NPR News: 12-11-2024 7PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 11, 2024, 7 PM EST

Host: Jack Speer
Release Date: December 12, 2024

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1. Breakthrough in the Killing of United Healthcare CEO

Timestamp: [00:18]

NPR's Maria Aspin reports significant progress in the investigation of the murder of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson. Authorities have gathered substantial evidence linking Luigi Mangione to the crime. Police have confirmed that the firearm found in Mangione's possession matches the shell casings recovered from the Midtown scene in Manhattan.

Quote:

“To match that gun to the three shell casings that we found in Midtown at the scene of the homicide.”
— Jessica Tisch, NYPD Commissioner [00:59]

Mangione, a 26-year-old, was apprehended after a five-day manhunt and is currently held in Pennsylvania on weapons and forgery charges. He is contesting extradition to New York, where he faces second-degree murder charges.

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2. Decline in Fatal Street Drug Overdoses

Timestamp: [01:15]

Brian Mann discusses encouraging federal data indicating a sharp decline in fatal street drug overdoses across the United States. The Biden administration attributes this decrease to enhanced cooperation with China to disrupt fentanyl production and improved public health measures.

Quote:

“At the peak of the fentanyl epidemic, more than 113,000 people in the were dying from street drugs every year. New data...show roughly 94,000 deaths...the biggest drop in drug deaths ever recorded.”
— Brian Mann, NPR News [01:28]

The administration credits the reduction to cutting off the supply of industrial chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and the increased availability of medications that reverse opioid overdoses. This progress is occurring as the administration prepares to transition the fight against street fentanyl to the incoming Trump administration.

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3. Inflation Trends and Consumer Price Index Rise

Timestamp: [02:12]

Scott Horsley provides an analysis of the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, revealing a 2.7% increase over the past year—the largest rise since April. Grocery prices, particularly eggs, have significantly contributed to this inflation.

Quote:

“Egg prices jumped more than 8% in November. They're up more than 37% over the last 12 months.”
— Scott Horsley, NPR News [02:30]

While turkey prices experienced a slight increase, they remain lower than the previous year. Additionally, prices for used cars and hotels saw upward trends. Despite these increases, the Federal Reserve is likely to proceed with interest rate cuts in their final meeting of the year.

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4. European Union Imposes New Sanctions on Russia

Timestamp: [02:53]

The European Union has introduced new sanctions targeting Russia's efforts to circumvent oil and fuel transport restrictions. The measures focus on a shadow fleet of approximately 50 ships believed to be facilitating the movement of sanctioned goods.

Quote:

“Sanctions targeting around 50 ships...aim to disrupt Russia’s ability to evade export restrictions.”
— EU Official [Timestamp not provided]

Additionally, the EU is sanctioning more Russian officials and entities suspected of aiding Russia in enhancing its military technology despite existing export limitations.

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5. Macy’s Lowers Financial Forecast Amid Accounting Investigation

Timestamp: [03:59]

Alina Salyuk reports that Macy's has revised its financial outlook for the year after investigating an accounting employee responsible for significant expense irregularities.

Quote:

“Macy's has completed its review of the now ex employee who hid $151 million in delivery expenses.”
— Alina Salyuk, NPR News [03:59]

The investigation revealed that the employee's bookkeeping errors spanned nearly three years, totaling $151 million in undisclosed delivery expenses. Although the company insists this was not theft and did not impact overall financial reports, Macy's sales have declined by 2.4% in the latest quarter. The retailer is also facing pressure from activists to enhance its stock performance by liquidating real estate assets, which are believed to hold greater value than the company's current market position.

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6. Kroger and Albertsons Terminate $24.6 Billion Merger

Timestamp: [04:36]

In a significant development in the grocery sector, Kroger and Albertsons have called off their planned $24.6 billion merger. The companies cited inadequate cooperation from each other to facilitate the deal.

Quote:

“Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee as well as billions in legal fees.”
— Jack Speer, NPR News [04:36]

Following the termination, Albertsons is pursuing legal action against Kroger, demanding compensation for the failed merger attempt. This move marks the end of negotiations after two prior attempts by grocery store chains to consolidate were unsuccessful.

