NPR News: 12-17-2024 4PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 17, 2024, 4PM EST

Hosted by Lakshmi Singh

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1. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s Alleged Killer Charged in New York

Lakshmi Singh reports a major development in the case of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has charged Luigi Mangione with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, including an act of terrorism related to the killing.

Bragg detailed the timeline, stating, “Luigi Mangione arrived in New York City a few days before Thanksgiving, checked into a hostel with a fake ID, then days later traveled to a Midtown Manhattan hotel and waited outside for his target, Brian Thompson to arrive” (00:20). Mangione allegedly used a 9mm 3D-printed ghost gun with a suppressor to execute the murder, firing once in the back and once in the leg.

DA Bragg emphasized the growing concern over ghost guns, noting, “The NYPD is encountering more and more ghost guns that [...] are unserialized and printed out and are just as deadly as traditional guns” (00:45). Mangione is currently in Pennsylvania, awaiting extradition to New York.

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2. Tragic School Shooting in Madison, Wisconsin

In a heartbreaking incident at Abundant Life Christian School, a 15-year-old student carried out a shooting, resulting in the deaths of a fellow student and a teacher, while several others were injured. Chief Sean Barnes of the Madison Police Department clarified a reporting error: “The first 911 call after yesterday morning's shootings came from a second-grade teacher, not a second-grade student as police initially reported” (01:10). This confusion stemmed from a misinterpreted call log.

Chief Barnes appealed to the public for assistance in understanding the motives behind the shooter’s actions. Investigations are underway to determine if bullying or disciplinary issues contributed to the tragedy. Natalie Rupp highlighted, “Some of you have reached out about the shooter’s social media activity prior to yesterday's shooting” (01:50), indicating ongoing inquiries into the student's background and possible warning signs.

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3. Ukraine Claims Responsibility for Killing of Russian Lieutenant General

In international news, Ukraine’s security service announced the elimination of Russian Lieutenant General Igor Kirilov in Moscow, marking the highest-profile assassination of a Russian military official away from the front lines since the invasion began. NPR’s Johanna Kakisis reports from Kyiv:

“Russian law enforcement stated that Igor Kirilov and one of his aides were killed after an explosive device planted in a scooter was detonated near his residence in southeastern Moscow” (02:23). Ukrainian prosecutors had previously indicted Kirilov for the use of banned chemical weapons on the front lines. The security service revealed that Russia has reportedly employed chemical weapons nearly 5,000 times during the conflict, underscoring the severity of ongoing hostilities.

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4. U.S. Markets Decline and Drone Activity Around Wright Patterson Air Force Base

Lakshmi Singh updates on the U.S. financial and security landscapes. U.S. stock markets closed lower on the day, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 267 points (−0.6%) to 43,449, the NASDAQ fell 64 points, and the S&P 500 decreased by 23 points (02:58).

In security news, unusual drone sightings have been reported around Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, following its temporary closure due to unexplained aerial activity. Similar incidents occurred the previous weekend, prompting the House Intelligence Committee to receive a closed-door briefing on drone threats. These ongoing drone activities have raised concerns about potential security breaches and the need for heightened vigilance.

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5. New Guidelines on Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements

Health experts have issued a new draft recommendation stating that vitamin D and calcium supplements do not effectively reduce the risk of fractures from falls in older adults. Dr. Gotham Rao, a family medicine doctor at Case Western Reserve University, explained:

“Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium, promoting strong bones and muscles. It also supports a healthy immune system. Sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D, so reduced exposure during winter months can increase the risk of a deficiency” (04:08). However, Dr. Rao emphasized that supplements alone are insufficient for preventing bone fractures or falls as individuals age.

A Carvana representative added, “That doesn't mean that vitamin D and calcium are not useful overall for bone health” (04:31). Dr. Rao continued, “Doctors recommend vitamin D supplements to patients who have insufficient amounts, and more than one in three older adults take them. When it comes to preventing fractures, experts say physical activity, including weight-bearing exercises, can be very effective” (04:38).

