NPR News: 12-24-2024 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 24, 2024, 10 AM EST

On this festive morning, NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive roundup of the latest developments across various sectors, from aviation and politics to space exploration and local community efforts. Hosted by Korva Coleman, the episode navigates through significant events with insightful coverage and expert commentary.

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American Airlines Resumes Operations After Technical Glitch

Timestamp: [00:19]

American Airlines experienced a nationwide ground stop earlier today, halting all flights for approximately one hour during one of the busiest travel days of the year. The issue, described by the airline as a "vendor technology issue," primarily stemmed from a software malfunction affecting weight and balance calculations essential for flight planning.

Joel Rose of NPR explains:
"Passengers on social media reported that boarding stopped and some planes had to return to their gates."
[00:34]

The brief outage led to significant delays, particularly impacting flights at major hubs in Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, and other key airports. American Airlines has since lifted the ground stop and issued an apology for the inconvenience caused. However, the repercussions of the delay are expected to persist, potentially affecting hundreds of flights throughout the day.

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House Ethics Committee Releases Report on Former Congressman Matt Gaetz

Timestamp: [01:15]

The House Ethics Committee has unveiled a report detailing serious allegations against former Congressman Matt Gaetz. The report alleges that Gaetz engaged in prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, and other misconduct during his tenure. Despite the gravity of these claims, Gaetz has vehemently denied all allegations, asserting his status as a private citizen and questioning the appropriateness of the report's release.

Maryland Democratic Congressman Glenn Ivey, a committee member, states:
"There's at least four instances where the House Ethics Committee has released a report after a member has left service, either by resignation or retirement or some other means. And so there's certainly a precedent for it."
[01:54]

This revelation comes amidst Gaetz's previous appointment as President Trump’s first choice for U.S. Attorney General, a nomination he later withdrew from. The ongoing political ramifications of this report are being closely watched by both supporters and detractors.

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NASA's Parker Solar Probe Achieves Historic Solar Approach

Timestamp: [02:08]

NASA announced that its Parker Solar Probe has made its closest approach to the sun, marking a historic milestone in space exploration. At its closest point, the probe is merely 3.8 million miles from the sun's surface—a distance no other spacecraft has reached before.

Jeff Brumfield of NPR reports:
"The Parker probe's mission is to understand how heat flows from the sun's surface to its atmosphere, known as the solar corona. Ultimately, researchers believe they could use that data to better forecast outbursts of particles from the sun, which can disrupt satellites closer to Earth."
[02:21]

Despite enduring temperatures exceeding a million degrees Fahrenheit, the probe remains operational thanks to its specially designed heat shield. This mission aims to provide unprecedented insights into solar behavior, potentially enhancing our ability to predict and mitigate solar-induced disruptions on Earth.

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Health Update on Former President Bill Clinton and Legal Developments

Timestamp: [03:00]

In health news, a spokesperson for former President Bill Clinton announced that the 78-year-old ex-president has been hospitalized in Washington, D.C., after developing a fever. While Clinton is undergoing tests and being monitored, the spokesperson assured that he remains in good spirits.

Additionally, legal proceedings have seen a significant development as a federal judge has postponed the trial of Ryan Ruth, the Florida man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Trump at a golf course earlier this year. The trial has been rescheduled to September next year, leaving the community awaiting justice.

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Vermont Community Mobilizes to Save Historic General Store

Timestamp: [03:44]

In Stratford, Vermont, residents are rallying together to preserve their beloved Coburn's General Store, a community staple for 47 years run by Melvin and Sue Coburn. Faced with the owners' impending retirement, the store is at risk of closure due to the demanding nature of the business.

Melvin Coburn shares:
"You're talking 12, 13 hour day total, you know, six days a week. It adds up after a while. But even at 80 years old, I, I don't mind it really, because it's something I love."
[04:03]

To ensure the store's future, the community has launched a nonprofit initiative aiming to raise $1.8 million to purchase the property and fund necessary repairs. The effort has gained momentum with early support from notable figures like Grammy-nominated musician Noah Kahn, also from Stratford. The initiative reflects a growing trend in New England towns to preserve local heritage through collective action.

