NPR News: 12-22-2024 4PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 22, 2024, 4 PM EST

NPR's latest five-minute news update provides a comprehensive overview of significant global and national events. Here are the key highlights from the episode released on December 22, 2024.

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Intensifying Conflict in Gaza

Timestamp: [00:18]

NPR reporter Dwahilisa Kautao reports escalating violence in Gaza, where health officials describe facing an "unprecedented attack" by Israeli forces in the northern region of the enclave. According to the Associated Press, Palestinian authorities have confirmed that at least 20 people lost their lives in overnight assaults.

Timestamp: [00:38]

Carrie Khan elaborates on the dire situation, citing the Kamal Adman Hospital—the last operational medical facility in northern Gaza—as a critical site under siege. The hospital director condemned the attacks, stating, "the facility has been shelled by sniper fire and drones" without any prior warning or measures to protect patients and civilians. He emphasized the hospital's non-military status, noting the presence of "hundreds of patients and civilians there, including babies in the neonatal unit."

In response, the Israeli military asserted that its operations have been strictly in the surrounding areas, not within hospital premises over the past 48 hours. They justified the strikes by alleging that Hamas militants operate within civilian structures, thereby posing risks to non-combatants. The Health Ministry in Gaza reports that more than 50 Palestinians have been killed in the latest round of conflicts.

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Senator John Curtis Takes the Helm

Timestamp: [01:26]

With the retirement of Republican Senator Mitt Romney, Senator-elect John Curtis steps in to fill the vacancy. On an ABC News interview, Curtis expressed his aspirations for the incoming administration, particularly focusing on economic stability and foreign peace.

Timestamp: [01:40]

Curtis shared his supportive stance towards President-elect Donald Trump, stating, "I want to see President Elect Trump wildly successful, especially on the economy." He outlined his commitment to countering inflation and addressing border issues, adding, "I'm really there for him. I want to be helpful." However, Curtis also acknowledged the possibility of disagreements, assuring that any dissent "will be respectful and I think when I disagree with you, it will be helpful and I hope you'll listen to me."

Notably, Curtis was among the 38 GOP House members who opposed Trump during the final negotiations to avert a government shutdown, highlighting his nuanced position within the party.

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Death Penalty Trends in the United States

Timestamp: [02:02]

A new study detailed by NPR reveals that the number of executions in the United States has remained relatively stable in 2024, with a total of 25 individuals executed this year.

Timestamp: [02:23] & [02:34]

Robyn Marr, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, commented, "the death penalty was not a major political issue this year and not much has changed." Martin Kosti added that public support for the death penalty hovers at a minimal majority of 53%, marking the lowest point in five decades. Despite this, active use remains confined to a minority of states.

Timestamp: [02:46]

Marr further highlighted the localized nature of capital punishment, noting, "just four states accounted for three quarters of all executions this year," which contributes to the death penalty being "a local issue which escapes the notice of most Americans." Currently, 27 states retain the death penalty, although five have instituted gubernatorial moratoriums on executions.

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Additional Highlights

Conflict in Sudan's Refugee Camp

Timestamp: [03:05]

Recurring artillery shelling has plagued Sudan's largest refugee camp for nearly two weeks, according to local media reports. The persistent attacks have exacerbated the already fragile humanitarian conditions within the camp.

Passing of Rickey Henderson

Timestamp: [03:05]

Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Rickey Henderson, hailed as the "man of steel" and one of the sport's most legendary players. Henderson, who played for nine MLB teams between 1979 and 2003, was celebrated for his record-breaking 1,406 stolen bases and his MVP title in 1990. MLB Commissioner Rob Manford praised Henderson as "the gold standard of base stealing and leadoff hitting." He passed away just shy of his 66th birthday on Christmas Day.

Connecticut's Christmas Movie Trail

Timestamp: [03:05 -04:40]

Embracing its reputation as a favored location for holiday films, Connecticut has launched a "Christmas movie trail," a self-guided tour featuring taverns, town squares, and other iconic filming sites from various Christmas movies over the past decade. Ellen Wolf, Connecticut's brand director, described the initiative as an opportunity to "relive those special scenes from the movies right here in Connecticut," enhancing tourism and boosting the state's economy through significant revenue generated by holiday film productions.

