NPR News: 09-11-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – 6AM EDT on September 11, 2025

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Korva Coleman
Date: September 11, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This tightly paced news bulletin delivers vital updates on national tragedies, international business tensions, critical health statistics, and economic indicators. With September 11th as its date of broadcast, the episode includes a somber reflection on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Key events include the manhunt for the suspect in activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, dangers facing international business relations due to a major immigration raid, new CDC mortality data, ongoing efforts to identify 9/11 victims, and the government’s inflation outlook.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. Utah Law Enforcement Manhunt: Shooting Death of Charlie Kirk

[00:18] – [01:10]

• Authorities in Utah are actively searching for a suspect involved in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
• Massive investigation involves collaboration between state, local, and university police departments.
• After interrogating an initial suspect, law enforcement released them, continuing the search.
• Governor Spencer Cox delivers a stern message to the perpetrator:

  "To whoever did this, we will find you." — Utah Governor Spencer Cox [00:53]

• Community members, including students like Chris Stomas, react with shock; school classes are canceled through the weekend.

  "It's shocking, to be honest. Like, I would not have expected this at all." — Chris Stomas (student) [01:01]

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2. Colorado School Shooting

[01:10]

• A high school student in the Denver area shot and wounded two fellow students before dying by suicide.
• Brief update; no further details provided in this bulletin.

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3. Immigration Raid Fallout: South Korean Workers Detained

[01:10] – [02:16]

• Hundreds of South Korean workers await repatriation via charter plane in Atlanta following a US immigration raid at a Hyundai plant.
• Hyundai’s $26 billion investment in the US over three years may be affected, as foreign companies reconsider sending workers stateside.
• Choi Stangron, a former director at Hyundai Motor Korea Foundation, highlights potential long-term consequences:

  "We're going to see not just Korean firms, but I think foreign firms more broadly be more cautious about their workers... to try and help set up facilities." — Choi Stangron [01:55]

• Some companies are now advising employees against US travel amid heightened immigration enforcement.

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4. COVID-19 Falls Out of Top 10 Causes of Death in the US

[02:16] – [03:11]

• For the first time since 2020, CDC data shows COVID-19 is no longer a top 10 cause of death in the US.
• Now outpaced by deaths from suicide, diabetes, kidney disease, and unintentional injury—heart disease and cancer remain dominant.
• Deaths declined 4% overall last year, across most demographic groups, though disparities persist (higher for men, older adults, Black Americans).
• Key quote summarizing the change:

  "Covid was once the third leading cause of death in the U.S., but more people died from causes such as suicide, diabetes, kidney disease, and unintentional injury, bumping Covid off the list." — Ping Huang [02:33]

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5. 24th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks: Remembrance and Ongoing Victim Identification

[03:11] – [04:31]

• The episode solemnly marks 24 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
• Updates from New York: Medical examiners recently identified the remains of three more victims using advanced DNA techniques; 40% of victims remain unidentified.
• The office continues to reach out to families for new DNA samples, fulfilling a "solemn promise" for as long as it takes.
• Reflective quote emphasizing ongoing dedication:

  "That commitment was a very solemn promise to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to get them identified." — Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham [03:47]

• Technological progress makes identification more feasible for previously unidentifiable remains.

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6. Economic Update: Inflation and Wholesale Prices

[04:31] – [04:57]

• Anticipation for the government’s latest report on consumer prices; some expect a 2.9% inflation rise in August.
• Yesterday’s report showed wholesale prices fell 0.1%, offering a glimpse into possible inflation easing.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Governor Spencer Cox:

  "To whoever did this, we will find you." [00:53]

• Chris Stomas (Student):

  "It's shocking, to be honest. Like, I would not have expected this at all." [01:01]

• Choi Stangron (Hyundai Foundation):

  "We're going to see not just Korean firms, but I think foreign firms more broadly be more cautious about their workers... to try and help set up facilities." [01:55]

• Dr. Jason Graham (Chief Medical Examiner, NYC):

  "That commitment was a very solemn promise to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to get them identified." [03:47]

• Ping Huang (NPR):

