NPR News: 07-08-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: July 8, 2025, 9PM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston

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1. Central Texas Flooding: Search and Rescue Continues

Search and rescue operations have entered their fifth day in Central Texas amidst devastating floods that have tragically claimed 109 lives.

Governor Greg Abbott provided a heartfelt update after visiting the affected Texas Hill Country:

“The hearts of our fellow Texans are breaking every single day. There's nothing more important on our hearts and minds than the people of this community, especially those who are still lost.” [00:40]

Officials report that over 160 individuals remain missing, including many children from a local summer camp. The community remains on high alert as rescue teams work tirelessly to locate those still unaccounted for.

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2. Wisconsin Supreme Court Clears Path for Conversion Therapy Ban

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has delivered a pivotal 4-3 ruling that enables the state to ban conversion therapy, a practice widely discredited by scientists and mental health professionals.

Reporter Mayan Silver from WUWM in Milwaukee detailed the developments:

“Since April 2024, a Wisconsin professional licensing board has labeled conversion therapy unprofessional, but a GOP-controlled legislative committee in charge of approving state agency regulations has blocked the provision twice.” [01:21]

The court's decision challenges the legislative committee's authority, allowing Governor Tony Evers' administration to proceed with the ban. This ruling arrives amid a broader national discourse on LGBTQ rights, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear a related case from Colorado concerning bans on conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth.

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3. Israeli Airstrike in Northern Lebanon Claims Lives

An Israeli drone strike in northern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injured 13, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Jawad Rizkhalla reports from Beirut:

“Israel says the drone strike near the city of Tripoli killed a key Hamas operative involved in rocket attacks on Israel during the war with Hezbollah last year.” [02:31]

Despite a ceasefire established last November, Israel has continued its airstrikes in southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs. The strike in the north is unusual, and local sources suggest the casualties may have included non-combatants. Efforts by the U.S. to broker a disarmament agreement with Hezbollah remain stalled, as the group insists it cannot disarm while Israeli attacks persist.

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4. Financial Markets and Local Affairs

• Stock Market Update: Wall Street experienced mixed trading today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing down by 165 points. [03:11]

• Operation Near MacArthur Park, Los Angeles: Immigrant communities residing near MacArthur Park remain unsettled following a recent operation involving federal authorities and National Guard troops. The Department of Homeland Security has not disclosed the operation's objectives or reasons for its abrupt conclusion, leaving the community uncertain about potential arrests or ongoing investigations. [03:11]

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5. In Memoriam: Playwright Richard Greenberg

Richard Greenberg, a celebrated playwright often referred to as the "Bard of American Privilege," passed away on July 4th at the age of 67 due to cancer.

Jeff London offers a tribute:

“Born on Long Island and educated at Princeton and Yale, Richard Greenberg's plays crackled with brilliant language. His work was staged off-Broadway and in regional theaters, but several of his plays made it to Broadway, among them, ‘Three Days of Rain,’ which starred Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd, and Bradley Cooper, ‘Eastern Standard,’ and most notably, ‘Take Me Out.’” [03:53]

Greenberg's impactful work, especially ’Take Me Out’, which explores the journey of a major league baseball player coming out as gay, earned him a Tony Award and was successfully revived in 2022, highlighting his enduring legacy in American theater.

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6. Retail News: Amazon Prime Day Extended

Amazon Prime has announced an extension of its annual Prime Day through Friday, aiming to capture more consumer interest amidst fierce competition from other retailers.

Windsor Johnston reports:

“Competing retailers are having their own coinciding discount days. Target is trying to lure shoppers with Circle Week and Walmart with its own set of deals starting today.” [04:36]

The extension comes as Amazon continues to be a significant financial supporter of NPR, ensuring that shoppers have ample opportunity to take advantage of the extended sales period.

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Stay updated with NPR for the latest news developments.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Search and rescue operations are in their fifth day across Central Texas, where massive flooding has left 109 people dead. Governor Greg Abbott provided an update after touring the devastation in the Texas Hill country today.

[Governor Greg Abbott]

The hearts of our fellow Texans are breaking every single day. There's nothing more important on our hearts and minds than the people of this community, especially those who are still lost.

[Windsor Johnston]

Officials say more than 160 people remain missing in Central Texas, including many children from a summer camp. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has cleared the way for the state to institute a ban on conversion therapy. It's a scientifically discredited attempt to use therapy to force gay people to be heterosexual. Mayan Silver from member station WUWM in Milwaukee reports.

[Mayan Silver]

Since April 2024, a Wisconsin professional licensing board has labeled conversion therapy unprofessional, but a GOP controlled legislative committee in charge of approving state agency regulations has blocked the provision twice. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has now ruled the committee has been overreaching its authority that will allow Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers administration to move forward with a ban on conversion therapy. The 4:3 ruling from the liberal controlled court comes amid a national battle over LGBTQ rights. In March, the U.S. supreme Court agreed to hear a Colorado case about whether state and local governments can enforce laws banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ children. For NPR News, I'm Ayan Silver in Milwaukee.

[Windsor Johnston]

An Israeli airstrike in northern Lebanon has killed three people and injured 13 others. That's according to a statement from the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Israel says the drone strike near the city of Tripoli killed a key Hamas operative involved in rocket attacks on Israel during the war with Hezbollah last year. NPR's Jawad Rizhala has more.

[Jawad Rizkhalla]

Israel has launched regular airstrikes in south Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs despite a ceasefire reached last November. But attacks in north Lebanon are rare. Hamas has been allied with Iran backed Hezbollah during the conflict. A Hamas official who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons told NPR none of its militants were killed. A local resident who asked not to be identified for his own safety said the targeted militant had already fled the scene and the dead were a garage mechanic, one of his and a passerby. The US Is trying to broker an agreement with the Lebanese government for Hezbollah to disarm. Hezbollah says it won't while Israel is still attacking and occupying Lebanese territory. Jawad Rizkhalla, NPR News, Beirut.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks traded mixed on Wall street today. At the close, the dow was down 165 points. This is NPR. Immigrant residents who live near MacArthur park in Los Angeles say they're still shaken a day after federal authorities and National Guard troops descended. The Department of Homeland Security would not disclose the purpose of the operation or why it suddenly ended. It's not clear if anyone was arrested. Tony winning playwright Richard Greenberg died on July 4th of cancer at a nursing home in New York. Dubbed the Bard of American privilege, he was 67 years old. Jeff London has this remembrance.

[Jeff London]

Born on Long island and educated at Princeton and Yale, Richard Greenberg's plays crackled with brilliant langu. His work was staged off Broadway and in regional theaters, but several of his plays made it to Broadway, among them, Three Days of Rain, which starred Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper, Eastern Standard, and most notably, take Me Out. That play, which opened on Broadway in 2003, looked at a major league baseball player coming out as gay. It won Greenberg a Tony Award and was successfully revived in 2022. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Windsor Johnston]

Amazon prime says it's planning to extend its annual Prime Day through Friday. Competing retailers are having their own coinciding discount days. Target is trying to lure shoppers with Circle Week and Walmart. Deals start today. Amazon is a financial supporter of npr. This is NPR News.

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