Issues
Park Fire in California could continue growing exponentially, Cal Fire officer says
Cal Fire has confirmed that over a hundred structures have been damaged in the Park Fire, which grew overnight near Chico, Calif. Difficult firefighting conditions are forecast through Friday night.
Tahiti’s waves are a matter of ‘life and death’ for surfing Olympics
Tahiti's Teahupo'o wave has a slew of riders for the Paris 2024 Olympics. NPR finds out why it's called one of the most dangerous waves.
A spectacular opening ceremony wowed a global audience despite Paris’ on-and-off rain
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony wowed Parisians, fans and most everyone who was able to catch a glimpse of thousands of athletes floating down the Seine to officially begin the Games.
Ashleigh Johnson is a water polo veteran. Now, she’s learning how to be a role model
Ashleigh Johnson is one of the best water polo goalkeepers in the world. NPR's Juana Summers talks to her about her barrier-breaking role in the sport and her expectations for her third Olympic games.
Utah gets the Winter Olympics again
Utah will host the 2034 winter Olympics, an honor it first had in 2002. The announcement came on the same day the state celebrates its founding by Mormon leader Brigham Young. There are critics and memories of a 2002 bribery scandal.
A preview of tomorrow’s unique opening of the Paris Summer Olympic Games
The Olympic games begin Friday. For the first time in the modern era, the opening ceremony won't be in a stadium. The Games will kick off with a parade through Paris in boats along the river Seine.
U.S. gets its first big economic report card after Biden drops his campaign
The health of the economy always looms large for voters. So the report should be great news for President Biden and Vice President Harris. But the reality is, a lot of Americans aren’t feeling it.
In Mississippi, student filmmakers tell Emmett Till’s story through their lenses
The Mississippi Delta Film Academy's program helps local students reimagine Till's tragic story and deepen their understanding of their region.
Sticker shock: How the supermarket has become a potent symbol of inflation in America
Grocery prices are stabilizing, but many Americans still feel a financial sting at the grocery checkout aisle.
California’s newest state park is like a time machine
In the Central Valley, California’s first new state park in a decade opened this summer and it re-imagines what a state park can be.
A cold front is bringing some relief to the Northwest — but also wind
The Northwest has been suffering record-setting heat. A cold front is supposed to move in, but with it comes high winds and dry thunderstorms in forests that have been cooked tinder dry.
Tennis player Coco Gauff is named as USA flag bearer for Olympics
Coco Gauff the 23-year-old tennis player seemed floored today when she learned she'll be the first tennis player to have the honor of being flag bearer for the American team at the Paris Olympics.
This free training aims to address the Gulf South’s shortage of sexual assault nurses
The week-long, free program gives medical professionals tools to provide trauma-informed care — and potentially help with prosecutions.
Olympic officials try to crush U.S. probes of China doping, threaten Salt Lake Games
The U.S. wants changes to the World Anti-Doping Agency after a Chinese drug scandal. Olympic officials threatened to block Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2034 Games if the U.S. criticism persists.
Longtime running buddies are poised to compete in the streets of Paris
NPR's Juana Summers talks with US men's marathoners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young about the challenges of the Paris marathon, and their longtime friendship on and off the running course.
A scientist in Belize hopes bats can galvanize locals to protect their forests
A Belizean bat scientist is looking to these fuzzy, flying mammals to act as emissaries to galvanize the people of Belize to protect their forests.
The Paris Olympics have almost arrived. Here’s what to watch for
The Paris Olympics kick off this week. NPR's Becky Sullivan and Brian Mann preview the U.S. athletes and sports to watch, and share why this year's opening ceremony will be different than ever before.
The UAW’s union dreams seemed unstoppable. Then came the realities of the South
After a historic victory in Tennessee, the United Auto Workers southern campaign is still recovering from a big rejection in Alabama. How will it recover?
Thousands of Dollar General stores now sell fresh produce. Could it improve rural food access?
The discount store chain has added fresh fruits and vegetables at more than 5,400 stores. Grocery store advocates say the move could hurt mom-and-pop grocers.
Q&A: Prison reform advocate Terrance Winn on gun violence in Shreveport, Louisiana
Winn sat down with the Gulf States Newsroom's Kat Stromquist to discuss what causes Shreveport to struggle with shootings, and what could help.
Should heat waves get names like hurricanes? Some believe it could help save lives
As heat waves and heat domes become more intense, the idea of naming extreme heat as we do with other major disasters is gaining traction with some experts.
Gun violence and incarceration issues go ‘hand in hand’ in this Louisiana city, residents say
Some residents say Shreveport’s history of mass incarceration has changed their community — and their families.
Price increases? Job losses? How will UAB’s acquisition of St. Vincent’s impact local health care?
The president of Alabama’s hospital association says the acquisition will help maintain access to care, but some economists predict the move will lead to job cuts and higher health care costs.
In the fight against gun violence, this Gulf South city is searching for ways to save lives
As violent crime slows down across the South, Shreveport, Louisiana, is reckoning with the aftermath of an unusually deadly 2023.
UAB to acquire Ascension St. Vincent’s for $450 million
Under the agreement, UAB will assume control of all Ascension St. Vincent's hospitals and providers in Alabama.
Q&A: Ruth Leitman on filming The Pink House, the frontline in the fight for abortion rights
Leitman filmed the Jackson, Mississippi, clinic at the center of the SCOTUS decision on abortion rights for seven years for her documentary, "No One Asked You."
‘This ain’t the same sun’: Extreme heat is changing summertime for kids in the South
Driven by climate change, extreme temperatures are forcing parents and camp counselors to change their summer routines to keep kids safe.
In Northeast Mississippi, Black cowboys celebrated Juneteenth with a horse show
More than 100 people attended the inaugural show, hosted by A Step Above Horse Riding Club in the farming community of Pontotoc, to celebrate the holiday.
As dollar stores continue rural expansion, a Louisiana parish found a new way to push back
Tangipahoa Parish blocked a new Dollar General from opening in a case that could set a precedent for other communities looking to keep discount retailers out.
A family’s search for their native and formerly enslaved heritage in South Alabama
The Tate Family has spent nearly two decades uncovering records that establish their ancestors' time in Alabama before its statehood.
Jon Batiste reflects on the South’s musical history: ‘I’m rooted in something bigger than me’
Before a recent concert in Birmingham, the Grammy-winning jazz pianist took time to learn more about the city’s history and influence on American music.
Gulf South sees record ACA Marketplace enrollment, driven by enhanced subsidies
A new report finds that the South leads the U.S. in increased ACA Marketplace enrollment — especially in states that have not expanded Medicaid.
