Issues
More states are allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees
Diminishing access to four-year universities and majors has been holding rural students back. Community colleges say they can bridge the gap.
U.S. and Chinese officials will meet in Geneva in first sign of thaw in trade war
The superpowers have been locked in a geopolitical blinking contest, waiting for the other side to reach out. The talks in Switzerland are the first concrete sign of a potential thaw in the deadlock.
Why oil prices are falling, and what it means for the economy
Between tariffs roiling the global economy and OPEC putting more barrels on the market, prices have dropped significantly since January. That's good for consumers, and bad for oil companies.
Birmingham fights against losing control of its water board, citing racial discrimination
Birmingham city officials sued the Alabama governor on Tuesday in an effort to halt the codification of bill that would strip the city of control over the state’s largest water board, alleging the move “constitutes blatant racial discrimination.”
Syrian Druze recall what they believe to be past lives — even vivid details
In Syria's large Druze minority, a belief in reincarnation binds the community together.
The conclave to choose a new pope is about to begin
As more than a billion Catholics around the world await the election of a new pope, all eyes will be on the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals will begin the secretive process known as a conclave.
Brutality and humanity at the Angola Prison Rodeo in Louisiana
While the event has been criticized for its controversial and dangerous events, it also offers a chance for participants to connect to the outside world.
Most Americans use federal science information on a weekly basis, a new poll finds
Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.
States sue Trump administration for blocking the development of wind energy
Attorneys general from 17 states and D.C. are challenging an executive order Trump signed on his first day in office pausing approvals, permits and loans for all wind energy projects.
International students in Alabama fearful after researcher with no political ties is detained
Alireza Doroudi has been detained in an immigration facility in Louisiana for nearly six weeks. Doroudi’s detention has instilled fear in the small Iranian community in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he and his fiancee are doctoral students
Catholic leaders criticize Trump for posting apparent AI photo of himself as the pope
When asked about the image, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York who is friendly with Trump, said "it wasn't good" and that he hoped Trump had nothing to do with it.
The Vatican installs chimney to signal the selection of the next pope
Ahead of the election of the next pope, a chimney was installed atop the Sistine Chapel on Friday, which will help notify the public of the 267th pope.
Sovereignty beats out favorite Journalism to win the Kentucky Derby
The victory hands Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado his first career win in the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, has won the Kentucky Derby once before.
Warren Buffett announces his retirement and warns the trade war will hurt America
The billionaire investor, now 94, also said he would be resigning as CEO at the end of the year. He spoke at Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting known as "Woodstock for Capitalists."
The most exciting two minutes in sports is a show of ‘Latino excellence’
Latinos, many from outside the U.S. mainland, have risen in prominence in horseracing, from the grooms to some of the winningest jockeys.
For Homewood’s spotted salamanders, a win and a warning
A grassroots effort successfully pushed back on a development in that would have destroyed a critical salamander habitat. Still, amphibians face constant risks.
The Trump administration says it will cut EPA staffing to Reagan-era levels
EPA announced plans to reorganize the agency, moving science-focused staff into different roles and reducing the overall number of employees.
UA graduates take in the opportunity to hear a sitting president speak
Despite being introduced by beloved former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban, President Donald Trump received the loudest welcome of the night when he took the stage at Coleman Coliseum on the university campus Thursday night. He spoke at a special ceremony ahead of the UA commencement ceremonies.
Trump again threatens Harvard’s tax-exempt status, saying, ‘It’s what they deserve!’
Trump's comments on social media marked the latest volley in a battle between the administration and the wealthiest college in the world.
Tax cut bills under consideration in final days of the legislative session
Alabama has already knocked off 1% of its state sales tax from groceries. A bill that would reduce it further is under discussion in the legislature. But there are just a couple of days left in the session to get things done.
The U.S. job market cooled slightly as Trump’s trade war heated up
U.S. employers added 177,000 jobs in April — a modest slowdown from the previous month, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%.
Shein and Temu will cost more, thanks to massive tariffs going into effect
Shein and Temu goods might not be so cheap anymore. Starting today, the U.S. will start collecting import fees on small packages from China, much of which comes from Chinese e-commerce sites.
Inside the glitz and glamor of the Kentucky Derby
Hats, horses and high rollers. These are just some of the things that add to the atmosphere of Churchill Downs on Derby Day.
China mulls U.S. overtures on trade talks, but demands tariffs be canceled
Exporters, importers and recent government statistics all suggest that trade in both directions is slowing sharply as a result of the tariffs. Neither side appears willing to be seen giving ground.
Trump offers advice to University of Alabama graduates in speech interspersed with politics
The Republican’s jolting speech was standard fare for Trump and well-received by the crowd in deep-red Alabama, which backed him in all three of his presidential runs.
What’s the deal with torpedo bats? See how this Baton Rouge bat manufacturer makes them
Marucci Sports gave WWNO's Louisiana Considered an inside look at how they make torpedo bats, the oddly-shaped bats giving hitters newfound strength.
Bill overhauling Birmingham Water Works Board heads to governor’s desk despite local outcry
Proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes and say that the move will prevent catastrophic events that have happened in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, or Detroit, Michigan. Opponents of the bill say that it is a power grab that diminishes the power of Black residents in Birmingham, Alabama.
Does your online shopping receipt show what you’re paying in tariffs? Let us know
Have you recently bought something online, and your receipt showed how much more you're paying as a result of tariffs? If so, please share your receipt with NPR.
Education Department stops $1 billion in funding for school mental health
Congress created the grants in the aftermath of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The goal was to help schools hire mental health professionals, including counselors and social workers.
How a rural clinic is changing lives in Alabama and why it’s at risk
Cahaba Medical Care, a collection of clinics that get doctors into some of the poorest, sickest communities in Alabama, never turns away patients. But a federal grant that supports the doctors there is at risk of getting cut in the midst of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize.
Republicans say they will still push education based on legal status
The Tennessee Legislature aimed to challenge a 1982 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that established a right to education for all students. Republican lawmakers still hope to overturn that.
Supreme Court seems poised to require state-funded charter schools to include religious schools
The case is from Oklahoma, which like 45 other states, has laws that say charter schools must be public schools funded by the state, closely supervised by the state, and be non-sectarian.
