NPR News: 08-28-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – August 28, 2025, 8AM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston
Episode Length: 5 minutes
Date: August 28, 2025

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Overview

This episode of NPR News Now presents a concise roundup of major headlines in the U.S. and abroad. The biggest stories include the aftermath of a tragic mass shooting at a Minneapolis church, new restrictions on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, Russian airstrikes in Ukraine, wildfire containment challenges in California, upgrades to Amtrak’s Acela fleet, and the rapidly growing Powerball jackpot.

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Key News Items & Discussion

1. Minneapolis Church Shooting

[00:11–01:21]

• Event: Communities in Minneapolis held vigils following a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School during a mass marking the first week of classes.
  • Two children were killed.
  • Fourteen other children and three adults in their 80s were wounded.
• Shooter: 23-year-old former student; shot through the windows from outside the church and subsequently died by suicide.
• Eyewitness Account: Pat Scallon, a local parishioner, gave a firsthand account of comforting wounded children.
  • “She was conscious, her eyes were good and she was just brave little. Then there was another boy who got grazed in the arm. I think another brave kid. They're all around fourth or fifth grade.” – Pat Scallon [00:58]
• Severity: All 17 wounded are expected to survive. Motive is under investigation.

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2. New COVID-19 Vaccine Restrictions

[01:21–02:08]

• Decision: The FDA approved another round of COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax) but with new access limitations.
• New Requirements:
  • Only people at higher risk for severe illness (65+ and people with certain health conditions) can receive the shot.
  • Previous access was for anyone over 6 months old.
  • Rationale: Growing population immunity.
• Concerns:
  • Some public health experts fear the tighter restrictions might make it “too hard for other people to get vaccines.”
  • “Many public health experts worry the restrictions will make it too hard for other people to get vaccines.” – Rob Stein [01:52]

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3. Russian Airstrikes in Ukraine

[02:08–03:00]

• Incident: Overnight Russian missile and drone attacks hit multiple Ukrainian cities, with Kyiv suffering the most significant impact.
  • An apartment building in Kyiv took a direct missile hit, partially collapsing.
  • A shopping mall and other residential areas were also targeted.
  • Several deaths and more than 20 injuries were reported.
• Context: Despite Kyiv’s strong air defenses, attacks continue as peace talks stall.
  • “The latest Russian attack comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war appear stalled.” – Greg Myre [02:52]

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4. Asian Market Updates

[03:00–03:12]

• Stock Markets:
  • Asia closed mixed.
  • Gains in China and Japan, losses in Hong Kong.

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5. California Wildfires

[03:12–03:45]

• Threat:
  • Several large wildfires burning “out of control.”
  • Garnet Fire in Fresno County: Zero containment; growing rapidly.
  • Picket Fire in Napa County: Less than one-third contained.
  • Emergency services continue efforts to curb the spread.

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6. Amtrak Launches New Acela Trains

[03:45–04:24]

• Highlights:

  • New “next-gen” Acela trains begin operations in the Northeast Corridor (Washington–New York–Boston).
  • Capabilities: Top speeds up to 160 mph (10 mph faster than older trains).
  • 27% more seats; trains are both lighter and larger.

• Memorable Quote:

  • “They're beautiful, faster, but most importantly, a better experience for the traveling public.” – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy [04:03]

• Challenges:

  • Despite record ridership, high-speed rail in the U.S. faces uncertainty due to proposed withdrawal of federal funds from a struggling California project.

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7. Powerball Jackpot Soars

[04:24–04:54]

• Current Jackpot: $950 million—sixth largest in Powerball history.
• No winner from last night’s draw, next chance on Saturday.

