Issues
Minnesota Republicans defend their focus on fraud despite the ICE surge that followed
Minnesota Republicans say they were right to invite social media influencers into the state to highlight social service fraud, though Democrats blame Republicans for paving the way for the ICE surge.
U.S. women’s figure skaters could’ve been rivals. Instead, they’re the ‘Blade Angels’
Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito are the U.S.' best shot at winning women's figure skating gold since 2002 — and of closing out these Games on a high note.
Two U.S. moms in their 40s rocketed to gold and bronze in Olympic bobsled showdown
American sliders Elana Meyers Taylor, 41, and Kaillie Humphreys, 40, secure gold and bronze medals. Meyers-Taylor built on her record as the Black athlete with the most Winter Olympics medals.
The U.S. women’s hockey team is dominating the Olympics. Now they will play for gold
The Americans, whose captain Hilary Knight is leading a generation of thrilling young talent, are undefeated through six games at the Olympics — and they're outscoring their opponents 31 to 1.
A Curling Scandal Rocks Olympic Ice
Allegations of cheating, and swearing, on the curling ice have rocked the wholesome sport after the Swedes accused the Canadians of "double touching" in a match on Friday. What happened then, and what's happened since?
Italy’s athletes shine at the Milan Cortina Olympics
Call it homefield advantage, call it national pride. Italy's athletes are shining in the Winter Olympics underway in Milan and the Alps.
One Olympic sport still excludes women. This week’s viewing numbers could change that
Nordic combined is the only Olympic sport that doesn't allow women to compete, despite athletes' efforts to change that. They say their odds for 2030 hinge on people watching men's events this week.
Citing national security, Trump has abandoned fenceline monitoring at coke ovens
The administration ended a program that documented excessive levels of a carcinogen at industrial facilities across the country. Environmental groups who say the move leaves polluted communities behind have filed suit.
U.S. Olympic speed skaters adapt NASCAR ‘bump drafting,’ revolutionizing team event
U.S. Team Pursuit speed skaters will top speeds of 30 mph by pushing themselves around the track mere inches from each other.
Michael Jordan, six-time NBA champion, is now a Daytona 500 winner
Tyler Reddick won "The Great American Race" on Sunday with a last-lap pass at Daytona International Speedway that sent Jordan into a frantic celebration.
U.S. Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin finishes another Olympic race without a medal
U.S. Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin looks unstoppable everywhere except the Olympics. She's running out of chances to medal at the Milan Cortina Games.
For U.S. pairs skater Danny O’Shea, these Olympics are 30 years in the making
Danny O'Shea turned 35 at his first Olympics, after three decades of skating and two reversed retirements.
American speedskater Jordan Stolz wins second Olympic gold with 500-meter race victory
With the win, Stolz joins Eric Heiden as the only skaters to take gold in both the 500 and 1,000 at the same Olympics.
Meet the power couples of the 2026 Winter Games, from rivals to teammates
Some of these power couples span multiple sports, while others compete in the same discipline — or even on the same team.
Ilia Malinin, figure skater favored for gold, finishes 8th
Malinin, undefeated since 2023, stumbled and fell multiple times, landing far off the podium. Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won gold in an upset that shocked even himself.
Kitty cats and cloud hands – how U.S. Olympic snowboarders keep calm in competition
U.S. snowboarders psych themselves up before competition with heavy metal and pop music, cat photos, and apparently many on the men's halfpipe team now do Qigong.
Bill overhauling Alabama Public Service Commission delayed
Alabama lawmakers are considering what would be a sweeping change to the state's utility regulatory board. The members of the Public Service Commission are currently elected to their positions. Under this new proposal, commissioners would be appointed. We talk about that and other legislative matters with Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.
Alabama’s ‘pretty cool’ plan for robots in maternity care sparks debate
During a January White House roundtable touting the first grants to states under a new $50 billion rural health fund, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz called the idea “pretty cool.” Later that day, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, said it is decidedly not cool.
Trump pardons 5 former NFL players for crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking
Those pardoned include ex-NFL players Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon.
Chloe Kim’s protégé foiled her Olympic three-peat dreams. She’s celebrating anyway
Korea's Gaon Choi, 17, rebounded from a hard fall to win gold — and end her role model's historic bid for three in a row in the Winter Olympic halfpipe.
54-year-old U.S. curler sets new American Winter Olympics age record
Rich Ruohonen has tried to get to the Olympics for almost 40 years. He finally got his chance, taking to the ice at the Milan Cortina Games representing the U.S. on Team Casper for curling.
At the Olympics, skier Breezy Johnson won a gold medal — and an engagement ring, too
When Johnson and her partner Connor Watkins met on Bumble, he had "no idea" who she was. "I was out-kicking my coverage," he said
Community organizations step up in Gulf South winter storm recovery: ‘The need is so big’
After January's winter storm, the Oxford community has come together to take care of those in need — not just while waiting for other responders, but also fill persistent gaps.
Camp Mystic parents from Alabama seek stronger camp regulations
Sarah Marsh of Birmingham, Ala. was one of 27 Camp Mystic campers and counselors swept to their deaths when floodwaters engulfed cabins at the Texas camp on July 4, 2025. Sarah’s parents are urging lawmakers in Alabama and elsewhere to tighten regulations.
U.S. cross-country star Jessie Diggins claims bronze, medaling in third straight Olympics
She's done it again. Jessie Diggins, age 34 and skiing in her final Olympics, captured a bronze medal for the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Games. She battled through the pain from injured ribs to reach the podium.
Jordan Stolz opens his bid for 4 golds by winning the 1,000 meters in speedskating
Stolz received his gold for winning the men's 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Games in an Olympic-record time thanks to a blistering closing stretch. Now Stolz will hope to add to his collection of trophies.
US Colleges received more than $5 billion in foreign gifts, contracts in 2025
New data from the U.S. Education Department show the extent of international gifts and contracts to colleges and universities.
Ukrainian Olympian disqualified over images of war dead on his helmet
The International Olympic Committee has disqualified a Ukrainian sled athlete over his refusal to remove images of war dead from his helmet in competition.
U.S. ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates win Olympic silver, in a stunning upset
Chock and Bates, four-time Olympians, were heavily favored for gold. But they lost by less than two points to a French duo who has been clouded by controversy involving their former partners.
These monks’ walk for peace captivated Americans. It ends this week
A group of Buddhist monks walked from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., in the name of peace. The 108-day pilgrimage captivated Americans.
U.S. unexpectedly adds 130,000 jobs in January after a weak 2025
U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs in January as the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3% from 4.4% in December. Annual revisions show that job growth last year was far weaker than initially reported.
From gifting a hat to tossing them onto the rink, a history of hat tricks in sports
Hat tricks have a rich history in hockey, but it didn't start there. For NPR's Word of the Week, we trace the term's some 150-year-history and why it's particularly special on the hockey rink.
