NPR News: 07-10-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of July 10, 2025, Episode at 3AM EDT

Released on July 10, 2025, NPR News Now provides a comprehensive update on the latest happenings around the globe in a concise five-minute format. Hosted by Shea Stevens, this episode covers a range of critical topics from natural disasters and legal developments to labor negotiations and public health concerns.

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1. Catastrophic Flash Floods in Central Texas

Shea Stevens opens the episode reporting on the devastating flash floods in Central Texas, which have resulted in at least 120 fatalities since July 4th, with 160 individuals still missing. The hardest-hit area is Kerr County, prompting a significant emergency response effort.

Notable Insights:

• Marian Navarro of Texas Public Radio provides an update at [00:43]:

  "Officials are working with local organizations and state agencies in the search, recovery, and identification process."

• Kerr County Sheriff Larry Letha emphasizes the commitment to evaluating the emergency response:

  "As with other significant events that our emergencies services encounter, this incident will be reviewed. You have my word when or if necessary if improvements need to be made. Improvements will be made." ([00:57])

2. State Response and Legislative Priorities

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has announced that the state will allocate resources to fund alert systems, currently utilized in other Texas communities, enhancing future disaster preparedness ([01:10]).

Governor Greg Abbott has declared that flood assistance will be a priority in the upcoming special legislative session, signaling a focused legislative response to the ongoing crisis ([01:10]).

3. Supreme Court Upholds Florida's Ban on Undocumented Immigrants

In a significant judicial decision, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to strike down Florida's statute banning undocumented immigrants from entering the state. The ruling maintains the statute's enforceability, which imposes mandatory prison terms for violations ([01:27]).

NPR's Nina Totenberg elaborates at [01:41]:

"The high court's action came in a one sentence order without any elaboration and without any noted dissents. The result is that for now at least, the challenged parts of the Florida law are dead on arrival."

The decision follows a pattern where federal judges have previously blocked similar state-level attempts in Oklahoma, Idaho, Iowa, and Texas, citing conflicts with federal immigration laws. Immigrant rights groups had contested the Florida law, arguing its inconsistency with overarching federal statutes.

4. Philadelphia Labor Negotiations Resume Services

The city of Philadelphia is set to resume trash pickups and pool openings following a tentative contract agreement with AFSCME District Council 33, who had been on strike. The union initially demanded a 5% wage increase over four years but ultimately secured a 3% annual raise.

Mayor Sherrell Parker commented on the agreement at [02:48]:

"It will increase District Council 33 members' pay 14% over my four years in office."

Despite the resolution, some union members expressed disappointment with the concessions. Local 33 President Greg Bolwer voiced his personal dissatisfaction:

"I'm unhappy with the tentative offer myself, but union leaders did the best they could." ([02:59])

5. Video Game Performers Ratify New Labor Contracts

An important development in the entertainment industry saw unionized video game performers ratify a new contract with major employers including Activision and Disney. This agreement concludes a nearly three-year long negotiation process, which featured a year-long strike.

Key Provisions of the New Contract:

• Higher Pay: Improved compensation for performers.
• Likeness Usage: Requires permission for the use of a performer's likeness.
• AI Provisions: New guidelines concerning the use of artificial intelligence in performance contexts.

6. Measles Cases Surge to a 30-Year High in the United States

The United States is witnessing a concerning rise in measles cases, totaling 1,288 so far this year—the highest since 1992. NPR's Maria Godoy reports from The Hague at [03:51]:

"The last time the US saw more measles cases was in 1992, eight years before the disease was declared eliminated in the country."

The resurgence is attributed to increased transmission in more than three dozen states, including a significant outbreak in Texas. The CDC reports 155 hospitalizations and three deaths linked to measles.

Public Health Expert Caitlin Rivers from the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins underscores the severity:

"Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to humans."

She and other experts advocate for vaccination as the most effective measure to prevent further spread:

"We really hate to see this resurgence of a preventable virus." ([04:08])

7. European Court of Human Rights Holds Russia Accountable for War Crimes

In an international legal verdict, the European Court of Human Rights has found Russia liable for extensive violations of international law. The court's decision references four major cases, including the notorious 2014 downing of a Malaysian Airlines flight.

