NPR News: 09-03-2026 6PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Federal prosecutors are charging in immigrations and ICE custom enforcement officer with making false statements. There's a Christian Castro, lied to investigators about an incident in which he shot a Venezuelan man. Impires Himana Bustiel has more. The charges represent a rare moment in the Justice Department taking action against immigration officers for their actions and tactics while conducting arrests. These say he fired his weapon through a closed door and shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg. Officer Castro initially claimed under oath that he had been attacked, but surveillance footage appeared to contradict his claim. Castro also faces state-level charges in Minnesota. Federal immigration officers have been involved in more than two dozen shootings during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. NPR News Washington. More cities are ending or suspending the use of flock automatic license plate readers.

1:00In Ohio's capital city, police are investigating alleged misuse by a police officer who searched for one license plate hundreds of times. George Schilcock with Member Station WOSU has more. Columbus Police say Officer Melvin Tellus has been relieved of duty pending an investigation. Columbus used flock cameras to track a car that police say was not related to any investigation. Police declined to identify the car's owner. An internal audit didn't catch this alleged misuse despite reports around the country of some police using the cameras to stalk ex-girlfriends. Mayor Andrew Ginter, who has defended police use of the surveillance technology, says this has changed his position. What I have learned has shaken my trust. I'm angry. I'm disappointed. Ginter says he'll still fight to keep flock cameras with added safeguards. For NPR News, I'm George Schilcock in Columbus. The United Nations is warning that exceptionally warm waters in the Pacific, known as the El Nino

2:00phenomenon, are intensifying and will bring months of extreme heat, drought, and disruptive weather across the world. Ampere's Faut-Motanis has more. This year's El Nino will likely persist through February 20, 20, 27, according to the world meteorological organization, a UN agency. In a press conference today, the Secretary-General of the WMO, Celeste Sallo, said the forecast shows it will be stronger than anything the group has recorded. Many sectors like agriculture, energy, and health will be affected. The UN says it's working with many countries in the global south to prepare. Panama is implementing measures to save water, and Peru declared a state of emergency for flooding and landslides. Faut-Motanis and P.R. News. And the National Hurricane Center says three hurricanes are churning far from land in the Pacific, Karina, Marie, and Lowell. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

3:01Every year, the ignoble prizes are awarded for research that's entertaining and thought provoking. And Piers Ari Daniel says, for the first time, the ceremony took place outside the United States. Mark Abrams founded the ignoble prize in 1991. Before last year, almost every winner would find a way to travel to the ceremony from around the world. Last year of the 10 winners, we ended up with only six of them at the ceremony. Four didn't want to come to the U.S. citing safety concerns related to unpredictable immigration and visa protocols. So this year, Abrams and his team decided to hold the ceremony abroad in Switzerland. As for the prizes, the Biomechanics Award went to a team that developed a more rigorous definition of kissing. And the Physics Award was for a group that built the theory around and then prototyped a splash-free urinal. Ari Daniel and P.R. News.

4:02Mortgage rates hit their highest level in more than a year as a global bond sell-off intensified. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on a 30-year fixed rate note rose to 6.71%, a year ago the average rate was 6.5%. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in cost for borrowers, and as rates rise, that can lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying, so one reason home sales remain in a rut this year. I'm Janine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees, and free perks, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at MintMobile.com slash switch. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.