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Severe Storms Batter California Coast

Timestamp: [04:32]

California's coastline has been battered by a series of powerful storms, bringing fierce winds and towering waves. Tragically, one man lost his life on a beach south of San Francisco after being trapped by debris, while another individual remains missing after being pulled into the ocean. In Santa Cruz, the relentless waves caused significant damage to the wharf, though emergency responders successfully rescued three individuals who fell into the water.

Korva Coleman reports the ongoing impact of these storms, highlighting the urgent need for safety and resilience in coastal communities facing extreme weather events.

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Conclusion

Today's episode of NPR News Now encapsulates a broad spectrum of stories, from technological setbacks in aviation and high-stakes political scandals to groundbreaking scientific achievements and heartfelt community endeavors. Each segment is delivered with clarity and depth, ensuring listeners are well-informed about the critical issues shaping our world.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Korva Coleman. American Airlines has resumed operations after grounding all flights earlier this morning. NPR's Joel Rose reports the airline suffered what it's calling a technical issue on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

[Joel Rose]

American Airlines says the nationwide ground stop has been lifted after halting all of the carriers flights for about an hour. Passengers on social media reported that boarding stopped and some planes had to return to their gates. In a statement, American blamed the problem on a, quote, vendor technology issue and apologized to customers for the inconvenience. The airline's pilots told passengers the outage was related to a software issue affecting calculations of weight and balance issues. The brief outage also affected flight planning. Hundreds of flights were delayed, particularly at airports in Charlotte, Dallas, Miami and other American Airlines hubs. And those delays could ripple across the country for the rest of the day. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

There's reaction coming into the House Ethics Committee's report on allegations about former Congressman Matt Gaetz's behavior. He was President Elect Trump's first CH for US Attorney general but withdrew his name. The Ethics committee report says it has evidence showing Gaetz allegedly engaged in prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use and other allegations. Gates has denied this. He says he is now a private citizen and the ethics report should never have been released. Maryland Democratic Congressman Glenn Ivey is a member of the Ethics Committee and says such reports have previously been released in similar circumstances.

[Glenn Ivey]

But there's at least four instances where the House Ethics Committee has released a report after a member has left service, either by resignation or retirement or some other means. And so there's certainly a precedent for it.

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. NASA says its specially designed space probe is making its closest approach to the sun this morning. NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports. No other spacecraft has ever done this.

[Jeff Brumfield]

It's called the Parker Solar Probe, and at its closest point, it's just 3.8 million miles from the surface of the sun. That may sound far away, but even at those distances, the probe experiences temperatures of more than a million degrees Fahrenheit. It can do it thanks to a specially designed heat shield that keeps its scientific instruments cool. The Parker probe's mission is to understand how heat flows from the sun's surface to its atmosphere, known as the solar corona. Ultimately, researchers believe they could use that data to better forecast out outbursts of particles from the sun, which can disrupt satellites closer to Earth. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

A spokesman for former President Bill Clinton says he is hospitalized in Washington, D.C. after developing a fever. The spokesman says the 78 year old former president has gotten some tests and is being observed, but that Clinton is in good spirits. This is n A federal judge has delayed the trial against a Florida man accused of trying to assassinate President elect Trump at a golf course earlier this year. News reports say the trial for Ryan Ruth has been pushed to next September. Residents of one small town in Vermont say they're establishing a non profit in an effort to save their local general store. As Michaela LaFrac with Vermont Public reports, it's a path taken by other towns.

[Mikayla LeFrac]

In many New England towns, the local general store is a community hub. But running a store means long hours and small margins. Melvin and Sue Coburn have run Coburn's General Store in strafford, Vermont, for 47 years. Melvin says they're ready to retire.

[Melvin Coburn]

You're talking 12, 13 hour day total, you know, six days a week. It adds up after a while. But even at 80 years old, I, I don't mind it really, because it's something I love.

[Mikayla LeFrac]

A group of locals is trying to raise $1.8 million to buy the store and pay for repairs. They're well on their way. The Grammy nominated musician Noah Kahn, who grew up in Stratford, was one of the first people to donate. For NPR news, I'm Mikayla LeFrac in Stratford, Vermont.

[Korva Coleman]

Forecasters say several storms with powerful winds and waves have been hitting the California coast. A man was killed on the beach south of San Francisco after he was trapped by debris in a separate incident. Another man is missing after he was pulled into the ocean. Separately, waves wrecked the wharf in Santa Cruz, California. Three people who fell into the water were safely rescued. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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