NPR News: 08-24-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – August 24, 2025, 12AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: 5 minutes
Format: Hourly news update

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major news events worldwide, focusing on a deadly bus crash near Buffalo, rising famine in North Gaza, the Trump administration’s halt of a wind farm, Nigerian military airstrikes on militants, a new study on oil and gas pollution, and a quick sports update from the PGA Tour.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Buffalo Bus Crash & Safety Investigation

[00:16 – 01:03]

• Incident Summary:
  A tour bus from New York City, returning from Niagara Falls, crashed near Buffalo, resulting in five deaths and dozens injured.
• Investigation Focus:
  NTSB’s Tom Chapman highlights that the bus was equipped with seat belts and the investigation will probe passengers’ use of these safety features.

  “The bus does appear to us that the bus was equipped with seat belts...part of our investigation will be to determine the extent to which seat belts were being used and and the extent to which the lack of seat belt use may have been a factor in some of the passengers being ejected.”
  — Tom Chapman, NTSB Investigator [00:40]

• New York State Police are separately investigating the root cause of the accident.

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2. Famine in North Gaza

[01:03 – 02:07]

• Famine Declaration:
  International experts have officially declared famine in North Gaza after months of warnings. At least eight more people, including children, have died from malnutrition since Friday.
• Humanitarian Access Issues:
  IPC cited “food shortages, malnutrition, and starvation levels,” partly blaming Israeli decisions to block aid, and limited access at U.S.- and Israeli-backed sites.

  “It found that aid at GHF sites was accessible for an average of only 23 minutes a day.”
  — Jana Raf, NPR Correspondent [01:36]

• Violence Around Aid:
  Over 2,000 deaths, many among children, have occurred around aid distribution points since the crisis escalated.

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3. U.S. Halts New England Wind Farm

[02:07 – 03:09]

• Project Suspension:
  The Trump administration has abruptly stopped construction on the nearly completed Revolution Wind project, a major renewable energy initiative off New England.
• Reason:
  Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management cited unspecified “national security concerns.”
• Local Impact:
  The wind farm was set to power 350,000 homes. The halt jeopardizes hundreds of jobs and contracts for Rhode Island and Connecticut.

  “Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee says the stoppage also threatens hundreds of American jobs.”
  — Ben Burke, The Public’s Radio [02:56]

• Legal Challenges Possible:
  The developer and state leaders are considering lawsuits in response.

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4. Nigerian Airstrikes Against Militants

[03:09 – 03:46]

• Military Action:
  Nigeria’s military killed at least 35 Islamic militants in precision airstrikes on Boko Haram and a splinter group in the country’s northeast.
• Regional Instability:
  The militants’ activities and the fighting have impacts beyond Nigeria, affecting neighboring countries as well.

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5. Health Impact of U.S. Oil & Gas Pollution

[03:46 – 04:32]

• Groundbreaking Study:
  Newly published research in Science Advances quantifies widespread health impacts from U.S. oil and gas.
• Key Findings:
  All stages of oil and gas—extraction, storage, refining, and use—cause pollutants linked to asthma, cancer, preterm birth, and premature death.

  “It finds some 90,000 early deaths a year can be linked to oil and gas pollution, and they’re concentrated in communities of color.”
  — Alejandra Barunda, NPR Science Reporter [04:21]

• Most Affected States:
  Texas and California bear the greatest health burdens.

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6. PGA Golf Update

[04:32 – 04:53]

• Leaderboard:
  Tommy Fleetwood and Patrick Cantlay are tied leading into the PGA’s final round in Atlanta, two strokes ahead of Russell Henley.
• Notable Incident:
  Fleetwood suffered a double bogey after hitting into the water on the 15th hole.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Safety in Focus:

  “Part of our investigation will be to determine the extent to which seat belts were being used...”
  — Tom Chapman, NTSB [00:40]

• Humanitarian Crisis:

  “Aid at GHF sites was accessible for an average of only 23 minutes a day.”
  — Jana Raf, NPR [01:36]

• Environmental Health:

  “Some 90,000 early deaths a year can be linked to oil and gas pollution, and they’re concentrated in communities of color.”
  — Alejandra Barunda, NPR [04:21]

