NPR News: 12-21-2024 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 21, 2024, 9 PM EST Summary

Released on December 22, 2024

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Tragic Attack at Magdeburg Christmas Market

In a heartbreaking incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, a man intentionally drove his BMW into the crowd, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and injuring more than forty others. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the nation from the scene, emphasizing the importance of unity in the face of tragedy. Chancellor Scholz stated, “It is not hatred that determines our togetherness, but that we are a community which wants to win the future” [00:37]. Authorities quickly identified and arrested the suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist with residency in Germany. Reports indicate that the attacker, formerly a Muslim, was critical of German authorities, accusing them of failing to combat Islamism in Europe [00:37].

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Madison Students Protest Gun Laws After School Shooting

In the wake of a devastating school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, students staged a walkout from their classrooms to protest existing gun laws. The demonstration, which took place on the snowy streets leading to the state Capitol, featured speeches urging lawmakers to address gun violence and mental health issues. Among the protesters was Abby Johns, a sophomore whose father, Jason Johns, shared the profound impact of the tragedy on their family. He expressed, “It's been tough seeing your 15-year-old daughter so innocent be affected by something like this” [01:35]. The Johns family is currently focusing on healing while considering whether Abby will return to the school [01:35].

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Holiday Travel May Face Winter Weather Challenges

As the busy holiday travel season kicks off, millions are preparing to hit the roads and skies. However, winter weather could disrupt some travel plans. NPR's Eva Pukach reported that while the northeastern U.S. experienced several inches of snowfall over the weekend, meteorologist Frick Pereira from the National Weather Service does not anticipate widespread inclement weather for the holiday week. Pereira noted, “There will be some localized areas where travel may be a little bit more difficult” [02:44]. Specifically, the Pacific Northwest may see mountain snow and lower elevation rain, potentially slowing travel in that region [02:44]. Meanwhile, the East Coast, currently facing some of the coldest temperatures of the season, can expect temperatures to gradually rise as Christmas approaches [02:59].

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Baseball Legend Rickey Henderson Passes Away

The baseball world mourns the loss of Rickey Henderson, the all-time leader in stolen bases in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Henderson, a World Series champion and an Oakland Athletics legend, died at the age of 65. He was renowned for his exceptional speed and power, contributing significantly during his 14 seasons with the A's over a 25-year career [03:34]. His wife, Pamela Henderson, confirmed his passing in a statement released by the Athletics [03:34]. Billy Beane, the former Oakland Athletics general manager, lauded Henderson as “the greatest Oakland A of all time” and praised his immeasurable impact on the team, the city of Oakland, and the sport of baseball [03:34]. Henderson also held records for most leadoff home runs and most runs scored, highlighting his enduring legacy in the sport [03:34].

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FDA Approves Zepbound for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the weight loss drug Zepbound for treating obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity and moderate to severe cases. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing difficulties. The FDA recommends that Zepbound be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity [04:14]. This approval follows the March approval of Wegovy, another weight loss medication from Novo Nordisk, which is used to reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular issues in overweight patients [04:14].

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For more detailed updates, listen to the full episode of NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the Christmas market in eastern Germany where a man drove his car into the crowd last night, killing at least five people and injuring more than Terry Schultz reports. The alleged attacker is a Saudi doctor who has residency in Germany.

[Terry Schultz]

Mourners are leaving flowers and candles at a church near the Christmas market in Magdeburg, where a man plowed his BMW into shoppers visiting the scene. Chancellor Scholz said nearly 40 of those injured are very seriously hurt. He urged Germans not to let this incident divide them, that we stick together and remain united. He said that it is not hatred that determines our togetherness, but that we are a community which wants to win the future. German media have identified the driver who was immediately arrested as a 50 year old Saudi psychiatrist. His social media account indicates he's a former Muslim critical of German authorities for what he said was a failure to combat the Islamism of Europe. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Students in Madison, Wisconsin, walked out of their classrooms yesterday protesting gun laws days after a deadly school shooting there. Wisconsin Public Radio's Anya Van Wagtendonk has more.

[Anya Van Wagtendonk]

The young protesters marched down snowy streets to the state Capitol there. Some gave speeches calling on lawmakers to address gun violence and mental health needs. In the crowd was Abby Johns. She's a sophomore at Abundant Life Christian School, where earlier this week a student killed two people. Her dad, Jason Johns, stood nearby. It's been tough seeing your 15 year old daughter so innocent be affected by something like this, he said. His family is focused on healing, but they're still figuring out whether Abby will go back to that school building. For NPR News, I'm Ana Van Wagtendonk in Madison.

[Jeanine Herbst]

It's the busy holiday travel season with millions of people expected to hit the roads and the skies. But as NPR's Eva Pukhetch reports, winter weather could hamper those travel plans.

[Eva Pukach]

Some areas in the northeastern US Saw several inches of snowfall this weekend as a storm system moved across the region. But for the holiday week, Frick Pereira, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says they aren't forecasting widespread inclement weather.

[Frick Pereira]

There will be some localized areas where travel may be a little bit more difficult. We're looking at the potential for mountain snow and lower elevation rain across portions of the Pacific Northwest over the next several days, and that would certainly slow travelers down across that area.

[Eva Pukach]

And while the east coast is experiencing some of the coldest temperatures of the season, Pereira says temperatures will gradually start to rise as Christmas approaches. Eva Pukach, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Rickey Henderson, a World Series champion who holds the all time record for the most stolen bases in major leagues baseball history, has died at the age of 65. From member station KQED in San Francisco, Joseph Jiha has more.

[Joseph Jeeha]

An Oakland legend who played parts of 14 seasons with the A's in a 25 year career, Henderson was known most for his rare and exciting combination of speed and power. His wife, Pamela Henderson, confirmed his death in a statement issued Saturday through the A's. In addition to the stolen base title, Henderson had many other career records that have stood for decades, including most leadoff home runs and most runs scored. Billy Beane, the famed longtime former Oakland Athletics general manager, said in a statement that Henderson was the greatest Oakland A of all time and that his impact on the A's, on Oakland and on baseball is immeasurable. For NPR News, I'm Joseph Jeeha.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Federal health regulators have approved the weight loss drug Zepbound to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The FDA says it's authorized for adults with obesity and moderate to severe sleep apnea. That happens when a person's upper airway becomes blocked, causing them to struggle to breathe properly as they sleep. It can affect anyone, but it's more common in those who are overweight. The FDA says the drug should be used in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise. Last March, the FDA approved Wegovy, a weight loss drug from Norvo Nordisk, to be used to reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems in patients who are overweight. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News.

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