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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. A federal judge in San Francisco will consider whether to pause the Trump administration's mass layoffs of federal workers during the government shutdown. NPR's Andrea Xu reports. Today's hearing comes as the administration says layoff notices so far have gone out to some 4,000 people, with more to come.
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Unions representing federal employees have asked the court to halt the layoffs already underway and to stop federal agencies from issuing new layoff notices. They argue that the Trump administration has overstepped its authority in telling agencies to carry out the reductions in force, or rifs. Amid the shutdown. The Trump administration argues the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case and that such matters ought to be taken to the federal agencies set up by Congress to hear challenges to RIFs. Meanwhile, President Trump continues to blame Democrats for the shutdown and says it's an opportunity for him to end, quote, Democrat programs, those he never wanted and will probably never allow back. Andrea Hsu, NPR News.
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The United Nations Development Program says reconstructing Gaza after the war could take more than a decade and $70 billion. NPR's Anas Baba reports from Gaza City. Crews are beginning an initial cleanup of debris.
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Tin bell dozers have begun clearing rubble from key roads to allow residents to return and move freely. Gaza City Mayor Yahya announced the part of a major cleanup and recovery effort financed by Qatar. He said the municipality has a clear three phase plan. The first will take six months, the second up to three years and the third, which is full reconstruction, may take a decade. Damage is estimated to over $2 billion in Gaza City alone. But the challenges are enormous. Most heavy machinery in Gaza is destroyed. Cement and spare parts are urgently needed, and vast amounts of debris still block the streets. For now, he says just opening a few main roads will take two weeks. Ennis Baba, NPR News, Gaza City.
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The fate of a key Provision of the 1965 Voting Rights act now rests with the US Supreme Court. The justices heard arguments today in a Louisiana case over whether states should draw electoral districts that favor minority voters. Big banks are earning some big profits. NPR, Scott Horsley with details.
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Bank of America and Morgan Stanley both reported better than expected quarterly profits, fueled in part by robust deal making fees. B of A helped two big railroads couple up this summer, while Morgan Stanley helped brew the coffee merger, combining Keurag, Dr. Pepper and Peet's. The solid results echo the profit reports from other big banks earlier this week. And this was the day we were supposed to get an inflation report for September. That report's been pushed back until next Friday, though, as a result of the government shutdown. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
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This is NPR News. The average amount of money a customer spends on a new vehicle has topped $50,000 for the first time this week. The automotive valuation and research company Kelley Blue Book released a report that finds the average transaction price in September was 2.1% higher than the month before and jumped 3.5% from a year ago. The report says the increase is aligned with the long term average of inflation and the price people pay for a new. New data from Consumer Reports on protein powders finds many best selling products contain traces of lead and other heavy metals. NPR's Alison Aubrey reports the organization is calling for stricter regulation from the Food and Drug Administration.
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Consumer reports analyzed 23 protein powders and shakes and found about 70% contained levels of lead that the group says is concerning. The FDA sets a threshold for lead that is acceptable in baby food, but the group is asking the FDA to establish limits on lead in protein powders. Children and pregnant people are most vulnerable to potential harms, and experts say one way to minimize exposure is not to consume too much of any one product. Lead levels in plant based products were about nine times the amount found in dairy based products. One explanation is that lead has accumulated in the environment and is often detected in trace amounts in crops, including rice and peas, which are used to make protein powders. Alison Aubrey, NPR News.
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Now seeing The Dow's down 22 points. The Nasdaq has gained 54. The S& P is up slightly. You're listening to NPR News.