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Legislative Update: Supporting Native American Children

Timestamp: [04:40]

In a significant move, President Biden is anticipated to sign a new bill aimed at establishing a national center dedicated to providing culturally appropriate services for Native American children. This legislation underscores the administration's commitment to addressing the unique needs of indigenous communities and ensuring the provision of tailored support systems.

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NPR News Now continues to deliver timely and in-depth news updates every five minutes. For more information, visit npr.org.

Transcript

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[Dwahilisa Kautao]

Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahilisa Kautao. Health officials in Gaza say they are under a, quote, unprecedented attack by Israeli forces in the north of the enclave. The AP reports Palestinian officials say at least 20 people were killed in overnight attacks. More from NPR's Carrie Khan.

[Carrie Khan]

The director of one of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza says the facility has been shelled by sniper fire and drones. The director of Kamal Adman Hospital says the attacks have come with no warning and no protection for patients and civilians. He insists there are no military targets or fighters within his hospital, which he says has hundreds of patients and civilians there, including babies in the neonatal unit. Israel says Hamas militants operate in hospitals and schools, endangering civilians. In a statement to npr, the Israeli military says its forces have been operating in the vicinity, but not within the hospital's premises in the past 48 hours. More than 50 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry there. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Tel Aviv, Utah.

[Dwahilisa Kautao]

Senator elect John Curtis is replacing retiring Republican Senator Mitt Romney. On ABC News this week, he explained that he wants to see President Elect Trump, quote, wildly successful, especially on the economy. But he had this message for Trump.

[John Curtis]

I'm going to be winning his back on things like inflation. I want him to bring peace around the world. I want to deal with the border situation and I'm really there for him. I want to be helpful. And Mr. President, from time to time, I'm going to disagree with you and it will be respectful and I think when I disagree with you, it will be helpful and I hope you'll listen to me.

[Dwahilisa Kautao]

Curtis was One of the 38 GOP House members who voted against Trump's demands at the tail end of negotiations to prevent a government shutdown. A new study finds that the number of executions in the US Remains about the same this year as it has been recently. And Pierce Martin Costi reports that 25 people have been put to death in 2024.

[Robyn Marr]

Robyn Marr is the executive director of the Death Penalty Information center, which just published its annual report. She says the death penalty was not a major political issue this year and not much has change.

[Martin Kosti]

Public support for the death penalty remains at a bare majority, which is 53%. That's a five decade low, but active use of the death penalty remains limited to just a minority of states.

[Robyn Marr]

Just four states accounted for three quarters of all executions this year. And Maher says that has contributed to making the death penalty a, quote, local issue which escapes the notice of most Americans. 27 states have the death penalty on the books, though five of those have paused executions by order of their governors. Martin Kosti, NPR News.

[Dwahilisa Kautao]

Sudan's largest refugee camp has been attacked by artillery shelling almost daily for two weeks. That's according to local media. You're listening to NPR News from New York. Major League Baseball's man of steel, Rickey Henderson has died. He played for nine MLB teams from 1979 to 2003, becoming the league's most valuable player in 1990, and then achieved the all time stone and bass record of 1406. MLB commissioner Rob Manford said on Saturday night he called Henderson the gold standard of bass stealing and leadoff hitting. He died just before his 66th birthday on Christmas Day. One New England State is leaning into its role as a filming location for many holiday films. Connecticut Public Radio's Chris Polanski reports on the state's new Christmas movie trail.

[Chris Polanski]

The trail is a tourism push by the state of Connecticut, a self guided tour of taverns and town squares and more. Each stop was featured in a Christmas movie filmed over the last decade. Ellen Wolf is the state's brand director.

[Ellen Wolf]

You can just pick a movie and watch it with a steaming cup of hot cocoa a la Hallmark style, and then step into the shoes of your favorite actors and relive those special scenes from the movies right here in Connecticut.

[Chris Polanski]

Wolf says the industry is a big moneymaker for Connecticut, attributing millions of dollars in revenue to holiday movie production. For NPR News, I'm Chris Polanski in Hartford. Connecticut.

[Dwahilisa Kautao]

President Biden is expected to sign into law a new bill that was passed last week aimed at creating a national center focused on culturally appropriate services for Native American children. I'm Dwahili Sai Kowtel, NPR News in New York City.

[Carvana]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to npr news now +@ +npr.org that's +npr.org.