NPR News Now: July 9, 2025, 9 AM EDT

Host: Kristen Wright
Producer: NPR
Release Date: July 9, 2025

Devastating Floods in Texas and New Mexico

Kerr County Searches Continue Amid Ongoing Floods

At 9:11 AM, Kristen Wright reported on the severe flooding in Kerr County, Texas, where Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that 161 people remain missing six days after the catastrophic flash floods. The death toll has risen to 109, highlighting the disaster's profound impact on the Texas hill country.

Mayor Joe Herring Jr. expressed the community's anguish, stating, "I wish to God there was a way we could have warned them" (01:08).

In response to the devastation, Kerrville held its first City Council meeting since the floods, where officials renewed the disaster declaration and initiated discussions on cleanup efforts. Assistant City Manager Michael Horness detailed the city's plans to repurpose 28 acres of soccer fields for accumulating tree debris, emphasizing the immense scale of the cleanup required.

President Trump and First Lady to Visit Flood-Affected Texas

By 9:33 AM, the podcast shifted focus to national relief efforts. President Trump and the First Lady announced their plans to visit Texas on Friday to oversee the ongoing recovery operations.

Simultaneously, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Ruidoso following devastating flash flooding that resulted in three fatalities, including two young children.

Governor Lujan Grisham underscored the urgency of the situation: "Ruidoso deserves the same urgent response as Texas received for its devastating flooding" (01:50).

Emergency crews have conducted over 50 swiftwater rescues, and the governor emphasized the need for federal support to effectively manage the crisis.

Justice Department Report Highlights Shackling Violations in Federal Prisons

At 2:15 AM, attention turned to the federal prison system. A Justice Department report revealed that federal prison officials have been violating regulations by shackling inmates to beds and chairs for extended periods—sometimes days.

Joe Shapiro reported, "One prisoner was kept in restraints for 12 days, then 30 days and 29 days. Another prisoner died after being pepper sprayed, then put in restraints, and the third was injured, requiring an amputation" (02:27).

The report, originating from the Office of the Inspector General, found that restraints are only permissible for short durations when an inmate poses a significant risk. In response, the Federal Bureau of Prisons acknowledged the findings and committed to ceasing long-term restraint use, implementing more rigorous checks on inmates held in restraints.

Environmental Concerns Over Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells

At 3:10 AM, the discussion shifted to environmental issues surrounding America's abandoned oil and gas wells. These wells pose significant risks by potentially leaking hazardous chemicals into the environment if not properly sealed.

Ted Bettner, a researcher at the Ohio River Valley Institute, highlighted the escalating problem: "The status quo is just to keep on drilling more wells than we're plugging, and that liability is just going to continue to grow and grow and grow" (03:40).

Camila Domonosky reported that properly plugging an old well can cost between five to six figures each, and with millions of wells drilled, the financial burden is substantial. Although the federal government has allocated billions of dollars to address these issues, advocates like Bettner argue that the oil industry should bear the financial responsibility for remediation efforts.

End of Philadelphia Sanitation Workers’ Strike

By 4:01 AM, NPR News covered the resolution of the strike by Philadelphia's sanitation and municipal workers. The union and city leaders reached a tentative agreement, ending a week-long strike that had led to accumulating trash across the city.

Union President Greg Bulware expressed his sentiments, saying, "We did the best we could with the circumstances we had in front of us" (04:16).

The agreement includes a 14% pay increase over the next four years and incorporates AI protections. Additionally, there is anticipation surrounding the Screen Actors Guild's decision on a tentative contract with major game makers, which, if ratified, will formally conclude the strike.

Notable Quotes:

• Mayor Joe Herring Jr.: "I wish to God there was a way we could have warned them." (01:08)
• Governor Lujan Grisham: "Ruidoso deserves the same urgent response as Texas received for its devastating flooding." (01:50)
• Ted Bettner: "The status quo is just to keep on drilling more wells than we're plugging, and that liability is just going to continue to grow and grow and grow." (03:40)
• Union President Greg Bulware: "We did the best we could with the circumstances we had in front of us." (04:16)

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and developments presented in the July 9, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. From the harrowing floods in Texas and New Mexico to critical investigations into federal prison practices, environmental challenges with abandoned wells, and the resolution of a major city workers' strike, the episode delivered a comprehensive overview of pressing national issues.