NPR News: 12-20-2024 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 20, 2024, 1 PM EST

Host: Dwahilisai Kao
Release Date: December 20, 2024

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1. Potential Federal Government Shutdown

Reporter: Margaret Barthel
Time Reference: [00:39]

As the deadline approaches, Members of Congress face hours to pass a crucial spending bill to avert a partial shutdown of the federal government by midnight. A shutdown could halt operations for many federal workers, though certain sectors like air traffic control and parts of the defense industry would continue functioning without timely paychecks. However, a 2019 law mandates back pay for approximately 2 million federal employees once the shutdown concludes.

Quote:
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine criticized the fiscal implications, stating at [01:05], “There's no reason to shut government down, lock employees out of their office, tell them they can't help their fellow Americans, and then give them a paycheck anyway.”

Kaine expressed hope that congressional leaders would reach an agreement before the midnight deadline to prevent the adverse economic and operational impacts of a shutdown.

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2. Oxford, Michigan School Shooter's Guilty Plea Upheld

Reporter: Kristen Wright
Time Reference: [01:21]

Ethan Crumbley, the Oxford, Michigan school shooter, has had his guilty plea to first-degree murder and terrorism charges upheld by the court. Crumbley’s defense argued that at 16, he did not fully comprehend his actions due to mental illness and cognitive impairment. They contended that these factors were not adequately addressed during his plea and sentencing.

Quote:
Judge Kristen Wright affirmed at [01:38], “Ethan Crumbley's guilty plea was knowingly, voluntarily and accurately given.”

Despite these arguments, the judge maintained that Crumbley displayed no signs of confusion during his plea, resulting in a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. This case is particularly notable as Crumbley's parents became the first in the nation to be convicted in relation to a school shooting perpetrated by their child. The tragic incident occurred in 2021, where Crumbley killed four classmates and injured seven others.

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3. North Korean Troop Casualties in Russia and Conflict in Ukraine

Reporter: Brian Mann
Time Reference: [02:26]

Reports indicate that over 100 North Korean troops have died supporting Russia's war efforts since earlier this month, according to a South Korean lawmaker. Concurrently, in Ukraine, emergency responders are combating fires in Kyiv caused by overnight Russian attacks.

On the Ground in Pokrovsk:
Brian Mann provides a harrowing account of Pokrovsk, a city in Ukraine's Donetsk region struggling under continuous bombardment.

Quote:
At [02:50], Mann described Pokrovsk as “a frightening place” where Russian drones have relentlessly attacked, leading officials to believe that roughly 11,000 Ukrainians remain hiding amid severe shortages of gas, heat, and running water.

The city, once home to 60,000 residents, has largely been evacuated due to the ongoing conflict and the pervasive threat of violence.

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4. College Football Playoffs Kick Off

Reporter: Becky Sullivan
Time Reference: [03:09]

The college football playoffs are set to begin this weekend, featuring an exciting lineup of games. The initial game on Friday night will showcase an in-state clash between Notre Dame and Indiana, both boasting only one loss each this season.

Saturday’s Highlights:

• Texas vs. Clemson: A high-stakes matchup anticipated to draw significant attention.
• Tennessee vs. Ohio State: Another marquee game expected to be a highlight of the weekend.

Additionally, Southern Methodist University will travel to Penn State for an early game in the power conference. Notably, four conference champions, including the undefeated Oregon Ducks and the Georgia Bulldogs, will bypass the first round and enter directly into the second round.

Quote:
Becky Sullivan outlined the expanded format at [03:33], “It's the first year of this expanded 12 team playoff. It'll be a full month of games before a team is crowned champion.”

Fans can look forward to a month-long series of thrilling contests leading up to the crowning of the national champion.

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5. Holiday Travel and Potential Airport Delays Amid Government Shutdown

Reporter: Dwahilisai Kao
Time Reference: [04:14]

The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects that nearly 120 million people will travel during the upcoming holiday season between tomorrow and New Year's Day, marking an increase of about 3 million travelers compared to last year. Of these, approximately 8 million are expected to fly.

However, a potential partial federal government shutdown tonight could exacerbate travel conditions. Air traffic controllers are required to work during a shutdown but would not receive paychecks, potentially affecting airport operations. Similarly, TSA agents would face the same predicament, possibly leading to longer security lines and delays for travelers.

