NPR News: 12-30-2024 7AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 30, 2024, 7AM EST – Detailed Summary

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on significant national and international events in its December 30, 2024, episode. Hosted by Korva Coleman, the five-minute segment covered the passing of a former president, a tragic aviation accident, alarming trends in winter-related fatalities in the United States, severe weather events, advancements in space technology, and the death of a beloved actress. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

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1. Former President Jimmy Carter’s Passing and Legacy

Announcement of Death At [00:16], Korva Coleman reported the somber news of former President Jimmy Carter’s death. President Biden expressed his loss, stating, “he's lost a dear friend with the death of former President Jimmy Carter” (00:16). Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia, after spending over a year in hospice care.

Remembrance and Political Impact Don Gonyea provided a thoughtful remembrance of Carter’s political journey. Highlighting Carter’s unconventional path, Gonyea stated, “Few took Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter seriously when he jumped into the race for president” (00:39). Carter entered the presidential race nearly two years before the election, leveraging the public’s distrust of Washington post-Watergate. Despite facing skepticism, Carter emerged victorious in a tight general election against President Gerald Ford but was later defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980 (00:57).

State Funeral and National Mourning Coleman further informed listeners that Jimmy Carter's state funeral was scheduled for January 9th at the Washington National Cathedral (01:24). President Biden declared the day a national day of mourning, underscoring Carter’s significant impact on the nation.

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2. Tragic Passenger Jet Crash Near Seoul, South Korea

At [01:24], Coleman shifted to international news, reporting a devastating passenger jet crash south of Seoul, South Korea, which resulted in the deaths of nearly all 181 passengers aboard. Families of the victims congregated at Muon Airport, seeking solace and information.

On-the-Ground Reporting Anthony Kuhn provided live coverage, describing the scene: “Right in front of me are rows of tents to shelter the passengers” (01:51). He detailed the collective efforts of the Red Cross, church groups, and volunteers who are now focused on supporting the bereaved families and investigating the crash’s causes. With only two survivors confirmed, the priority remains aiding those affected and uncovering the accident’s circumstances (02:11).

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3. Rising Deaths Linked to Severe Cold in the United States

Study Findings Coleman reported alarming statistics on winter-related fatalities in the U.S., noting that deaths linked to deep cold nearly doubled from 2017 to 2022, despite a rise in annual temperatures (02:11).

Expert Insights Martha Biebinger from WBUR detailed the study published in JAMA, emphasizing the dual threats of extreme heat and cold in a warming atmosphere. She quoted study co-author Michael Liu: “Especially important as we move into the winter season and many, if not most of these deaths are entirely preventable as well” (02:46). The increase is attributed to factors such as a growing elderly population vulnerable to extreme cold and a rise in the number of Americans lacking stable housing (02:52).

Preventative Measures Liu highlighted the preventable nature of many of these deaths, underscoring the need for enhanced public health strategies as winter approaches.

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4. Severe Weather and SpaceX’s Starlink Satellite Launch

Stormy Weather and Tornadoes Korva Coleman reported on severe weather hitting the southern United States over the weekend, including tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi that resulted in multiple fatalities (03:10). The storms caused significant damage and disrupted communities, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather events.

SpaceX’s Achievements and Future Plans Transitioning to space news, Jeff Brumfield of NPR detailed SpaceX’s ambitious plans to launch Starlink satellites. Scheduled for after midnight Eastern Time from Florida, the launch aims to enhance internet access in remote areas (03:10). Brumfield highlighted SpaceX’s impressive 2024 performance, stating, “SpaceX conducted more than 130 launches in 2024” (03:40). These missions included deploying over 1,000 Starlink satellites, transporting astronauts to the International Space Station, executing a commercial spacewalk, and testing the largest rocket ever built. With Elon Musk’s vision of eventual Mars habitation, SpaceX is poised to dominate the commercial launch market in 2025 (03:40).

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5. Passing of Actress Linda Lavin

Announcement and Career Highlights At [04:21], Coleman announced the death of award-winning actress Linda Lavin at 87 due to complications from recently discovered lung cancer. Lavin was celebrated for her versatile roles, including her Tony Award-winning performance in Broadway Bound and two Golden Globes for her portrayal of the title character in the TV show Alice. The show, which debuted in 1976, depicted a widowed woman balancing raising a son and working as a waitress in Phoenix, resonating with many viewers.

