NPR News: July 9, 2025 | 2AM EDT
Host: Shea Stevens
Source: NPR News Now
Release Date: July 9, 2025
1. Texas Hill Country Flood Recovery Efforts
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Timestamp: [00:21] - [01:23]
Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country convened its first City Council meeting since the catastrophic flooding in July. The community is grappling with the aftermath, focusing on clean-up and recovery initiatives.
Key Points:
- Disaster Declaration Renewal: The city has renewed its disaster declaration, ensuring continued support and resources for recovery.
- Debris Management: Assistant City Manager Michael Hornes outlined plans to utilize 28 acres of soccer fields for piling up millions of cubic yards of tree and other debris. He emphasized the immense scale of the task, stating, “We need a massive amount of space. I'm not sure exactly the numbers of debris, but it's in the millions of cubic yards and it's kind of an unimaginable concept” ([00:48]).
- Infrastructure Repairs: Efforts are underway to repair critical infrastructure, including the water plant, bridges, and sidewalks.
- Search Operations: The search for missing individuals continues into the sixth day following the flood. Mayor Joe Herring Jr. expressed his anguish, saying, “I wish to God there was a way we could have warned them” ([01:10]).
Reporter: Dan Katz, Texas Public Radio
2. Federal Immigration Tactics Challenged in Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles, California
Timestamp: [01:23] - [02:22]
Los Angeles is actively opposing recent federal immigration enforcement actions by joining a lawsuit that alleges racial profiling and excessive use of force.
Key Points:
- Lawsuit Details: The lawsuit accuses federal agents of employing unconstitutional tactics, including sudden raids without proper identification. City Attorney Heidi Feldstein Soto labeled these actions as unlawful ([01:34]).
- Mayor Karen Bass's Criticism: Mayor Bass criticized the methods, highlighting the lack of identification and posing concerns over public safety. She questioned, “How do we know the difference between this and a kidnapping?” ([01:48]).
- Homeland Security Statistics: While nearly 2,800 arrests have been made in the LA area since the previous month, Homeland Security has not specifically commented on the operations at MacArthur Park ([02:00]).
- Public Statement: Terry Schultz emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “These unconstitutional roundups and raids cannot be allowed to continue. They cannot become the new normal” ([02:00]).
Reporter: Steve Futterman
3. IRS Policy Change on Religious Endorsements of Political Candidates
Location: Washington, D.C.
Timestamp: [02:22] - [03:15]
In a significant policy shift, the IRS has relaxed long-standing restrictions preventing religious organizations from endorsing political candidates.
Key Points:
- Policy Shift: Historically, since 1954, the IRS’s Johnson Amendment barred houses of worship from endorsing candidates to maintain their tax-exempt status. This week, the IRS permitted two Texas churches and an association of Christian Broadcasters to endorse candidates, likening it to “a family discussion concerning candidates” ([02:31]).
- Political Reactions: President Donald Trump has advocated for rescinding the Johnson Amendment, aligning with the IRS’s recent stance. However, polls indicate that major religious groups, including white evangelicals, oppose allowing faith leaders to make endorsements from the pulpit.
- Public Sentiment: The Religious News Service, represented by Jack Jenkins, highlighted the discrepancy between the IRS’s new policy and the preferences of religious communities.
Reporter: Jack Jenkins, Religious News Service
4. Macron Urges Closer UK-EU Relations Post-Brexit
Location: London, United Kingdom
Timestamp: [03:15] - [04:06]
French President Emmanuel Macron is advocating for strengthened ties between the United Kingdom and the European Union despite the UK's departure from the bloc.
Key Points:
- State Visit: Macron addressed both houses of the British Parliament during his first state visit to the UK as an EU head of state since Brexit.
- Upcoming Summit: Leaders from France and the UK are scheduled to hold a summit to discuss the post-ceasefire plan for Ukraine and strategies to prevent migrant crossings via the English Channel using small boats.
- Diplomatic Focus: The discussions aim to foster cooperation on security and humanitarian issues critical to both nations.
Reporter: Shea Stevens
5. International Criminal Court Issues Warrants Against Taliban Leaders
Location: Asia-Pacific Region
Timestamp: [04:06] - [04:52]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for two high-ranking Taliban officials on charges related to the persecution of women and girls.
Key Points:
- Warrants Issued: The ICC has targeted the Taliban’s supreme leader, H.E. Taliban Akhenzada, and the head of the Supreme Court, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, accusing them of crimes against humanity.
- Allegations: The officials are accused of severely depriving women and girls of rights to education, privacy, family life, and freedoms of movement, expression, thought, and religion. Afghan women face bans on speaking or showing their faces publicly, and girls' education is restricted to sixth grade ([04:30]).
- ICC’s Statement: Terry Schultz emphasized that the warrants reaffirm the value of women’s and girls’ rights, asserting that their “plight and voices matter” ([04:38]).
- Impact on Afghanistan: These actions highlight the severe human rights violations under the Taliban’s rule since their return to power in 2021.
Reporter: Terry Schultz
6. Market Overview
Timestamp: [03:15] - [04:52]
- U.S. Futures: Trading remains flat in after-hours markets.
- Hong Kong Shares: The Hong Kong stock market is experiencing a slight decline, with shares down nearly 1%.
Reporter: Shea Stevens
Note: This summary excludes sponsorship messages, introductions, and outros to focus solely on the news content presented in the episode.