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Note: This summary excludes sponsored segments and focuses solely on the news content presented in the episode.

Transcript

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[Jack Speer]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. Police have more evidence tying Luigi Mangione to the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. As NPR's Maria Aspin reports, officials now say the gun in Mangione's possession matches physical evidence from the crime scene.

[Sponsor Voice]

Police arrested Mangione after a five day manhunt for the person who shot and killed Thompson in Manhattan last week. The 26 year old suspect is being held in Pennsylvania on weapons and forgery charges. He is fighting extradition to New York where he faces charges for second degree murder, but the gun in his possession has been sent to the NYPD crime lab. Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, we were able.

[Jessica Tisch]

To match that gun to the three shell casings that we found in Midtown at the scene of the homicide.

[Sponsor Voice]

She also said that the fingerprints on the gun match the prints on other evidence found near the crime scene in New York. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York.

[Jack Speer]

The number of people in the US Dying from fatal street drug overdoses continues a sharp decline. That's according to new federal data released today. As NPR's Brian Mann reports, the Biden administration says the national fight against fentanyl is working.

[Brian Mann]

At the peak of the fentanyl epidemic, more than 113,000 people in the were dying from street drugs every year. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention show roughly 94,000 deaths in a 12 month period, still high, but it's the biggest drop in drug deaths ever recorded. Speaking on background today, a senior Biden administration official said one factor is better cooperation from China, cutting off the supply of industrial chemicals used to make street fentanyl. White House officials say public health measures and wider use of medications that reverse opioid overdoses are also helping. This progress comes as the Biden and administration prepares to hand off the fight against street fentanyl to President Elect Donald Trump's team next month. Brian Mann, NPR News.

[Jack Speer]

The government's main inflation gauge heated up a bit last month, posting its biggest rise since April. Consumer Price Index, which measures the cost of a market basket of goods, up 2.7% compared to the same period a year ago. NPR Scott Horsley has more. In some of the areas driving up prices, including higher prices at the supermarket.

[Scott Horsley]

Grocery prices jumped half a percent in November. That was the biggest one month increase in almost two years. Now it's not primarily the Thanksgiving turkey's fault. Turkey prices were up a little bit last month, but they're still down from a year ago. The big culprit once again was eggs. Egg prices jumped more than 8% in November. They're up more than 37% over the last 12 months.

[Jack Speer]

Prices for used cars and hotels also rose, though likely not enough to prevent the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates when it holds its final meeting of the year next week. Stocks mostly gain ground on Wall street today. The NASDAQ rose 347 points. The S&P 500 gained 49 points where the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 99 points today. You're listening to NPR. The European Union is putting in place new sanctions against Russia in connection with its war against Ukraine. The head of the bloc saying the measures will specifically target a vast shadow fleet of ships Moscow has been using to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and fuel, sanctions targeting around 50 ships. Sanctions will also hit more officials and en believed to be helping Russia improve its military technology by evading export restrictions. Macy's has lowered its financial forecast for the year as the company also detailed its investigation into an accounting employee who had tens of millions of dollars in expenses. NPR's Alina Salyuk reports. Macy's says the employee's intentional bookkeeping error stretched out almost three years.

[Alina Salyuk]

Macy's has completed its review of the now ex employee who hid $151 million in delivery expenses. Company executives say this was not theft and the sum did not affect overall financial reports. The department store chain continues to lose sales, down 2.4% in the latest quarter. Macy's also slightly lowered its profit outlook for the year. Shares fell on the news the chain has been closing underperforming stores. And Macy's is once again under pressure from an activist investor to boost its stock price by selling off real estate, which the investor believes is worth more than the retail company. Alina, Seluk, NPR News.

[Jack Speer]

After two losses in the quartz grocery store chains, Kroger and Albertsons are calling off their planned merger, accusing the other of not doing enough to facilitate a proposed $24.6 billion deal. Albertson is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee as well as billions in legal fees. I'm Jack Speer, NPR News, in Washington.

[Sponsor Voice]

This message is sponsored by Greenlight, the debit card and money app made for families where kids learn how to save, invest and spend wisely with parental controls built in. Sign up this holiday [e-mail] NPR.