Additional Violations Cited:

• Murder, torture, and rape of civilians.
• Kidnapping of Ukrainian children during Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine over the past three years.

This landmark ruling emphasizes the court's stance against egregious breaches of human rights and international norms by state actors.

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This episode of NPR News Now delivers a thorough overview of pressing issues, from natural disasters and legal battles to labor negotiations and public health crises. Through insightful reporting and authoritative voices, listeners are kept informed of significant developments shaping our world.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Emergency officials say it could take weeks to locate all 160 people still missing from the catastrophic flash floods in Central Texas. The disaster has claimed at least 120 lives since July 4th, mostly in hard hit Kerr County. Texas Public Radio's Marian Navarro has the latest on the state storm response.

[Marian Navarro]

Officials are working with local organizations and state agencies in the search, recovery and identification process. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Letha continues to emphasize that the county will look at the initial response to the flooding at a later time.

[Larry Letha]

As with other significant events that our emergencies services encounter, this incident will be reviewed. You have my word when or if necessary if improvements need to be made. Improvements will be made.

[Marian Navarro]

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has said the state will provide resources to fund alert systems currently used in other Texas communities. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Tuesday that flood assistance would be a priority in the upcoming special legislative session.

[Nina Totenberg]

Mariana.

[Marian Navarro]

I'm Marian Navarro in San Antonio.

[Shea Stevens]

The U.S. supreme Court is refusing to strike down Florida's ban on undocumented immigrants entering the state. As NPR's Nina Totenberg reports, the statute carries various mandatory prison terms for violations.

[Nina Totenberg]

The high court's action came in a one sentence order without any elaboration and without any noted dissents. The result is that for now at least, the challenged parts of the Florida law are dead on arrival. Immigrant rights groups brought the challenge, arguing that the Florida law conflicted with federal law. And under long standing Supreme Court precedent, states must bow to federal law in the event of such conflicts. Florida is not the first state that's tried and failed to criminalize illegal immigration by state law in recent years. Federal judges have blocked such efforts in Oklahoma, Idaho, Iowa and Texas as well because they conflict with federal immigration laws. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

The city of Philadelphia is preparing to resume trash pickups and pool openings after reaching a tentative contract agreement with striking blue collar employees. AFSCME District Council 33 had demanded wage increases of 5% over four years, but won only 3% annual raises. Mayor Sherrell Parker says the proposal is fiscally responsible.

[Nina Totenberg]

It will Increase District Council 33 members pay 14% over my four years in office.

[Shea Stevens]

Some members of District Council 33 expressed disappointment that union leaders accepted the city's offer. But Local 33 President Greg Bolwer says he's unhappy with the tentative offer himself, but says union leaders did the best they could. This is npr. Unionized video game performers have ratified a new contract agreement with their employers, including Activision and Disney. The vote ends a nearly three year long bargaining effort, which included a nearly year long strike. The new contract calls for higher pay, requirements for permission to use a performer's likeness and new provisions when using artificial intelligence. The United States is now reporting 1,288 cases of measles so far this year. NPR's Maria Godoy reports that it is the highest case count in over 30 years.

[Maria Godoy]

The last time the US saw more measles cases was in 1992, eight years before the disease was declared eliminated in the country. Caitlin Rivers of the center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins says the milestone is important because measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to humans.

[Shea Stevens]

We really hate to see this resurgence of a preventable virus.

[Maria Godoy]

This year, measles cases have been confirmed by more than three dozen states, plus the District of Columbia. The largest outbreak by far is in Texas. Across the US 155 people have been hospitalized and three people have died. Rivers and other public health experts stress the best way to protect against measles is vaccination. Maria Godoy, NPR News, in the Hague.

[Shea Stevens]

The European Court of Human Rights has found Russia liable for widespread violations of international law. The court cites four cases, including the 2014 downing of a Malaysian Airlines flight. Other cases already allegedly involved the murder, torture and rape of civilians, as well as the kidnapping of Ukrainian children during Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. This is NPR News.

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