Loading summary
Transcript13 lines
- [00:00]
Capital One
This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One what's IN your wallet? Terms apply. Details@capitalone.com.
- [00:16]
Shea Stevens
Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. A federal judge in Florida is blocking the release of grand jury transcripts on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Details from NPR's Ryan Lucas.
- [00:28]
Ryan Lucas
The Justice Department is asking the court to unseal transcripts from grand jury investigations in South Florida into Epstein in 2005 and 2007. But U.S. district Judge Robin Rosenberg has denied that request. She says that 11th Circuit law does not permit her to unseal the records and that her hands are tied. Grand jury materials are generally secret, and Rosenberg says the department's request does not fall under the limited exceptions allowed under the law. Two judges in New York are also considering parallel requests to unseal grand jury transcripts there related to the convicted sex offender. They have asked the department to better explain why the transcript should be made public, as well as asking for input from Epstein representatives and his victims. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
- [01:11]
Shea Stevens
Columbia University says it has reached a settlement with the Trump administration over its hiring, admissions and handling of campus protests. Under the deal, Columbia has agreed to pay $200 million in exchange for the restoration of billions of dollars in grants. The Supreme Court has handed President Trump another victory. A divided court says Trump may fire three Democrats on the Consumer Product Safety commission without cause. NPR's Nina Totenberg explains the significance of the ruling, which was issued without explanation.
- [01:42]
Nina Totenberg
Remember that a year ago it granted Donald Trump, then a former president, unlimited immunity for his core official conduct while in office, and it extended that to when he was out of office. Now comes the independent agencies that many conservatives have for decades wanted to make un independent, in other words, subservient to the president. And in several recent cases, the president has tried to fire Democratic appointees, which was never permitted before but now looks very much as if it is permitted.
- [02:15]
Shea Stevens
Npr, Zena Totenberg, Texas lawmakers are holding a special session to prepare for future natural disasters. The committee was created in wake of the Hill country floods that claimed at least 135 lives earlier this month. From the Texas newsroom, Blaze Gainey has more.
- [02:32]
Blaze Gainey
State lawmakers heard from chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management Nim Kidd, who laid out recommendations, including better ways for the state to communicate with local governments during an emergency.
- [02:43]
Nim Kidd
We have 52 to 54 independently, locally, usually locally owned radio systems across the state. There is no state standard for governance and how they operate.
- [02:55]
Blaze Gainey
Other recommendations include more facilities, state owned ambulance and fire trucks, and locations across the state to store them. Kidd says one common issue is local agencies are willing to lend their staff, but the state doesn't own an emergency vehicle for them to use. I'm Blaze Gainey in Austin.
- [03:12]
Shea Stevens
This is npr. A federal judge is barring the Trump administration from taking custody of Kilmar Obrego Garcia. The Maryland man is being detained in Tennessee, where he's fighting deportation. Abreco Garcia was initially accused of belonging to a Venezuelan gang and then wrongfully deported to El Salvador. He was returned to the US under court order and then accused of human trafficking. Abreco Garcia denies all allegations of criminal activity. Southern California Edison says it's offering a streamlined approach to compensating the victims of the Eaton fire that devastated Altadena and Pasadena earlier this year. The utility company says it's creating a compensation program that will be launched in the fall. The fund will process direct payments and speedy resolutions to claims filed by individuals and businesses. British families of some of the Air India crash victims say they've received the wrong human remains. As NPR's Lauren Frayer reports, grief and outrage over the mix up comes as India's prime minister visits the UK Relatives.
- [04:15]
Lauren Frayer
Of one victim told UK Media they abandoned funeral plans after learning the coffin they received contained a different body than that of their loved one. Others say the remains of more than one victim were commingled and mistakenly placed in a single casket. More than 50 of the passengers killed in the crash were British citizens, and their families here have been giving DNA samples to identify them. India's foreign Ministry says it's continuing to work with the UK on addressing any concerns and that mortal remains have been handled with, quote, due regard for the dignity of the deceased. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, London.
- [04:51]
Shea Stevens
U.S. futures are flat. This is NPR News.
- [04:54]
Mint Mobile
This message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less, and all plans include high speed data, unlimited talk and text and nationwide coverage. See for yourself@mintmobile.com Switch.