NPR News: 12-18-2024 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 18, 2024, 6AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman | Source: NPR

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Bipartisan Stopgap Spending Bill Averts Government Shutdown

Korva Coleman opens the episode with significant legislative news:

"Congressional leaders have released details of a bipartisan stopgap spending bill. It would avert a partial federal government shutdown late Friday night." [00:16]

Claudia Grisales provides an in-depth report on the bill:

"The legislation would extend government funding until mid-March 2025. It follows days of intense negotiations between leaders for House Republicans and Senate Democrats, and it starts the clock for both chambers to vote on the plan by week's end." [00:32]

Key components of the bill include approximately $100 billion in federal aid for natural disaster recovery, funds for rebuilding after the Maui fires, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, a one-year extension to the farm bill, and funding to reconstruct the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

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Political Appointments and Legal Developments

Korva Coleman transitions to international and legal news:

"President Elect Trump has tapped former football star player Herschel Walker to be the next U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas, while Walker ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. senate in Georgia two years ago." [01:20]

In a significant legal update:

"A Manhattan grand jury has indicted the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. Luigi Mangione faces several charges, including first and second-degree murder." [01:20]

Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney, elaborates on the gravity of the charges:

"Some of these murder charges allege that the killing was committed in furtherance of terrorism. [...] the shooting was brazen and meant to cause shock and intimidation." [01:49]

Mangione remains in custody in central Pennsylvania, with New York officials pursuing extradition.

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Tragic School Shooting and Community Response

The episode covers a somber event in Madison, Wisconsin:

Korva Coleman reports:

"Mourners attended a prayer service last night near the Abundant Life Christian School where a student killed two other people and herself." [02:01]

Anya Van Wagtendonk details the memorial service:

"Mourners walked through the dark towards a city church located next door to Abundant Life Christian School. [...] Inside the church, performers and speakers offered music and prayer." [02:21]

Lisa Haney, a middle school teacher at the school, shares her grief:

"I don't know how to still and quiet my own soul because it's going crazy right now on the inside of me." [02:42]

Madison police continue to investigate the motives behind the tragic shooting by the 15-year-old perpetrator.

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Federal Reserve's Monetary Policy and Pentagon Detainee Updates

Korva Coleman briefs on economic and defense matters:

"Policymakers for the Federal Reserve end their two-day meeting today. They could lower interest rates by another quarter point, but they're also watching inflation. It has not slowed down as much as they would like it to." [03:00]

In defense news:

"The Pentagon says it has sent back three detainees held at the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Two were repatriated to Malaysia, and a third was sent to Kenya." [03:00]

The Malaysian detainees were linked to an al Qaeda affiliate responsible for Southeast Asia bombings, while the third was associated with al Qaeda's East Africa branch.

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Sesame Street's Future Distribution Plans

The beloved children's program faces a strategic shift:

Korva Coleman introduces the topic:

"The venerable children's program Sesame Street is again looking for a new home after splitting from Max, formerly known as HBO. The program was previously with PBS." [03:00]

Elizabeth Blair reports on Max's announcement:

"In a statement, Max says that new episodes of Sesame Street are no longer core to its strategy, but it will rerun old episodes through 2027." [03:55]

Despite the evergreen educational content, Polly Conway, Senior Editor for TV and Streaming at Common Sense Media, emphasizes the importance of Sesame Street finding a new platform:

"Finding a new home is going to be integral to them, creating new content and really reaching the audiences that need to be reached." [04:26]

Sesame Workshop plans to announce new distribution strategies in the coming months, aiming to continue its mission of educating and supporting underserved communities.

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Wildfire Warnings in Southern California

Korva Coleman concludes with environmental news:

"Forecasters have posted fresh warnings about powerful winds today in a part of Southern California. It's where a sudden wildfire broke out last week, northwest of Los Angeles." [04:42]

Residents are urged to stay vigilant as authorities monitor the situation to prevent further wildfire incidents.

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For more updates, stay tuned to NPR News.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Congressional leaders have released details of a bipartisan stopgap spending bill. It would avert a partial federal government shutdown late Friday night. NPR's Claudia Grisales reports. The proposal also includes significant disaster aid.

[Claudia Grisales]

The legislation would extend government funding until mid March 2025. It follows days of intense negotiations between leaders for House Republicans and Senate Democrats, and it starts the clock for both chambers to vote on the plan by week's end. It includes about $100 billion in federal aid for natural disaster recovery and more funds to rebuild from the Maui fires and damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. It also gives a one year extension to the farm bill, a five year plan that sets agriculture and food policies. Finally, it includes funding to rebuild the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Claudia Grizales, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Korva Coleman]

President Elect Trump has tapped former football star player Herschel Walker to be the next U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas, while Walker ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. senate in Georgia two years ago. A Manhattan grand jury has indicted the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. Luigi Mangione faces several charges, including first and second degree murder. From member station wnyc, Samantha Max says there's another accusation.

[Alvin Bragg]

Some of these murder charges allege that the killing was committed in furtherance of terrorism. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg called the shooting brazen and said it was meant to cause shock and intimidation.

[Korva Coleman]

Samantha Max reporting. Mangione is still being held in central Pennsylvania. New York officials are trying to extradite him. Mourners attended a prayer service last night near the Madison, Wisconsin, religious school where a student killed two other people and herself. Wisconsin Public Radio's Anya Van Wachtendonk has more.

[Anya Van Wagtendonk]

Mourners walked through the dark towards a city church located next door to Abundant Life Christian School. Just one day earlier, a student at that shot and killed a fellow student and a teacher. Inside the church, performers and speakers offered music and prayer. Lisa Haney teaches middle school at Abundant Life. She asked for faith and understanding God.

[Lisa Haney]

I don't know how to still and quiet my own soul because it's going crazy right now on the inside of me.

[Anya Van Wagtendonk]

The shooter was a 15 year old girl who also died. Madison police say they're still investigating her motives for NPR News. I'm Ana Van Wagtendonk in Madison.

[Korva Coleman]

Policymakers for the Federal Reserve end their two day meeting today. They could lower interest rates by another quarter point, but they're also watching inflation. It has not slowed down as much as they would like it to. You're listening to NPR News. The Pentagon says it has sent back three detainees held at the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Two were repatriated to Malaysia. A third was sent to Kenya. The two Malaysian detainees worked with an al Qaeda affiliate responsible for deadly bombings in Southeast Asia. The third belonged to al Qaeda's branch in East Africa. The venerable children's program Sesame street is again looking for a new home after splitting from Max, formerly known as HBO. The program was previously with PBS. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports. Max will discontinue streaming new episodes of Sesame street after next season.

[Elizabeth Blair]

In a statement, Mac says that new episodes of Sesame street are no longer core to its strategy, but it will rerun old episodes through 2027.

[Alvin Bragg]

Sunny days, sweeping up clouds away.

[Elizabeth Blair]

A lot of Sesame Street's educational content is evergreen, but it's also known for talking about current issues in ways kids can understand and reaching underserved audiences. Polly Conway is senior editor for TV and streaming at Common Sense Media.

[Polly Conway]

Finding a new home is going to be integral to them, creating new content and really reaching the audiences that need to be reached.

[Elizabeth Blair]

In a statement, Sesame Workshop says it plans to announce new distribution plans in the coming months. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Forecasters have posted fresh warnings about powerful winds today in a part of Southern California. It's where a sudden wildfire broke out last week, northwest of Los Angeles. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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