NPR News: 12-20-2024 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 20, 2024, 5 PM EST – Detailed Summary

Hosted by Jack Spear, NPR News Now delivers the latest updates in five minutes. This episode covers critical developments in government funding, aviation safety, civil rights in education, financial markets, archaeological discoveries, college football playoffs, and public health.

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1. House Poised to Vote on Government Funding Bill

Jack Spear opens the segment by highlighting the House's imminent vote on a crucial government funding bill.

"The House is expected to vote sometime soon on a bill that would fund the government through mid March." [00:17]

Barbara Sprunt provides an in-depth analysis, explaining that the funding package includes disaster aid and support for farmers but notably excludes a raise in the debt limit—a demand recently emphasized by President Elect Trump.

"The package will still need support from congressional Democrats in order to make it through the Senate and to President Biden's desk for signatures." [00:35]

She warns of the severe consequences of a potential government shutdown, which would furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers and disrupt essential services.

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2. FAA Extends Drone Flight Restrictions in New York

Jack Spear reports on the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to extend temporary flight restrictions on drones across 30 locations in New York State.

"Federal regulators are extending temporary flight restrictions on drones to 30 locations in New York State." [01:15]

Joel Rose elaborates on the issue, noting that this action follows a surge in drone sightings across the Northeast, including New Jersey the previous day.

"New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the latest restrictions are purely precautionary and that there are no threats to any of the sites across New York City and its suburbs." [01:29]

Rose mentions that while thousands of public tips have been received, many reported objects were misidentified, including legal drones, commercial planes, and even stars.

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3. Civil Rights Investigation Criticizes Philadelphia School District

Jack Spear introduces the federal civil rights investigation findings concerning anti-Semitic behavior in Philadelphia's school district.

"The federal civil rights investigation has found the Philadelphia school district did not do enough in response to alleged anti Semitic behavior." [02:04]

Jason DeRose details the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights report, which cites inadequate responses to harassment complaints, including Nazi salutes and threats against Jewish students.

"A letter from the Department of Education also details a series of social media posts from a teacher that said Zionism is racism and that she was, quote, taking the gloves off in response to parents complaining about her." [02:16]

In response, the Philadelphia school district has committed to implementing training for faculty, staff, and administrators, alongside anti-harassment programs for students.

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4. Wall Street Sees a Rally on Positive Inflation Data

Jack Spear discusses the stock market's positive movement following better-than-expected inflation figures.

"Stocks rallied on Wall street today after better than expected inflation data." [02:57]

He notes that the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged by 498 points (over 1%), and the Nasdaq increased by 199 points, bolstered by the Federal Reserve's favored inflation metric showing only a modest rise last month.

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5. Archaeological Evidence Suggests Earlier Arrival of Ancient Peoples in the Americas

A brief segment highlights new archaeological findings indicating that ancient peoples may have arrived in the New World earlier than previously believed.

Scientists have discovered evidence from sites in South America that points to human habitation coexisting with megafauna such as mastodons, saber-toothed cats, and dire wolves. Advanced research methods have significantly expanded our understanding of these early inhabitants' lifestyles and migration patterns.

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6. College Football Playoffs Kick Off This Weekend

Becky Sullivan provides an overview of the commencement of the college football playoffs, featuring a series of high-stakes games.

"The playoffs kick off with an in state showdown between Notre Dame and Indiana, both of which one loss apiece." [03:54]

She outlines key matchups, including Texas vs. Clemson and Tennessee vs. Ohio State—two of the most anticipated games in the power conferences. Additionally, Southern Methodist will face Penn State in the early game on Saturday.

This year marks the first iteration of an expanded 12-team playoff system, allowing four conference champions to enter the second round directly. The playoff will span a full month, culminating in the crowning of the national champion.

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7. Flu Season Intensifies Across Multiple States

Jack Spear reports on the severity of the current flu season, as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Flu season is now well underway." [04:34]

The CDC notes that 13 states are experiencing high or very high levels of flu-like illnesses. While no single flu strain is dominating, health experts continue to urge vaccination, especially during the bustling holiday season, to mitigate the spread and impact of the virus.

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the December 20, 2024, episode of NPR News Now. For comprehensive coverage and further details, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full broadcast.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The House is expected to vote sometime soon on a bill that would fund the government through mid March. As NPR's Barbara Sprunt explains, it comes just hours before government funding is set to expire and after previous attempts faltered.

[Barbara Sprunt]

The funding package, which also includes disaster aid and funding for farmers, extends federal funding through mid March and is the last legislative item for the House before it heads home for the holidays. It will not include raising the debt limit, something President Elect Trump demanded earlier this week. Other GOP leaders say the debt limit will be addressed at a later time. The package will still need support from congressional Democrats in order to make it through the Senate and to President Biden's desk for signatures. A shutdown would have large impacts, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed and forcing others to work without pay, The White House warned agencies to prepare to close if Congress couldn't avert a shutdown. Barbara Sprunt, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

Federal regulators are extending temporary flight restrictions on drones to 30 locations in New York State. Latest restrictions announced today come amid a flurry of drone sightings across the Northeast that have raised concerns. Imperial NPR's Joel Rose reports.

[Joel Rose]

The Federal Aviation Administration is temporarily barring drone flights over critical infrastructure at 30 locations across New York. The move comes a day after the FAA announced similar restrictions at more than 20 locations in New Jersey. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the latest restrictions are purely precautionary and that there are no threats to any of the sites across New York City and its suburbs. Federal authorities say they've received thousands of tips from the public, but many of the objects that have been reported in the skies were actually legal drones, commercial or private planes and in some cases, stars. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

The federal civil rights investigation has found the Philadelphia school district did not do enough in response to alleged anti Semitic behavior. NPR's Jason DeRose reports. The inquiry came after numerous reports from parents and community groups.

[Jason DeRose]

The U.S. department of Education's Office of Civil Rights determined that school administrators in Philadelphia didn't adequately respond to complaints of harassment that included students allegedly performing Nazi salutes, drawing swastikas on school property and making threats against Jewish students. A letter from the Department of Education also details a series of social media posts from a teacher that said Zionism is racism and that she was, quote, taking the gloves off in response to parents complaining about her. The Philadelphia school district has agreed to, among other things, training for faculty, staff and administrators, as well as anti harassment programs for students. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Stocks rallied on Wall street today after better than expected inflation data. That includes the Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge, which rose only modestly last month. The dow was up 498 points, a gain of more than 1%. The Nasdaq rose 199 points. You're listening to NPR. There is new evidence suggesting ancient people may have arrived in the new world far earlier than thought. Archaeologists say the latest findings from sites in both South America, which seemed to suggest early people in the Americas may have spent millennia sharing prehistoric savannas and wetlands with giant beasts, including mastodons, saber toothed cats and dire wolves. Scientists say new research methods in recent years have expanded their knowledge into the story of ancient peoples. College football playoffs begin this weekend with a game tonight and three games Saturday. Notre Dame, Texas and Ohio State are all on the docket. NPR's Becky Sullivan has more.

[Becky Sullivan]

The playoffs kick off with an in state showdown between Notre Dame and Indiana, both of which 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 Ducks, 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.

[Jack Spear]

Flu season is now well underway. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says a total of 13 states last week were reporting high or very high levels of flu or flu like illness. Experts say so far there does not appear to be any dominant flu strain, but they still suggest people get vaccinated during the busy holiday times. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Carvana Representative]

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