"Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright.
President Trump says he's not in any hurry, when it comes to making a deal with Iran.
“His comments come after he ordered the Navy to quote "shoot and kill any boat, trying”
to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz," and PR's Jackie Dorthum reports. President Trump says he has ordered US minesweepers to begin clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a slow and dangerous process that could take months to complete. The threat of mines in the Strait in attacks and ship seizures by Iran is forcing many vessels to stay put.
That's preventing oil and commodity such as helium, fertilizer, and aluminum all critical
elements for industry farming in the like from moving through the Gulf. That's causing shortages and driving up prices. President Trump has extended an indefinite ceasefire with Iran, but that hasn't stopped the Bellico statements from both sides in the conflict. Jackie Northam in PR News President Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend
their ceasefire for three weeks. The two sides met at the White House yesterday. Israel and Hezbollah militants have been trading attacks.
“Wildfires are burning in southern Georgia and northern Florida.”
Many people have lost their homes at this point, and mandatory evacuations are underway in areas most under threat.
Emily Jones with Member Station W.A.B.E has been covering one fire that's destroyed about
90 homes. People are pretty shaken. They're not used to dealing with wildfires here. They've seen hurricanes, but not fires like the ones we see now. So this is a community near Brunswick.
It's a pretty rural area, though. There's lots of forest land. And the evacuation orders are popping up really suddenly because the fire is changing direction suddenly with the wind. Rainfall in Georgia is at a record low.
The National Weather Service says it'll stay dry and windy.
“Governor Brian Kemple tore the damage and meet with first responders today in Florida”
more than 130 wildfires are burning. Damage assessments are underway in and around Enid Oklahoma after tornadoes moved through the area last night. Enid is about 100 miles north of Oklahoma City. No deaths are reported, but at least 10 people were hurt.
Logan laden with Member Station KGOU reports. The National Weather Service says a large violent tornado moved through southeast Enid Oklahoma near Vance Air Force Base. Only minor damage was reported at the base and no injuries. But just to the east, a neighborhood suffered heavy damage, with some homes destroyed.
Another large tornado touched down near Brayman, just south of the Kansas border. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued a statement saying he would work with local leaders to assess damage and get resources to people in the local community. The threat of severe weather is forecast to extend through the weekend from Oklahoma to Minnesota.
Logan laden reporting it's NPR. A soldier with the US Army special forces who was involved in the January raid to capture Venezuela's president has been charged by the Justice Department. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, prosecutors say the Army Master Sergeant profited on the prediction market from the operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Nicolas Maduro.
Prosecutors have unsealed an indictment against Ganon Ken Van Dyke, a US special forces soldier who helped plan and carry out the arrest of Maduro. Under the username, burdened some mix, Van Dyke allegedly placed $32,000 in bets on Polymarket that Maduro would soon be out of power. Those wagers netted him more than $400,000 in profit.
The market is in overseas unregulated exchange where traders are anonymous and bet with cryptocurrency, but federal investigators worked with Polymarket to identify Van Dyke.
He's the first person criminally charged in the US over trades on prediction markets, which
have seen massive growth in Trump's second term. Donald Trump Jr. is an investor and advisor to Polymarket, Bobby Allen and PR News. Atlanta will soon welcome two new giant pandas from China. Zuitlana officials say they can't wait to meet male ping ping and female fushuang and a move of panda diplomacy.
The zoo in China's wildlife conservation association recently signed a new conservation agreement to bring pandas back to Atlanta. The zoo had to return its panda family in 2024 when their previous pact with China expired. In premarket trading on Wall Street, Dow futures are down about 28 points. I'm Kristen Wright and PR News from Washington.
Support for NP. Every episode of NPR's It's Been A Minute Podcast starts with a question about how culture shapes our lives, how we spending too much on other people's weddings, the social media bad for your mental health, we're here for your right to be curious. One big question at a time.
