--:-- Shea Stevens: This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X Card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual Capital One travel credit, and access to airport lounges. Capital One. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. Details at CapitalOne.com.
--:-- Shea Stevens: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens.
--:-- Shea Stevens: The Israeli government has approved Phase 1 of a ceasefire deal for Gaza. In addition to freeing all hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, Israel has agreed to withdraw from parts of the territory.
--:-- Daniel Estrin: NPR's Daniel Estrin has been covering the Middle East for over a decade and says this ceasefire seems different. We've seen ceasefire efforts fall through again and again. We've seen how Hamas has fought till the last man, no matter how many civilians were killed and how much Gaza was destroyed.
--:-- Daniel Estrin: We have seen Israel's leadership thwart ceasefire efforts repeatedly. We've seen how prolonged war has served Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political survival. And yet, it is incredible for me to say this, but for the first time, people here really are giving themselves permission to hope.
--:-- Shea Stevens: One popular national park has fully reopened despite the partial government shutdown. As Pierce Gentry of member station KUOT reports, local governments near Smoky Mountains National Park have raised money to keep it fully staffed.
--:-- Pierce Gentry: Seven local governments and one non-profit in the region have partnered to commit nearly two million dollars to Great Smoky Mountains National Park to help keep staff paid and popular destinations such as Cades Cove open for visitors.
--:-- Brian McCarter: If that place is not open, the perception amongst a lot of folks is, well then Sevier County must be closed. And so we have to make sure that that opens to drive that economy.
--:-- Pierce Gentry: The National Park Service estimates the park was responsible for nearly $3 billion of investment in surrounding communities during 2024. McCarter says they can keep this up for about a month and hope to get their money back once the federal government reopens.
--:-- Shea Stevens: The Georgia election interference case against President Trump and several others could be dismissed within a matter of weeks. This comes after the disqualification of the district attorney. From member station WABE in Atlanta, Raul Bali has details.
--:-- Raul Bali: The Fulton County judge overseeing the cases against Trump and 14 others is giving the state agency in charge of appointing a replacement for District Attorney Fani Willis two weeks to do so or he dismiss the cases. That clock started Friday.
--:-- Pete Scandalakis: Agency Executive Director Pete Scandalakis in a court filing says he needs more time as he doesn't have the case file and does not expect it for a few more weeks. Even then, he wants another 90 days after that. Altogether, that could push the replacement appointment into February.
--:-- Raul Bali: Willis and her office was disqualified from the case over a romantic relationship she had with the lead prosecutor.
--:-- Shea Stevens: U.S. futures are flat and after-hours trading. This is NPR.
--:-- Shea Stevens: A new report finds that the sheriff's office in Arizona's Maricopa County misspent millions of dollars intended for compliance in a racial profiling case. It shows that $323 million has been spent so far on personnel, body cameras, an office renovation, new vehicles, and an $11,000 golf cart.
--:-- Shea Stevens: The case ended on traffic patrols launched by former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who repeatedly defied court orders to stop racially tinged immigration crackdowns. Arpaio was convicted of contempt of court but President Trump pardoned him in 2017.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: PepsiCo is shaking up its snacking business by adding protein and removing artificial ingredients. As NPR Alina Seljuk reports, PepsiCo is encouraging consumers to keep buying snacks and drinks even as they're trying to tighten their budgets.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: A large share of PepsiCo's business is actually in snacking and food, and those sales in North America are down in the latest quarter. In fact, Pepsi is facing new pressure from an activist investor to grow faster and more profitably.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: Now the company is trying to catch up to shoppers demanding cleaner labels with fewer ingredients and generally healthier options. Pepsi says it will add protein to Doritos chips and test out Cheetos and Lays without artificial colors or flavors.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: The company will also use more of the healthier oils like avocado and olive. And the CEO says fiber will be the new protein, forecasting big demand for its snacks with extra fiber.
--:-- Shea Stevens: When Asia-Pacific market shares are lowered, down nearly 2% in Hong Kong, down 1% in Tokyo. This is NPR.
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