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Chapter 1: What donation options are available to support public media?
Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts, perks like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, and more. So start supporting what you love today at plus.npr.org.
Chapter 2: What significant legislation did Biden sign before leaving office?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. Today, in one of his final acts as president, Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law. It increases retirement payments to some 3 million beneficiaries, including public workers like teachers, firefighters, and police officers. Despite Social Security trust funds facing a looming insolvency crisis, Biden spoke from the White House.
The bill I'm signing today is about a simple proposition. Americans who have worked hard all their lives to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity.
Chapter 3: What are Biden's travel plans before his presidency ends?
Travel is also on Biden's agenda in his closing days as president. Tomorrow, he's scheduled to visit New Orleans, where he will comfort grieving community members after the New Year's Day attack. Then he heads to Los Angeles, and Thursday he goes to Rome to meet with the pope and the Italian prime minister.
Giorgio Maloney was at Mar-a-Lago this weekend visiting President-elect Trump, who is set to take over from Biden January 20th. Authorities say the man who killed 14 people in that New Year's Day attack in New Orleans visited Egypt and Canada in 2023. Then he went to New Orleans in the months before his rampage. Aidan McHale with member station WWNO has more.
Chapter 4: What details are known about the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans?
The FBI says Shamsuddin Jabbar, an army veteran from Houston, traveled to Cairo, Egypt, and Ontario, Canada. And authorities are trying to understand where he went, who he met with, and what it meant for the attack. During his two New Orleans visits last fall, Jabbar used meta-smart glasses to record his videos of the French Quarter.
Chapter 5: Who is the suspect in the New Orleans attack and what did he do?
Hours before driving his truck down Bourbon Street, Jabbar placed two remote-controlled explosive devices in the area, which he intended to detonate during the attack. Joshua Jackson is with the ATF.
So we believe that the transmitter would have functioned, but for New Orleans PD, putting him down before he could get access to that transmitter.
Chapter 6: What impact is the winter weather having on travel in the U.S.?
The FBI says, so far, their investigation has found the suspect did not have an accomplice in the U.S. or overseas. For NPR News, I'm Aidan McHale in New Orleans.
Thousands of flights into or out of the U.S. have been canceled or delayed, and roadways have become treacherous in parts. As dangerous winter weather moves from the Midwest toward the East Coast, Karen Zarr with member station WUKY has this report.
Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency on Saturday before the storm hit and urged Kentuckians to stay home except for emergency travel over the next few days. Beshear also activated Kentucky National Guard units to assist the State Transportation Department.
They're going to be in armories throughout Kentucky with heavy equipment to be ready to help in that backup or ready to help stranded motorists.
The governor also activated the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center, which went live at midnight, and price gouging laws are now in effect. For NPR News, I'm Karen Tsar in Lexington.
And you're listening to NPR News. Flu cases are up across most of the U.S. The CDC says though emergency room and doctor's visits are increasing, it's shaping up to be a pretty typical winter respiratory virus season. Norovirus outbreaks, however, are spiking. The CDC says they are exceeding numbers seen in recent years, even pre-pandemic. The fast-moving virus can present as a stomach bug.
Handwashing is recommended to limit spread. Young children and older adults are most at risk from severe dehydration. The Golden Globe Awards are being presented tonight in Los Angeles, and Pierre's Mandelit Del Barco reports the film leading nominations could make transgender history.
The Spanish-language musical and drama Emilia Perez is the story of a Mexican drug cartel leader transitioning as a woman. It's up for 10 Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, Best Director for Jacques Galliard, and Best Original Score.
I'm Emilia Perez, a Mexican woman, a woman like the
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