Legacy and Tributes Lavin’s representative confirmed her passing, and while funeral services details were pending, her contributions to theater and television left a lasting legacy. Lavin's role in Alice remains one of her most beloved works, endearing her to audiences for her authentic and heartfelt performances.

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Conclusion

The December 30, 2024, episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a succinct yet comprehensive overview of pivotal events shaping the world. From honoring the legacy of a former president and mourning the loss of a cherished actress to addressing critical public health concerns and celebrating advancements in space exploration, the episode encapsulated a wide array of stories with depth and clarity. Notable quotes from key contributors enriched the narrative, offering insightful perspectives and underscoring the significance of each topic covered.

Transcript

[Jackson Financial]

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Biden says he's lost a dear friend with the death of former President Jimmy Carter. The country's 39th president died yesterday at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100, more than a year after entering hospice care. Carter was elected president in 1976 and later won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. NPR's Don Gagne has this remembrance.

[Don Gonyea]

Few took Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter seriously when he jumped into the race for president. The former peanut farmer announced his candidacy almost two years before Election Day.

[Unknown]

There was a major headline on the editorial page of the Atlanta Constitution that said Jimmy Carter is running for what.

[Don Gonyea]

Carter was an outsider capitalizing on distrust of Washington in the immediate aftermath of the Watergate scandal. After emerging from a crowded Democratic primary field, he narrowly defeated President Gerald Ford in the general election, only to lose to another Washington outsider named Ronald Reagan four years later. Don Gonyea, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Former President Carter's state funeral is scheduled for January 9th at Washington National Cathedral. President Biden has declared the day to be a national day of mourning. Investigators in South Korea are trying to learn why a passenger jet crashed yesterday south of Seoul. The accident killed nearly all of the 181 people aboard. Families of victims have come to Muon Airport. NPR's Anthony Kuhn says many are in small tents inside the departures hall.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Right in front of me are rows of tents to shelter the passengers. Families, the Red Cross, church groups, volunteer groups are all here. And now that all the people have been accounted for and it's clear that there were only two survivors, the focus is on taking care of the bereaved and digging the facts out about how this crash happened.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Anthony Kuhn reporting. Deaths in the United States that are linked to deep cold nearly doubled from 2017 to 2022. That's even as annual temperatures rose. From member station WBUR, Martha Biebinger reports on a study in the journal JAMA.

[Martha Biebinger]

The findings may be counterintuitive, but researchers say the US is seeing periods of extreme heat and cold as the atmosphere warms. Study co author Michael Liu says there's been a lot of focus on health risks linked to heat, but cold is dangerous as well, and I think that's.

[Michael Liu]

Especially important as we move into the winter season and many, if not most of these deaths are entirely preventable as well.

[Martha Biebinger]

Lou says many factors may have contributed to more deaths from cold. The population of adults aged 50 or older who are less able to withstand deep cold is rising. And at the same time, there's an increase in the number of Americans who do not have stable housing. For NPR News, I'm Martha Beebinger in Boston.

[Korva Coleman]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Stormy weather, including tornadoes, raked parts of the south over the weekend, killing several people. Tornadoes touched down in parts of Texas and Mississippi. SpaceX is planning its next launch of Starlink satellites after midnight to 9 Eastern Time from Florida. The satellites provide Internet to places where it's hard to get. NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports. SpaceX has carried out a record number of launches in 2024.

[Jeff Brumfield]

SpaceX conducted more than 130 launches in 2024. Most have been of its workhorse rocket, the Falcon 9. It's being used to deploy well over 1,000 Starlink satellites to service this year. SpaceX also ferried astronauts to and from the International Space Station, conducted the first commercial spacewalk by a billionaire, and carried out several tests of the largest rocket ever built, which the company's founder, Elon Musk, hopes will someday carry people to Mars. Next year looks just as busy. The company is expected to dominate the commercial launch market in 2025. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Award winning actress Linda Lavin has died of complic from recently discovered lung cancer. According to her representative. She was 87 years old. Lavin won a Tony Award for the play Broadway Bound. Later, she won two Golden Globes. Those were for some of her most beloved work. She played the title character on the TV show Alice. Launched in 1976, the show featured a widowed woman who raised a son and worked as a waitress in Phoenix. Lavin's funeral services have not been announced. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

[Jackson Financial]

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