NPR News: 07-11-2026 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – July 11, 2026, 6PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: 5 Minutes
Theme: The day's major headlines, with updates on U.S. politics, law enforcement, international health, Cuban infrastructure, and Wimbledon.

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Maine Senate Race Disruption

[00:01 – 01:11]

Topic Overview:
Senator Susan Collins responds to the sudden withdrawal of her Democratic challenger, Graham Platner, who denied allegations of rape made by an ex-girlfriend.

• Field Report: Susan Sharon of Maine Public Radio

  • Collins campaigned at the Means Moxie Day parade, maintaining composure despite the political upheaval.
  • Focus shifted from Platner’s departure to logistical campaign efforts.

• Key Quote:

  • Collin’s focus:

    "You always worry about voter turnout, so we've placed a lot of effort on encouraging people to vote and having a lot of direct voter contact."
    — Susan Collins [00:43]

• Democratic Response:

  • Maine Democrats plan to regroup at a nominating convention scheduled for July 25, to choose a new candidate for the November election.

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Fatal ICE Shooting in Houston

[01:11 – 02:17]

Topic Overview:
Memorial service and ongoing controversy over ICE officers fatally shooting Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national, in Houston.

• Incident Summary:

  • ICE claims self-defense after Salgado Araujo allegedly rammed a federal vehicle during an attempted arrest, but this is disputed by witness attorneys.
  • Salgado Araujo was not the intended arrest target; confusion and misidentification are under scrutiny.

• Congressional Reaction:

  • Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia addressed the memorial, calling for transparency:

    "We will continue to fight for a complete, independent, top to bottom investigation to find out exactly what happened."
    — Sylvia Garcia [01:42]

• Official Statement:

  • A DHS official clarified that ICE agents had been surveilling a home and mistook Salgado Araujo for the intended target.

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Ebola Case Identified in U.S. Citizen in DR Congo

[02:17 – 02:56]

Topic Overview:
First case in current outbreak involving Bundibugyo strain of Ebola detected in an American humanitarian worker in Congo.

• Agency Statement (CDC):

  • Working with the patient’s employer, federal agencies, and international organizations to prevent further transmission.
  • Conducting risk assessments and contact tracing.

• Outbreak Status:

  • UN officials warn the actual extent of the Ebola outbreak in Congo remains unclear; the situation is ongoing.

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Widespread Blackout in Cuba

[02:56 – 03:37]

Topic Overview:
Cuba experiences another nationwide blackout due to infrastructure issues and continued fuel shortages, exacerbated by the U.S. energy blockade.

• Details:
  • Nearly 10 million residents affected.
  • Some areas have now regained power, but grid remains fragile.
  • Chronic lack of maintenance on old power plants (many over 30 years old) and persistent scarcity of fuel are main causes.

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Wimbledon Women’s Final: Linda Noskova Triumphs

[03:37 – 04:25]

Topic Overview:
A dramatic all-Czech women’s singles final at Wimbledon sees 21-year-old Linda Noskova claim her first championship.

• Match Highlights (Vicki Barker reporting):
  • Noskova dominated the first set against Olympic doubles partner Karolina Mukova (6-2).
  • Mukova battled back to win the second set after saving five championship points (7-5).
  • Noskova clinched the third set under intense heat before a packed stadium, including the Princess of Wales. Final score: 6-2, 7-5, 6-3.
  • Noskova is the third Czech woman to win Wimbledon in four years, signaling the country's rising tennis dominance.

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Men’s Final Preview

[04:25 – 04:39]

• Upcoming Event:
  • Jannik Sinner will play Alexander Zverev in the men’s final at Wimbledon on July 12.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sen. Susan Collins [00:43]:
  “You always worry about voter turnout, so we've placed a lot of effort on encouraging people to vote and having a lot of direct voter contact.”

• Rep. Sylvia Garcia [01:42]:
  “We will continue to fight for a complete, independent, top to bottom investigation to find out exactly what happened.”

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For More Information:
Full updates and additional context available at NPR News Now.

(Advertisements and subscription information omitted for brevity)

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Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Maine Senator Susan Collins hit the campaign trail today, one day after her Democratic opponent Graham Platner officially withdrew from the race that following an accusation of rape by a former romantic partner, which Platner denies. Maine Public Radio's Susan Sharon has more.

[B]

Appearing at Means Moxie Day parade with about 60 supporters, Co Collins said she has no strong feelings about Platner's departure following an ex girlfriend's allegation that he raped her. Instead, Collins says she's been focused on recruiting town, city and county chairs across the state in an off presidential year election.

[C]

You always worry about voter turnout, so we've placed a lot of effort on encouraging people to vote and having a lot of direct voter contact.

[B]

Maine Democrats, meanwhile, are regrouping. They've scheduled a nominating convention for July 25 to choose a candidate to take on Collins in November. For NPR News, I'm Susan Sharon.

[A]

In Texas, a memorial was held today for the man fatally shot by immigration officers in Houston. ICE officials claim Lorenzo Salgado Araujo rammed a federal vehicle during an attempted arrest and was allegedly shot in self defense. But a lawyer for two witnesses is now disputing the official account of the killing of the 52 year old Mexican national. Several members of Congress spoke at the vigil, including Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, whose district includes parts of Houston.

[D]

We will continue to fight for a complete, independent, top to bottom investigation to find out exactly what happened, garcia says.

[A]

Delgado Araujo wasn't the intended target of ICE agents. A DHS official tells n in a statement it had been surveilling a home in Houston when agents saw a person that resembled the target in a van being driven by Salgado Arujo. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an American in the Democratic Republic of Congo has tested positive for Ebola. Michael Kaloki has more.

[E]

In a statement, the agency said that the individual, a US Citizen who works for a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has tested positive for the Bundubujo strain of Ebola, which has been identified in the current outbreak in Congo. The CDC added that it is working with the patient's employer, other US Federal agencies and partner organizations in Congo to help prevent further transmission of the disease by performing risk assessments that would identify people that the patient had been in contact with. Earlier this week, the UN said that Ebola is continuing to spread in Congo, warning that the true scale of the outbreak has not yet been fully established.

[A]

Michael Koloki reporting from Nairobi this is NPR. In Cuba, another island wide blackout this week left nearly 10 million people dealing with a crumbling power grid amid fuel shortages from the US Energy blockade. Authorities say they've already restored power, though to some areas. The electrical grid in Cuba is particularly fragile due to both the lack of maintenance of its aging infrastructure, some power plants are over 30 years old and the scarcity of fuels on which it depends. In tennis, newcomer Linda Noskova has won the women's singles title at Wimbledon. Vicki Barker has more from London.

[F]

Wimbledon's first all Czech women's final turned into a nail biter. 21 year old Linda Noskova dominated the first set, beating her one time Olympic doubles partner six two. But the more experienced Karolina Mukova came from behind in the second set, winning that 75 with an agonizing five missed championship points for Noskova. But then Noskova fought back in the third set. The final score was 627563. The match was played under blistering hot skies before 15,000 tennis fans, including the Princess of Wales. The Czech Republic is a rising superstar in the world of tennis. Noskova is the third of her countrywomen to win Wimbledon in four years. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London.

[A]

And tomorrow, Jannik Sinner faces Alexander Zaveverov in the men's final at Wimbledon. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[G]

Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to NPR News now sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism. And get [e-mail] that's +npr.org.