue Efforts: Kerr County Sheriff Larry Letha emphasized the magnitude of the rescue operations:

  “[00:45] Sheriff Larry Letha: At present, there's over 400 first responders for more than 20 agencies that are working in Kerr County. We have more than a dozen K9 working in and near the river. More than 100 air, water and ground vehicles are in the field right now working on this search and rescue.”

• Missing Campers: Eleven campers from Camp Mystic remain unaccounted for. Ground crews initiated their search early Sunday morning at 6 AM, facing obstacles like fallen trees and overturned vehicles.

2. U.S. Trade Deals and Upcoming Tariff Increases

Nora Ramm transitions to economic news, highlighting significant developments in U.S. trade policy.

• Trade Agreements Nearing Completion: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen announced that the U.S. is close to finalizing several trade deals. He indicated that major announcements are expected in the coming days.

• Tariff Hikes Scheduled: President Donald Trump has slated July 9 for increasing tariffs on most countries. Danielle Kurtzleben provides an in-depth analysis:

  “[01:47] Danielle Kurtzleben: In early April, Trump announced tariffs on most countries. Then he backed off and set those tariffs at 10% temporarily. He said that on July 9 the rates would jump back up, but then before then, he would negotiate rates country by country. So soon we're going to find out how much American businesses and likely consumers will be paying for imports.”

• Negotiated Rates: To date, tariffs with the UK and Vietnam have been negotiated. The detailed impact on American consumers and businesses awaits the official tariff rate announcements.

3. Ceasefire Negotiations Between Israel and Hamas

The global spotlight shifts to the Middle East as Nora Ramm reports on pivotal peace talks.

• Diplomatic Efforts in Qatar: Israeli negotiators are meeting in Qatar to discuss a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. The proposal includes:

  • Hostage Releases: Hamas to release eight hostages at the start of the ceasefire and two more on the 50th day.

  • Reciprocation by Israel: In exchange, Israel would release Palestinian prisoners.

• Conditions and Challenges: Hamas demands assurances that the ceasefire will lead to a permanent end of hostilities, along with significant humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from recently captured territories.

• Upcoming Presidential Announcement: President Trump is anticipated to announce the ceasefire deal during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

  “[02:28] Daniel Estrin: President Trump is expected to announce the ceasefire deal as early as Monday with Netanyahu in the White House. But it's unclear when the ceasefire would begin.”

4. Wildfires Ravage Syria and Impact Maternal Health

Nora Ramm brings attention to environmental and health crises unfolding in Syria.

• Wildfire Crisis: For the fourth consecutive day, wildfires are raging along Syria's coast, displacing hundreds of families. International aid teams from the United Nations are assessing the situation to determine urgent humanitarian needs. Assistance is also being provided by firefighting crews from Turkey and Jordan.

• Environmental Impact: Syrian authorities report that hundreds of thousands of trees have been lost to the flames.

• Health Implications: Recent studies, as reported by Alejandro Barunda, indicate that exposure to heat and wildfire smoke during pregnancy can adversely affect fetal development.

  “[03:53] Roxana Khalili: Preconception and first trimester were important time periods for heat stress exposure and linked to having an infant that was smaller in size.”

• Health Recommendations: Medical professionals advise expecting mothers to stay hydrated and use masks in smoky conditions to mitigate risks.

5. The Dalai Lama Celebrates His 90th Birthday

Nora Ramm highlights a significant cultural and spiritual milestone.

• Birthday Celebrations: The Dalai Lama marked his 90th birthday by addressing thousands of followers at a temple in India, where he resides in exile. His message reflected on his life's journey:

  “[04:33] Dalai Lama: When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all.”

• Future Outlook: Expressing optimism, the Dalai Lama shared his hope to live another 40 years, continuing his role as a spiritual leader and advocate for peace.

6. Threat to Public Media Funding in the U.S.

Concluding the broadcast, Nora Ramm delivers critical news affecting public media.

• Funding Cuts Approved: The House of Representatives has greenlit a White House proposal to rescind two years of funding previously allocated for public media. This rescission package is now advancing to the Senate.