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Notable Quotes

• “She was conscious, her eyes were good, and she was just brave little. Then there was another boy who got grazed in the arm. I think another brave kid. They're all around fourth or fifth grade.”
  — Pat Scallon, Minneapolis parishioner [00:58]

• “Many public health experts worry the restrictions will make it too hard for other people to get vaccines.”
  — Rob Stein, NPR [01:52]

• “The latest Russian attack comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war appear stalled.”
  — Greg Myre, NPR [02:52]

• “They're beautiful, faster, but most importantly, a better experience for the traveling public.”
  — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy [04:03]

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Timestamps by Segment

• Minneapolis shooting & vigils: 00:11–01:21
• COVID-19 vaccine restrictions: 01:21–02:08
• Russian airstrikes in Ukraine: 02:08–03:00
• Asian market wrap-up: 03:00–03:12
• California wildfires: 03:12–03:45
• Amtrak Acela trains: 03:45–04:24
• Powerball update: 04:24–04:54

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This brisk but thorough bulletin keeps listeners updated on nationally and globally significant events as they unfold, in NPR's signature balanced and clear tone.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Prayer vigils were held across Minneapolis last night to remember the two children who were killed in a shooting on Wednesday morning for 14 other children and three adults in their 80s were wounded during a mass to celebrate the first week of classes at Annunciation Catholic School. Matt Sepik of Minnesota Public Radio reports.

[Matt Sepik]

Police say the attacker, a 23 year old former student, fired through windows from outside the church. Pat Scallon, a parishioner who lives nearby, ran to the church before ambulances started to arrive and comforted a boy who suffered a wound to his arm and a girl who had a neck wound.

[Pat Scallon]

She was conscious, her eyes were good and she was just brave little. Then there was another boy who got grazed in the arm. I think another brave kid. They're all around fourth or fifth grade.

[Matt Sepik]

Authorities say the 17 wounded people are expected to survive. The shooter died by suicide at the scene. Authorities are investigating a motive. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepik in Minneapolis.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the next round of vaccines for COVID 19. But as NPR's Rob Stein reports, the agency is imposing new restrictions on who can the shots.

[Rob Stein]

The FDA approved Covid vaccines from Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax. In the past, the shots have been available to anyone aged six months and older. But the FDA is now limiting the vaccines to people who are at risk for serious complications from COVID That includes people ages 65 and older and younger, people who have other health issues that put them at risk. Federal officials say the changes reflect how much immunity people have. Many public health experts worry the restrictions will make it too hard for other people to get vaccines. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Russian airstrikes in Ukraine overnight have resulted in several deaths and more than 20 injuries. NPR's Greg Myhre reports. The targets included an apartment building in the country's capital that was hit by a missile.

[Greg Myre]

The apartment building took a direct hit from the Russian missile and much of it collapsed. The attack also included drone strikes on other residential areas and a shopping mall, according to Ukrainian officials, and photos posted on social media. While Kyiv was hardest hit, the Russians unleashed missiles and drones on several other Ukrainian cities. The capital has the most extensive air defenses of any Ukrainian city, but some Russian strikes still manage to get through. The latest Russian attack comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war appear stalled. Greg Myre, NPR News, Lviv, Ukraine.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks across Asia close mix today. Shares traded higher in China and Japan while markets in Hong Kong posted losses. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Emergency crews across California are working to contain several fast moving wildfires. The Garnet fire in Fresno county is at zero containment and continues to grow. In Napa county. Firefighters are also struggling to slow the picket fire, which is less than one third contained. Amtrak is unveiling a faster fleet of Acela trains. NPR's Joel Rhodes reports. The first new trains will begin running today along the Northeast Corridor.

[Joel Rhodes]

Amtrak says the next gen Acela trains can reach top speeds of up to 160 miles per hour, 10 miles per hour faster than the current fleet. They're also lighter and larger, with 27% more seats. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke at an event in Washington before the train's inaugural run to New York and Boston.

[Greg Myre]

They're beautiful, faster, but most importantly, a better experience for the traveling public.

[Joel Rhodes]

Amtrak is celebrating record ridership last year, but the unveiling comes at a challenging moment for high speed rail in the US as the Trump administration tries to pull billions of dollars in federal funding from a troubled project in California. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Powerball jackpot has skyrocketed to 950 million after no one matched the winning numbers in last night's drawing. Players had the chance to win a prize worth more than 850,000 dol $50 million. That's the sixth largest in the game's history. The next drawing is set for Saturday night. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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