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• Bus Crash & Safety Investigation: 00:16 – 01:03
• Gaza Famine Crisis: 01:03 – 02:07
• New England Wind Farm Halted: 02:07 – 03:09
• Nigerian Airstrikes: 03:09 – 03:46
• Oil & Gas Health Impacts: 03:46 – 04:32
• PGA Leaderboard Update: 04:32 – 04:53

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This episode offers a brisk, information-dense summary of critical global and U.S. stories, marked by clear attributions, concise statements, and a focus on immediate developments shaping policy and daily life.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

I'm Dale Willman. A safety investigation is underway into the bus crash near Buffalo on Friday that killed five people and injured dozens of others. The tour bus from New York City was carrying more than 50 passengers when the crash occurred. They'd been visiting Niagara Falls and were returning home. NTSB investigator Tom Chapman says a failure by passengers to use safety equipment may account for such a high number of injuries and deaths.

[Tom Chapman]

We had an opportunity to look at the bus today. The bus does appear to us it's in bad shape, but it does appear to us that the bus was equipped with seat belts. So part of our investigation will be to determine the extent to which seat belts were being used and and the extent to which the lack of seat belt use may have been a factor in some of the passengers being ejected.

[Dale Willman]

New York State Police officials, meanwhile, are investigating the cause of that accident. Health authorities in Gaza say at least eight people, including children, have died from malnutrition since Friday. This week, international experts declared a famine in North Gaza. NPR's Jana Raf has more.

[Jana Raf]

The IPC said food shortages, malnutrition and starvation levels in Gaza City and surrounding areas have now reached famine levels after months of warnings. It blamed it partly on Israel blocking aid shipments to Gaza earlier this year and a US And Israeli backed distribution system, the Gaza Humanitarian foundation, that it said did not qualify as humanitarian aid. It found that aid at GHF sites was accessible for an average of only 23 minutes a day. Israel has barred the UN's biggest provider of aid, replacing it with food delivered at limited locations under armed guards. Gaza health authorities say more than 2,000 people, many of them children, have been killed around aid sites. Jain Araf, NPR News, Aman.

[Dale Willman]

The Trump administration has halted construction of a nearly complete wind farm off the southern coast of New England. Connecticut and Rhode island were counting on the project to help them transition to renewable energy sources. From member station the Public's Radio, Ben Burke has more on our story.

[Ben Burke]

Construction on the Revolution Wind project ground to a halt Friday afternoon when the developer, Orsted, got a letter from the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ordering an immediate work stoppage. The letter cited national security concerns, which were left unspecified. Orsted says it's complying with the work stoppage while it evaluates its options, including legal action. Leaders in Rhode island and Connecticut are also considering lawsuits. The states had agreements to buy enough electricity from Revolution windows to power 350,000 homes. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee says the stoppage also threatens hundreds of American jobs. The company has also built a factory in Providence to manufacture turbine foundations. For NPR News, I'm Ben Burke in Providence.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Nigeria's military says it used precision airstrikes early Saturday to kill at least 35 Islamic militants in the northeastern part of that country. The strikes targeted four locations where the militant Boko Haram and a splinter group have been operating. There's been major fighting in the region for years, and that fighting has also spilled over into neighboring countries. A new study finds pollution from the production and use of oil and gas in the U.S. has extensive health consequences. NPR's Alejandra Barunda has more details from the new paper published in the journal Science Advances.

[Alejandra Barunda]

Fossil fuel production causes pollution in all stages of the process. One, drilling and extraction release noxious gases and sometimes carcinogens Two, storing gas in oil and transporting it moves pollution around Three, refining it causes more dangerous pollution and four, using it produces fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and many other chemicals. Those pollutants are linked to a wide range of poor health outcomes, from asthma to cancer to preterm birth and even to premature death. The the new study adds up the health burden from all four stages. It finds some 90,000 early deaths a year can be linked to oil and gas pollution, and they're concentrated in communities of color. Texas and California feel the most health impacts. Alejandro Barunda, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Tommy Fleetwood and Patrick Cantlay share the lead heading into Sunday's final round of the PGA Golf event that's underway right now in Atlanta. This weekend. Fleetwood hit into the water on the 15th hole and ended up with a double bogey, the two or two strokes ahead of Russell Henley, who sits in third. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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