--:-- Giles Snyder: This message comes from Dataiku. Companies can struggle to turn data into real AI apps. Dataiku makes it easy with low-code tools so anyone can build and scale AI. Visit dataiku.com slash NPR.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder.
--:-- Giles Snyder: As investigators in Tennessee work to determine what caused yesterday's explosion that leveled a munitions plant southwest of Nashville, at least 18 people remain missing. The Humphreys County Sheriff is calling the scene one of the worst he's ever seen.
--:-- Caroline Eggers: I spoke with Tennessee State Representative Jody Barrett about the effect on the community. Barrett says his community has faced multiple disasters in his lifetime.
--:-- Jody Barrett: A gas pipeline explosion, a deadly flood, and now a factory explosion. This county has dealt with a lot of tragic loss like this, more than their fair share.
--:-- Jody Barrett: Four years ago, the community was struck by Tennessee's heaviest recorded single-day rainfall. A flood killed 20 people in the town of Waverly, just a short distance from the explosives plant.
--:-- Jody Barrett: He says the sheriff and deputies responding to this latest incident also managed the flood and are probably still struggling with some of the PTSD of dealing with pulling bodies out of trees.
--:-- Jody Barrett: Barrett says the explosion will leave another mark on the community.
--:-- Caroline Eggers: For NPR News, I'm Caroline Eggers in Nashville.
--:-- Giles Snyder: The Trump administration is firing more federal workers as the government remains shut down.
--:-- Russ Volt: Budget Director Russ Volt posted on social media Friday that the process has begun.
--:-- Russ Volt: And later in the day, the administration said in a court filing that more than 4,000 have received layoff notices.
--:-- Selena Simmons-Duffin: NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports one of the targets is the Department of Health and Human Services.
--:-- Selena Simmons-Duffin: HHS encompasses all the federal health agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes for Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
--:-- Andrew Nixon: Spokesperson Andrew Nixon did not say how many staff were being fired or which agencies were being affected.
--:-- Andrew Nixon: He said the department had grown bloated during the Biden administration, and the cuts are the, quote, consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown.
--:-- Selena Simmons-Duffin: However, because of the firings and retirements earlier this year, HHS was already smaller than it was under President Biden before this latest round of layoffs.
--:-- Selena Simmons-Duffin: NPR News, Washington.
--:-- Giles Snyder: At the White House, President Trump was asked about the shutdown layoffs.
--:-- Donald Trump: He blamed Democrats and called the job cuts Democrat on the Middle East.
--:-- Donald Trump: Trump said he believes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will hold.
--:-- Donald Trump: They were all tired of fighting and this really gives the whole Middle East this is beyond Gaza Gaza is very important but this is beyond Gaza This is peace in the Middle East, and it is a beautiful thing.
--:-- Donald Trump: The questions still loom over the deal, and Trump acknowledged that details still need to be worked out, including how Gaza will be governed and whether Hamas will disarm.
--:-- Donald Trump: As thousands of Palestinians return to devastated northern Gaza, Trump is expected to visit the region on Monday.
--:-- Donald Trump: He is to address Israel's parliament and to meet with leaders in Cairo.
--:-- Giles Snyder: You're listening to NPR News.
--:-- Giles Snyder: North Korea held a massive military parade last night celebrating the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.
--:-- Giles Snyder: The parade showcased military weapons, including a new intercontinental ballistic missile.
--:-- Giles Snyder: North Korean state media said the missile has yet to be tested, but described it as the country's most powerful nuclear strategic weapons system.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Voters in New Orleans heading to the polls today to elect a new mayor.
--:-- Matt Bloom: As NPR's Matt Bloom reports, the race has a rather wide field of candidates competing to lead the city.
--:-- Matt Bloom: More than 10 candidates are in the race to replace the city's current Democratic mayor Latoya Cantrell who is term-limited and faces federal corruption charges for allegedly trying to cover up a romantic relationship with her bodyguard.
--:-- Matt Bloom: New Orleans has drawn the national spotlight this year for a major jailbreak and is one of several Democratic-run cities where President Trump has suggested he wants to deploy National Guard troops to fight crime.
--:-- Matt Bloom: Millions of dollars have poured into the race.
--:-- Matt Bloom: It's one of several major U.S. cities, including New York and Detroit, that will elect new mayors this fall.
--:-- Giles Snyder: The East Coast is preparing for what looks to be the season's first nor'easter.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Forecasters expect the storm to move up the coast this weekend.
--:-- Giles Snyder: They're warning of major coastal flooding on the shores of Delaware and New Jersey.
--:-- Giles Snyder: On the opposite side of the country, forecasters are warning about the remnants of Tropical Storm Priscilla.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Flood watches are up for much of Arizona, plus parts of Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.
--:-- Giles Snyder: I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.
--:-- [Support for this podcast comes from Dignity Memorial. For many families, remembering loved ones means honoring the details that made them unique. Dignity Memorial is dedicated to professionalism and compassion in every detail of a life celebration. Find a provider near you at DignityMemorial.com.]
