Issues
Trump to sign order aiming to close the Education Department
The Trump administration has already moved to cut the department's staff by half.
Jury says Greenpeace owes hundreds of millions of dollars for Dakota pipeline protest
Experts say the verdict has relevance for free speech issues nationwide.
Birmingham mayor warns violators after Alabama bans gun conversion devices
The devices convert semi-automatic guns to fire like a fully automatic weapon. A bipartisan coalition pushed the Alabama legislation after several mass shootings last year, including the deaths of four people outside a Birmingham nightclub in September.
The Fed holds interest rates steady as Trump’s trade agenda sparks uncertainty
The Fed held rates steady, but left the door open to cut them later this year if inflation continues to ease. Trump's tariffs, however, could complicate efforts to bring prices under control.
Louisiana has a long history with French. This immersion school aims to keep it alive
Most Louisianans no longer speak French, but a growing number of schools are now immersing kids in it. At École Pointe-au-Chien, the focus is on teaching local French dialects first.
Data centers bring billions to Mississippi. Are the investments worth the risk?
State leaders have lauded the beginning of two new projects, but some industry experts said they come with big power demands and few permanent jobs.
Alabama lawmakers approve a ban on devices that convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns
A bipartisan coalition pushed the Alabama legislation after several multiple mass shootings last year, including the shooting deaths of four people outside a Birmingham nightclub in September. The devices are already banned under federal law, but there’s currently no state law that bans them.
Stargazing, poetry and meditation: What connects NPR readers to their spirituality
NPR readers of different belief systems share the poignant rituals that make them feel close to their spirituality. For some, it's poetry and gardening, for others, it's meditation and community.
Professional players’ group likens tennis organizers to a ‘cartel’ in its lawsuit
The antitrust lawsuit filed by the Professional Tennis Players' Association says the organizations that run the sport hold "complete control over the players' pay and working conditions."
Louisiana executes Jessie Hoffman by nitrogen gas in 1st use of death penalty in 15 years
With Hoffman’s execution, Louisiana joins Alabama as the only other state in the U.S. to use the controversial gas method on a person condemned to death.
Alabama’s celebrity weatherman pleads for the National Weather Service
With the life-saving Weather Service in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump and chainsaw-wielding billionaire Elon Musk, weather forecasters like James Spann are speaking out to defend the agency that provides the backbone for their work.
Five years out, an ER doc reflects on how he and his colleagues faced down COVID-19
In Alabama, emergency departments were overrun during the Covid-19 pandemic – the state had one of the highest rates of hospitalizations in the country. Children’s of Alabama ER doc David Bernard remembers “the first time we started to feel that maybe we wouldn't die.”
Alabama’s bench could be key to the Tide making another deep run in the NCAA tourney
With versatile point guard Mark Sears and mustachioed forward Grant Nelson, Alabama has two of the more recognizable players in the NCAA Tournament. The duo led the Crimson Tide to the Final Four last year and returned to school in hopes of delivering the program’s first national title.
Fast-er food: A productivity surge at U.S. restaurants
A new study finds that after decades of stagnation, fast-food and other restaurants finally saw a surge in productivity.
This is why Canada has plenty of eggs — and the U.S. doesn’t
While the U.S. grapples with an egg shortage caused by avian flu, eggs remain plentiful and affordable in Canada. There are reasons for that, including that egg farms there tend to be smaller.
Harvard will be free for students whose families make $100,000 or less
The expanded financial aid plan will also offer free tuition to families that make $200,000 or less. The move comes after affirmative action was barred from the admissions process.
Residents pick up the pieces after devastating storms
The three-day outbreak of severe weather across seven states, including Alabama, kicked up a devastating combination of wildfires, dust storms and tornadoes, claiming at least 42 lives since Friday.
Attorneys, advocates make last-minute bid to stop Louisiana’s execution of Jessie Hoffman
Hoffman’s execution is set for Tuesday after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a federal judge’s decision to block it earlier this month.
No. 1 seed Auburn has a roster filled with ‘underdog kids’ looking for a turnaround in NCAA play
Auburn has an unusual roster makeup for an overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and the Southeastern Conference’s regular-season champion — even in the topsy-turvy, transfer-friendly world of college sports.
Heat can age you as much as smoking, a new study finds
Exposure to heat can alter the way your DNA works, according to a new study. The effects could lead to long-term health outcomes.
How Alabama students went from last place to rising stars in math
Alabama is the only state where 4th-grade math scores are higher now than they were in 2019, before the pandemic. This is the story of how the state pulled it off.
The March Madness men’s bracket is out, and the SEC dominates with a record 14 teams
In an all-time record, 14 of the tournament's 68 teams all come from one conference — the SEC. The women's bracket will be unveiled at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Games tip off this coming week.
Pope Francis seen praying in first photo since his hospitalization a month ago
In the image published online by the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff was seated in a wheelchair and praying in the private chapel of Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
3 dead in Alabama after tornadoes pummel the South
The deaths came in Dallas and Talladega counties.
March Madness begins for NPR’s College Podcast Challenge
Our 10 finalists for the best college podcasts in the country include students from some familiar schools, and a few surprises.
A new team and a new attitude, Lewis Hamilton cruises into the 2025 Formula 1 season
Lewis Hamilton has a new team, a new outlook and a new hope. Led by the sport's most successful driver, Formula 1's closest season in recent history starts on Sunday at the Australian Grand Prix.
As enrollment in online college grows, students wonder: Why does it cost more?
Rather than lowering the price, some universities use online courses to subsidize everything else.
Turmoil rocks Columbia University as Trump administration demands changes — or else
The Trump administration delivered an ultimatum to leaders of Columbia University: Make a series of major changes or lose out on billions in federal aid.
The NWSL is adopting a tool to protect players from online abuse, commissioner says
NWSL's Jessica Berman says the league is adopting a tool to monitor and protect players from online abuse. The NWSL was scrutinized for not doing more to protect player Barbra Banda from harassment.
More Norwegian ski jumpers have been suspended due to a major cheating scandal
Team officials are accused of altering athletes' suits to enhance their aerodynamics. The suspension by International Ski and Snowboard Federation (IFS) follows last week's FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
Over 50 universities are under investigation as part of Trump’s anti-DEI crackdown
The schools under scrutiny include dozens of state schools and two Ivy Leagues. A number of private schools are also being targeted, including Georgetown, Rice, Vanderbilt, and New York University.
UW among over 50 universities under investigation as part of Trump’s anti-DEI crackdown
The schools under scrutiny include dozens of state schools, including the University of Washington, and two Ivy Leagues. A number of private schools are also being targeted.
