NPR News Now – September 17, 2025, 7PM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder, NPR News
Duration: 5 minutes

Brief Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise update on several major news stories, covering a tragic police shooting in Pennsylvania, a tense Capitol Hill hearing with the former CDC Director, safety changes for minors using ChatGPT, the aftermath of a campus shooting at Utah Valley University, a disrupted cargo mission to the ISS, and the announcement of Bad Bunny's sweeping Latin Grammy nominations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pennsylvania Police Shooting Tragedy

• Details: Five officers were shot in York County, PA; three died, two are in critical but stable condition.
• Context: Officers were following up on a domestic-related investigation. The shooter was killed by police.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Grieve for the loss of life for three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth, and served this country. We continue to pray for the full recovery of those who are dealing with their wounds.”
    — Governor Josh Shapiro (00:37)
• Location: South central Pennsylvania near the Maryland line.

2. Security Incident at Pittsburgh FBI Building

• Incident: A suspect rammed a car into the city's FBI building security gates and was taken into custody.
• No injuries reported or detailed in this segment.

3. Former CDC Director Testifies Before Senate

• Background: Former Director Susan Menarez testified about her firing, claiming she was ousted for refusing to comply with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s demands regarding vaccines.
• Key Points:
  • Menarez reached out to the Senate with concerns about the requests made of her; Kennedy subsequently terminated her.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • “He told me he could not trust me. And I told him if he could not trust me, he could fire me.”
      — Susan Menarez (01:41)
• Government Response: HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon denied that changes to the childhood vaccine schedule had been pre-decided and remarked on Menarez’s refusal to restore the CDC’s “core mission.”
• Quote from HHS:
  • “Susan Menarez was tasked with restoring the CDC to its core mission after decades of bureaucratic inertia, politicized science, and mission creep eroded its purpose and squandered public trust, and she refused to do it.”
    — Andrew Nixon, HHS Spokesperson (01:47)
• Upcoming: Vaccine advisory committee to vote on new guidelines (02:09).

4. ChatGPT to Launch Kid-Friendly Version

• Announcement: OpenAI will debut a ChatGPT version specifically for users under 18.
• Features:
  • Age-verification system to direct minors to an age-appropriate experience.
  • Blocking of graphic sexual content and, in critical mental health cases, potential law enforcement involvement.
  • Parental controls for blackout periods.
• Background: Change comes after a lawsuit alleging ChatGPT contributed to a teen's suicide and amid ongoing concerns over online AI safety for minors.
• Company Admission: Some safeguards are less effective in extended conversations.
• Reporting by: John Ruich (02:30)

5. Campus Reopens After Utah Valley University Shooting

• Context: Classes resume following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.
• Courtyard: The scene of the shooting remains closed.
• Legal Update: Prosecutors announced intent to seek the death penalty. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson faces seven charges, including aggravated murder (03:17).

6. ISS Resupply Mission Failure

• What Happened: Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo craft experienced engine failure after launch, preventing scheduled ISS rendezvous.
• Cargo: 11,000 pounds of supplies, including food, scientific hardware, and essential station equipment.
• Concerns: NASA is reevaluating next steps as the craft is off course and, if lost, the supplies will burn up during atmospheric reentry since Cygnus XL cannot withstand reentry.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “If the spacecraft is unable to arrive at the station, those supplies could all be lost. Cygnus XL can't return to Earth without burning up in the atmosphere, since it's not designed to withstand the heat of re entry.”
    — Brendan Byrne (03:56)

7. Bad Bunny Leads Latin Grammy Nominations

• News: Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny tops this year’s Latin Grammy nominations with 12, including Album, Song, and Record of the Year.
• Reporting by: Giles Snyder (04:39)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Governor Josh Shapiro (on police shooting):
  “Grieve for the loss of life for three precious souls…” (00:37)
• Susan Menarez (on her firing):
  “He told me he could not trust me. And I told him if he could not trust me, he could fire me.” (01:41)
• Andrew Nixon, HHS (on CDC leadership):
  “She refused to do it.” (01:47)
• Brendan Byrne (on Cygnus XL cargo loss):
  “If the spacecraft is unable to arrive at the station, those supplies could all be lost…” (03:56)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:20 – Pennsylvania police shooting
• 00:55 – Pittsburgh FBI security gate incident
• 01:18 – Former CDC Director's Senate testimony
• 02:09 – Vaccine advisory committee update
• 02:30 – ChatGPT’s under-18 version announcement
• 03:17 – Utah Valley University shooting update
• 03:56 – ISS resupply mission setback
• 04:39 – Bad Bunny’s Latin Grammy nominations

This episode delivers rapidly updated news with concise reporting, notable direct quotes from key actors, and brief, impactful summaries of pressing national and cultural stories.