NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-16-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: January 17, 2025

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Okay, so does this sound like you? You love NPR's podcasts, you wish you could get more of all your favorite shows, and you want to support NPR's mission to create a more informed public. If all that sounds appealing, then it is time to sign up for the NPR Plus bundle. Learn more at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Israel has delayed a vote on a long-awaited ceasefire deal. That vote was slated to begin today, but now is not expected to get started until sometime tomorrow. What's behind the latest delay is not entirely clear.

Those here from NPR's Greg Meier, no matter what happens, it's likely to be a lengthy process. Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier,

NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, NPR's Greg Meier, N to release 33 of the 98 hostages in Gaza. Israel will free about a thousand prisoners during this period and aid is supposed to surge into Gaza. But the hostages won't all be freed until a second phase. Some Israeli troops will remain in Gaza for many weeks to come. NPR's Greg Myre. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes

continue with dozens killed in Gaza in the past day alone. Senators are negotiating a bill that would require federal immigration enforcement to detain and deport those suspected of theft. NPR's Amanda Bastille explains the department responsible is warning of high costs. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency says implementing the bill would cost $26 billion in just its first year. In a memo to lawmakers obtained by NPR, the agency also warns that 100,000 more detention beds would be needed and more than 10,000 personnel would need to be hired.

The notice comes as senators are debating several amendments to pass the bill. House members passed the measure with bipartisan support and several Senate Democrats have been open to negotiations. Still, the current version of the bill does not provide immigration enforcement agencies with more money or people. The Senate hasn't set a final vote. Jimena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington. As the focus in Los Angeles turns to cleaning up after the fires there, many are asking what went wrong. San Piero's Lauren Sommer reports the region already has some of the toughest

wildfire policies in the country, but there are gaps. Los Angeles is no stranger to extreme wildfires. They've happened for decades. So there's a lot Los Angeles has already done. It was one of the first major cities to ban wood roofs. There are strict rules to clear vegetation around homes in risky areas, which can spread flames to a house. Homeowners get inspections and fines if they don't comply. And there

are building codes that require using fire-resistant materials for the roof and siding. But those codes have only been in effect since 2008, and much of L.A.'s housing stock is older. Experts say those homes should be retrofitted to make an entire neighborhood safer. Lauren Sommer, NPR News. Well, Giant BP says it's cutting about 5% of its workforce. The company reported to be axing 4,700 jobs along with 3,000 contractor positions. According to the Associated Press, the cuts were detailed in a memo sent to employees today by BP CEO Murray Ossengclause. On Wall Street, stocks were lower than the Dow fell 68 points.

This is NPR. Longtime baseball announcer Bob Euker, who also appeared on TV and in the movies, has died at age 90. Euker was the main voice of the Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcast for 50 years. Chuck Kernbach, a member of station WWWM in Milwaukee has this remembrance. Bob Euker played Major League Baseball for six seasons but made a long career out of downplaying his talent. Even in 2021, Euker told about being an amateur pitcher in the 1950s and having a tryout before the Milwaukee Braves pitching coach. He said, now let me see your good fastball. I said, I have been throwing my good fastball. He said, well then I recommend you get a job.

That's what he, I swear to you, that's what he told me. Uecker said he soon switched to playing catcher. Uecker's humor also landed in many appearances on The Tonight Show, TV commercials, the show Mr. Belvedere, and two Major League movies. For NPR News, I'm Chuck Quirmbach in Milwaukee. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for head of the Interior Department, former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, told lawmakers today he believes the U.S. can leverage development of fossil fuels and other energy sources to promote world peace and lower costs.

Burgum, during his confirmation hearing, also expressed concerns about the incentives for renewable energy projects under the Biden administration. The department oversees about half a billion acres of federal land in vast areas offshore. Those areas produce one-quarter of the US's oil annually. Oil prices meanwhile fell today a dollar and 36 cents a barrel to $78.68 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. This is Eric Glass. In this American life, sometimes we just show up somewhere, turn on our tape recorders, and see what happens. If you can't get seven cars in 12 days, you gotta look yourself in the mirror and say,

Holy sh-t, what are you kidding me? Like this car dealership, trying to sell its monthly quota of cars, and it is not going well. I just don't want one balloon to a car. Balloon the whole freaking place so it looks like a circus. Real life stories, every week.