  "Covid was once the third leading cause of death in the U.S., but more people died from causes such as suicide, diabetes, kidney disease, and unintentional injury, bumping Covid off the list." [02:33]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|:--------------:| | Shooting Death of Charlie Kirk (Utah) | 00:18 – 01:10 | | Colorado School Shooting | 01:10 | | Hyundai Plant Raid – South Korean Workers | 01:10 – 02:16 | | COVID-19 Mortality Stats Update | 02:16 – 03:11 | | 9/11 Anniversary and Victim Identification | 03:11 – 04:31 | | Economic Update – Inflation & Wholesale Prices| 04:31 – 04:57 |

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This NPR News Now episode delivers a balanced and urgent checkpoint on headline events, public health insights, the legacy of American tragedy, and the moment’s economic climate—all in under five minutes.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Law enforcement officials in Utah are trying to find a suspect in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Steve Futterman reports from Orem, Utah.

[Steve Futterman]

It is a massive effort involving state, federal and local jurisdictions. Bo Mason is with the Utah Department of Public Safety.

[Korva Coleman]

We're working in unison with the county sheriff's office, the local police department and the University Police Department.

[Steve Futterman]

For a while yesterday, law enforcement officials thought they might have the gunman, but after intense questioning, the person was released. Utah Governor Spencer Cox to whoever did.

[Marlon Hyde]

This, we will find you.

[Steve Futterman]

Last night, many were making a pilgrimage of sorts to the school, including Chris Stomas.

[Joe Hernandez]

It's shocking, to be honest. Like, I would not have expected this at all.

[Steve Futterman]

All classes have been canceled until Monday. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman.

[Korva Coleman]

In Orem, Utah, a Colorado high school student shot and wounded two fellow students yesterday at a Denver area school. Authorities say he also killed himself. A South Korean charter plane is waiting in Atlanta to bring home hundreds of detained South Korean workers. They were swept up in a US Immigration raid on a Hyundai plant last week. There's concern the sweep could stop South Korean companies from doing business in the southeastern U.S. from member station WABE, Marlon Hyde has more.

[Marlon Hyde]

Hyundai has said it's investing $26 billion in the United States for the next three years. Choi Stangron is the former director of the Hyundai Motor Korea foundation center for Korean History and Public Policy. He the raid on the auto plant could jeopardize future investments.

[Steve Futterman]

We're going to see not just Korean firms, but I think foreign firms more broadly be more cautious about their workers are sending to the United States to try and help set up facilities.

[Marlon Hyde]

He says South Korea has also committed to investing billions more into the U.S. meanwhile, some companies are asking workers to avoid traveling to the US For NPR News, I'm Marlon Hyde in Atlanta.

[Korva Coleman]

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention show that COVID 19 and is no longer one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. NPR's Ping Huang reports. It's the first time since 2020 that COVID 19, has dropped from this list.

[Ping Huang]

Covid was once the third leading cause of death in the U.S. but more people died from causes such as suicide, diabetes, kidney disease and unintentional injury, bumping Covid off the list of the top 10 leading causes of US deaths. Many more died from heart disease and cancer, which have been the top two leading causes of death for more than a decade. Overall deaths last year were down 4% from the previous year, and the decline extended across the board to most age groups and to people of all races and ethnicities. Within that, rates were still higher for men than women, for older adults and for black Americans. Ping Huang, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street and premarket trading, Dow futures are higher. This is NPR. This is the 24th anniversary of the terror attacks on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people. Al Qaeda militants crashed planes into the World Trade center buildings in New York and the Pentagon. Passengers and crew aboard a hijacked plane stormed a cockpit. On the plane they were on, the militants crashed it into a rural Pennsylvania field. The New York City medical examiner's office is still trying to identify the remains of some of the people killed in the attacks. NPR's Joe Hernandez reports.

[Joe Hernandez]

Last month, the medical examiner identified the remains of three more victims of the World Trade center attacks. The office has been reaching out to the members of those who died and asking if they want to submit a DNA sample that can be used to try to find a match. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham says the office is working to keep a promise made more than two decades ago. That commitment was a very solemn promise to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to get them identified. Technological advancements have also made it possible to find DNA on bone fragments that had tested negative in the past. About 40% of victims who died at the World Trade center have never had any of their remains remains identified. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The government is set to release its latest monthly report on consumer prices today. Some analysts expect inflation rose 2.9% in August compared to a year ago. Yesterday, the federal government released its inflation report at the wholesale level that found that wholesale prices dropped 1/10 of 1% in August compared to the same time a year ago. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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