NPR’s Alison Aubrey concludes the segment by highlighting these findings, encouraging a holistic approach to bone health that goes beyond supplementation.

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This summary provides an overview of the key discussions and insights from the December 17, 2024, episode of NPR News Now. For the full details, listeners are encouraged to tune into the podcast.

Transcript

[Carvana Representative]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's alleged killer is now charged in New York with one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, including one count of murder as an act of terrorism. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleges that Luigi Mangione arrived in New York City a few days before Thanksgiving, checked into a hostel with a fake id, then days later traveled to midtown Manhattan hotel and waited outside for his target, Brian Thompson to arrive. We allege he then took out a 9 millimeter 3D printed ghost gun equipped with a 3D printed suppressor and shot him once in the back and once in the leg. Bragg later noted that the NYPD is encountering more and more ghost guns that he says are unserialized and printed out and are just as deadly as traditional guns. New York is still waiting to get Mangione extradited from Pennsylvania, where he was arrested earlier this month. The chief of the Madison, Wisconsin Police Department says the first 911 call after yesterday morning's shootings at Abundant Life Christian School came from a second grade teacher, not a second grade student as police initially reported. The mix up was attributed to misinterpreting a call log. At a news conference today, Chief Sean Barnes asked the public for help as they try to find out more about the 15 year old shooter. Natalie RuppNow, there are always signs of a school shooting before it occurred. Some of you have reached out about RupNow's social media activity prior to yesterday's shooting. Officers are investigating whether the shooter had been bullied at the school and whether she had any disciplinary problems. A fellow student and a teacher were killed. Several students and a second teacher were injured. Police say the shooter apparently took her own life. Ukraine's security service says it was behind the killing of a Russian lieutenant general. In Moscow, NPR's Johannika Kisses reports from Kyiv. It's the highest profile killing of a Russian military official away from the front line since Russia invaded Ukraine.

[Johanna Kakisis]

Russian law enforcement authority said in a statement that Igor Kirilov and one of his aides were killed after an explosive device planted in a scooter was set off. The scooter was near the entrance to a residential building in southeastern Moscow where Kittylov apparently lived. Ukrainian prosecutors did charge Kidilov on Monday with the use of banned chemical weapons on the front line. Ukraine's security service says Russia has used chemical weapons nearly 5,000 times in the war. Joanna Kakisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks end the day lower. The Dow closed down 267 points, or more than half a percent, to end the day at 43,449. The NASDAQ closed down 64 points, and the S&P was down 23 points. From Washington, this is IS NPR News. There are reports of more possible drones spotted around Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, days after the site was closed for hours because of unexplained aerial activity thought to be drones. According to a press release, the latest sightings took place overnight. Similar mysterious drone activities were reported near the air base last Friday and Saturday. House Intelligence Committee members were scheduled to receive a closed door security briefing today on drones. A new draft recommendation from a task force of prevention experts concludes that vitamin D and calcium supplements do not reduce the risk of fractures from a fall. NPR's Alison Aubrey reports. The experts reviewed all the evidence.

[Dr. Gotham Rao]

Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium, promoting strong bones and muscles. It also supports a healthy immune system. Sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D, so reduced exposure during winter months can increase the risk of a deficit deficiency. Supplements may help, but they're not enough to prevent bone breaks or falls as we age. Here's task Force member Dr. Gotham Rao, a family medicine doctor at Case Western Reserve University.

[Carvana Representative]

That doesn't mean that vitamin D and calcium are not useful overall for bone health. For other functions within the body, many.

[Dr. Gotham Rao]

Doctors recommend vitamin D supplements to patients who have insufficient amounts, and more than one in three older adults take them. When it comes to preventing fractures, experts say physical activity, including weight bearing exercises, can be very effective. Alison Aubrey, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.

[Carvana Representative]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.