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Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The Trump administration is imposing sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family and his interior minister over alleged ties to international drug trafficking. The move further heightens tensions with the leader of one of Washington's closest allies in South America. Petro has criticized President Trump's bombing of boats he says are transporting drugs. In a statement, the Treasury Department says cocaine production in Colombia has exploded under President Petro. The Pentagon is building up its military presence in the Caribbean as it continues to attack alleged drugged vessels. NPR's Tom Bowman has more.
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The aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford has been ordered to join the dozens of ships and aircraft that have already been deployed to the Caribbean. The Ford had been taking part in a port visit in Croatia, and Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Ford will, quote, bolster US Capacity to detect, monitor and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States. US for forces have already carried out 10 strikes on alleged drug vessels in the region, resulting in more than 40 dead. Democrats and some Republicans have questioned President Trump's authority to order extrajudicial killings. Tom Bowman, NPR News.
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Close to a million and a half federal workers are going without pay during the government shutdown. As NPR's Andrea Hsu explains, the impact of the shutdown is likely to spread.
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If it drags on and on, experts say the general public will feel the economic effects in their communities. Grocery stores that are located near federal buildings are seeing less foot traffic. Daycares are seeing fewer kids because their parents are now furloughed. Things like that are already happening.
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NPR's Andrea Hsu reporting. The Trump administration is moving around money to pay some employees, including members of the military and immigration enforcement. The Pentagon also says it received an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay troops during the shutdown. The move raises ethical questions after President Trump said a friend offered the gift. The government shutdown continues to disrupt flights across the country. NPR's Joel Rose reports pressure is mounting on air traffic controllers who are working without pay.
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Flights have been delayed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The FAA says that's because of a staffing shortage at the facility that manages arriving and departing traffic. It's the latest disruption at facilities that were already critically short of air traffic controllers before the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says those disruptions could get worse. When next Tuesday's payday arrives and controllers receive no money, their paycheck is going.
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To be a big fat zero.
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The FAA has been able to pay air traffic control trainees at its academy in Oklahoma City so far. But Duffy says that funding could run out in a matter of weeks. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
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Stocks closed up today. The Dow Jones industrial Average closed up 472points, about 1%. You are listening to NPR News from Washington. Interpol says an investigation into logging, wildlife trafficking and gold mining across nine Latin American countries has led to 225 arrests. The international police organization says it uncovered more than 400 cases of environmental crime and seized timber, live animals and weapons. The operation also exposed transnational routes, showing how organized crime networks are increasingly driving the illegal exploits. A new study suggests many urinary tract infections come from an unexpected source, meat contaminated with e. Coli bacteria. NPR's Maria Godoy has more.
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It's estimated that up to 60% of women will develop a UTI over their lifetime. And in recent years, evidence has been growing that some of these infections come from meat in our food supply. In the new study, researchers found that nearly one in five UTIs in a group of patients in Southern California were linked to E. Coli strains detected in meat samples sold in grocery stores in the same area during a four year period. The study found that turkey and chicken were most likely to test positive for E. Coli. The researchers say that while UTIs have long been considered a personal hygiene problem, the new findings suggest they're also a food safety problem. The research appears in the journal Mbio. Maria Godoy, NPR News.
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There are mink on the loose. The trade group Fur Commission USA says intruders released more than a thousand minks from an Iowa farm. As of this morning, it says about 60% of the mink were recovered. I'm Ryland Barton. This is NPR News from Washington.
Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Date: October 24, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes
This concise news roundup from NPR delivers updates on escalating U.S.-Colombia tensions amid new sanctions, the ongoing government shutdown and its ripple effects, significant arrests in Latin America over environmental crime, fresh research on urinary tract infection sources, and a curious case of mink released from an Iowa farm.
[00:00-01:18]
[01:18-02:48]
[02:48-03:36]
[03:36-04:23]
[04:23-End]
On U.S.-Colombia Tensions:
“Democrats and some Republicans have questioned President Trump's authority to order extrajudicial killings.” — Tom Bowman ([01:12])
On the Federal Shutdown’s Spread:
“Grocery stores that are located near federal buildings are seeing less foot traffic. Daycares are seeing fewer kids because their parents are now furloughed.” — Andrea Hsu ([01:30])
On Air Traffic Controllers’ Pay:
“Their paycheck is going to be a big fat zero.” — Sec. Sean Duffy ([02:35])
On UTI Causes:
“While UTIs have long been considered a personal hygiene problem, the new findings suggest they're also a food safety problem.” — Maria Godoy ([04:17])
This tightly packed update delivers essential national and international news, highlighting both geopolitical shifts and day-to-day impacts on American life—covering everything from contentious foreign policy moves to the unexpected links between dinner tables and public health.