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Chapter 1: What recent developments have occurred in the Strait of Hormuz?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Iran's Revolutionary Guard says the possibility of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be provided, according to new procedures. But it did not specify what those procedures are. This comes after President Trump halted a short-lived U.S. military operation to take control of the Strait from Iran. NPR's Aya Batraoui reports.
The operation called Project Freedom began Monday, but not before several Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats were sunken. Iran then fired at the U.S. Navy and launched missiles at neighbor the United Arab Emirates, threatening a month-long ceasefire. Defense Secretary Pete Hexa said on Tuesday the operation was, quote, a gift from the U.S. to the world to secure commercial shipping.
But later that day, Trump declared the operation paused. He cited, quote, great progress toward a final deal with Iran, but said a blockade on Iranian ports remains in place. Ending that blockade is a key Iranian demand. Aya Batraoui, NPR News, Dubai.
The war in Iran has triggered higher gas prices. AAA says the average national cost for a gallon of regular is now $4.54. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has announced an emergency order. It will lower the state's gas tax as fuel prices rise. From member station WEKU, Shepard Snyder has more.
Gas prices in Kentucky have risen above $4 per gallon, with some Cincinnati suburbs seeing prices approaching $5 per gallon. States like Indiana and Georgia, both led by Republican governors, have suspended their own gas taxes in response to the increasing cost of fuel. Governor Beshear, a Democrat, is following the same strategy in Kentucky. The price of gas isn't partisan.
It's not Democrat or Republican. It's just too high. He expects the tax cut to take effect next week. Once it's approved, it would cut taxes by 10 cents per gallon for the next month. For NPR News, I'm Shepard Snyder in Lexington, Kentucky.
The one Democrat on the Federal Communications Commission is calling for a review of the ownership interests in the proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. She is questioning the foreign investments. And Piers Mandelit del Barco reports.
Paramount Skydance holds broadcast licenses for CBS and needs the FCC to sign off on its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN and HBO. David Ellison's company recently filed papers asking the FCC to permit foreign investors to hold more than 25% of its equity and voting interests.
According to those documents, the investors include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. But FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez says there are serious unresolved questions about those investments that she says could jeopardize national security.
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Chapter 2: How are rising gas prices affecting states like Kentucky?
The survey was conducted in mid-April and included 1,300 people. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News.
And I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.
On NPR's Wildcard podcast, Julio Torres says he doesn't need to prove himself to anyone.
When someone makes me feel like I have to prove something to them, I just walk away.
Really?
I'm like, seek help.
Watch or listen to that Wildcard conversation on the NPR app or on YouTube at NPR Wildcard.
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