In international news, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Mayotte, an island territory near eastern Africa between Madagascar and Mozambique, which was severely impacted by a cyclone last week. His visit underscores ongoing efforts to provide aid and support to the cyclone-hit region.

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Transcript

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[Dwahilisai Kao]

Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahilisai Kao. To Members of Congress have hours left to pass a spending bill that prevents a partial shutdown of the federal Government Act. Midnight. Margaret Barthel of member station WAMU reports on what a partial government shutdown might look like.

[Margaret Barthel]

When the government shuts down, many federal workers are told to stop doing their jobs. Some, like air traffic controllers and parts of the defense industry, still work but don't get on time. Paychecks. A law passed in 2019 requires back pay for all the roughly 2 million federal employees across the country after a shutdown ends. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat, says that makes shutting down the government a bad fiscal decision.

[Tim Kaine]

There's no reason to shut government down, lock employees out of their office, tell them they can't help their fellow Americans, and then give them a paycheck anyway.

[Margaret Barthel]

Kaine said he hopes congressional leaders can make a deal before midnight. For NPR News, I'm Margaret Barthell in Arlington, Virginia.

[Dwahilisai Kao]

The Oxford, Michigan, school shooter failed to withdraw his guilty plea to first degree murder, terrorism and other charges. Ethan Crumbley's attorneys said he'd didn't understand what he was doing when he entered the plea, but the judge wasn't convinced. As NPR's Kristen Wright reports, the judge.

[Kristen Wright]

Said Ethan Crumbley's guilty plea was knowingly, voluntarily and accurately given. He also rejected Crumbley's request to be re sentenced. The school shooters serving life without the possibility of parole. But Crumbley's new defense team argued the now 18 year old was only 16 and living with mental illness and cognitive impairment was when he pleaded guilty, waiving his right to a trial. They claim his previous attorneys failed to properly raise these issues during the plea process and sentencing. The same judge who handed down Crumbley's sentence last December concluded Thursday he showed no signs of confusion when he pleaded guilty and the sentence stands. Crumbley murdered four classmates and wounded seven other people in 2021. His parents were the first in the nation to be convicted in a school shooting committed by their child. Kristen Wright, NPR News.

[Dwahilisai Kao]

There are reports that at least 100 North Korean troops have died in Russia, supporting war efforts there since earlier this month, according to a South Korean lawmaker. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, emergency responders are busy putting out fires in Kyiv caused by Russian attacks overnight. NPR's Brian Mann is traveling in the east of that country, reporting about the battle for the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

[Brian Mann]

One of the hardest things I saw yesterday was people still in the streets. Pokrovsk, a frightening place. There are Russian drones. They pummeled the city with grenades and larger bombs, but officials say they think roughly 11,000 Ukrainians are still hunkered down under the threat of this violence, without gas or heat or running water.

[Dwahilisai Kao]

NPR's Brian Mann reporting. The city was a population of 60,000. Man adds, but the city is now emptied of people. This is npr. The college football playoffs begin this weekend with a game Friday night and three games on Saturday with Notre Dame, Texas and Ohio State all on the docket. NPR's Becky Sullivan has this preview.

[Becky Sullivan]

The playoffs kick off with an in state showdown between Notre Dame and Indiana, both of which only have one loss apiece. Then on Saturday, Texas will take on Clemson and Tennessee will face Ohio State in two of the most anticipated matchups of this round. In the power conference, newcomer Southern Methodist will travel to Penn State for the early game. Sitting out this week are four conference champions, all of whom got to skip straight to the second round. That includes the nation's top overall team, the undefeated Oregon D and the number two team hot on their heels, the Georgia Bulldogs. It's the first year of this expanded 12 team playoff. It'll be a full month of games before a team is crowned champion. Becky Sullivan, NPR News.

[Dwahilisai Kao]

The motoring club AAA estimates that nearly 120 million people will travel this holiday season between tomorrow and New Year's day. That's about 3 million more people than last year. AAA says nearly 8 million people are going to fly, but these travelers could face longer lines at the airport if there a partial federal government shutdown tonight. Air traffic controllers have to report to work, but they won't get paid. The same is true for TSA agents. French President Emmanuel Macron visited the island territory of Mayotte, near eastern Africa, between Madagascar and Mozambique. It was hard hit by a cyclone last week. I'm Douahalisai Kowtel, NPR News.

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