• Implications: The proposed funding cuts pose a significant threat to local stations and the broader public media landscape in the United States.

• Call to Action: Listeners are urged to defend public media by taking a stand:

  “Please take a stand for public media [e-mail] thank you.”

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For more detailed coverage and updates, visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Surge operations continue in Kerr County, Texas, with where the Guadalupe river flooded last week. Officials say 59 bodies have been recovered in the county, including 21 children. Texas Public Radio's Jerry Clayton has more.

[Jerry Clayton]

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Letha says there is a massive effort to find the victims. He says he expects the death toll will steadily rise throughout the day.

[Kerr County Sheriff Larry Letha]

At present, there's over 400 first responders for more than 20 agencies that are working in Kerr County. We have we have more than a dozen K9 working in and near the river. More than 100 air, water and ground vehicles are in the field right now working on this search and rescue.

[Jerry Clayton]

Eleven campers who disappeared from Camp mystic on the river are still unaccounted for. Ground crews began their search Sunday morning beginning at 6am I'm Jerry Clayton in.

[Nora Ramm]

San Antonio, Texas Governor Greg Abbott promised the crews would work around the clock and as they maneuver through fallen trees, overturned cars and other debris across the state. At least 67 people died in the floods. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen said today the US Is close to reaching agreement on several trade deals. He told CNN to expect several big announcements in the coming days. President Trump has set July 9, Wednesday, as the date when he'll raise tariffs on most countries. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

In early April, Trump announced tariffs on most countries. Then he backed off and set those tariffs at 10% temporarily. He said that on July 9 the rates would jump back up, but then before then, he would negotiate rates country by country. Well, July 9th is coming and he's negotiated rates with two countries, the UK and Vietnam. So now he says he'll send out letters simply notifying countries of their tariff rates. So soon we're going to find out how much American businesses and likely consumers will be paying for imports.

[Nora Ramm]

NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben. Israeli negotiators are headed to Qatar for cease tire talks with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet President Trump in the White House tomorrow. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports.

[Daniel Estrin]

Talks in Qatar are aimed at reaching a 60 day ceasefire in Gaza. According to the ceasefire proposal, hamas would release eight living hostages at the start of the ceasefire and two more hostages on on the 50th day of the ceasefire Israel would release Palestinian prisoners. President Trump is expected to announce the ceasefire deal as early as Monday with Netanyahu in the White House. But it's unclear when the ceasefire would begin. Israel says Hamas is seeking, quote, unacceptable changes to the ceasefire proposal. Hamas wants guarantees that talks will lead to a permanent end of war. It also wants humanitarian aid according to the previous UN System and for Israeli troops to withdraw from areas captured in recent months. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News. Wildfires are burning for a fourth day along the coast of Syria. Hundreds of families have been forced from their homes. Teams from the United nations are there to assess the damage and determine the scale of urgent humanitarian needs. Crews from Turkey and Jordan are assisting firefighting efforts. Syrian officials say the fires have burned hundreds of thousands of trees. Exposure to heat and wildfire smoke can have big effects on a baby before it's born. NPR's Alejandro Burundi reports on a new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

[Alejandro Barunda]

During a pregnancy, people's bodies go through huge changes. Those changes can make them, and by extension, their babies more at risk from heat. The study found that babies born to mothers who dealt with heat and wildfire smoke during their pregnancies and even in the month before were more likely to be small in the womb. Roxana Khalili is a lead author and researcher at the University of Southern California.

[Roxana Khalili]

Preconception and first trimester were important time periods for heat stress exposure and linked to having an infant that was smaller in size.

[Alejandro Barunda]

Doctors say to take precautions like drinking plenty of water and wearing a mask when it's smoky can also help. Alejandra Barunda, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

It's the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday. The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhas spoke at a temple in India where he lives in exile and was granted greeted by thousands of followers. He told them when he looks back on his life, he sees that he has not wasted it at all. Yesterday, he said he hoped to live another 40 years. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

The House of Representatives has approved a White House request to claw back two years of previously approved funding for public media. The rescissions package now moves on to the Senate. This move poses a serious threat to local stations and public media as we know it. Please take a stand for public media [e-mail] thank you.