Issues
Why did university police chase a student and his baby across a graduation stage?
Jean Paul Al Arab and his 6-month-old led police on a brief foot chase during a University at Buffalo ceremony. The school said the grad violated rules about who can participate in the commencement.
Why ‘Sell America’ is trending on Wall Street
Investors are worried about the ongoing trade war — and rethinking the safety and soundness of U.S. government debt.
Trump administration revokes Harvard’s ability to enroll international students
International students make up more than a quarter of Harvard University's student body. Harvard says the government's actions, which could cut off a major revenue stream, are "unlawful."
Congress moves to loosen toxic air pollution rules
The House and Senate both voted to loosen regulations on air pollutants like dioxin and mercury, which are associated with higher cancer risk.
Forecasters predict above-average hurricane season again
Forecasters expect 13 to 19 storms to form in the Atlantic between June 1 and the end of November. At least 6 of those are forecast to be full-blown hurricanes.
Community groups say Louisiana is trying to stop them from monitoring air pollution
For community groups to allege violations of environmental rules, a state law says groups have to use federally-approved testing equipment, and it sets restrictions for analyzing and sharing the data.
Jim Irsay, longtime Colts owner and music memorabilia collector, dies at 65
Irsay started with the Colts as a teenage ball boy and took ownership after his father's death in 1997. The team won a Super Bowl and two AFC championships under his nearly three-decade tenure.
No more pennies: In big change, Treasury will stop minting them
In a cost-cutting move, the Treasury Department will soon stop minting new pennies. The one-cent coins will still be legal tender. There are more than 100 billion pennies in circulation but many are gathering dust in change jars and forgotten pockets.
Judge blocks Trump administration from closing the Education Department
The federal judge also told the administration to reinstate department employees who lost their jobs during the reduction-in-force announced in March.
DOGE cuts, policy changes jeopardize care, housing for vulnerable HIV patients in Alabama
Federal funding has helped states like Alabama and Mississippi make strides in fighting the HIV epidemic. Doctors and advocates are worried about the future.
Is AI coming for your job? Maybe. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare
Artificial intelligence is already transforming workplaces in Alabama. And the pace of the AI revolution is about to accelerate.
Judge considers sanctions against attorneys in prison case for using AI in court filings
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco held a hearing in Birmingham to question attorneys with the Butler Snow firm about the filings. She said there were five false citations in two filings in federal court.
Educators fear their homeless students could become a target for Trump cuts
A federal program provides extra help to make sure students experiencing homelessness get an education. Amid massive cuts to the federal government, the program's future is uncertain.
Scientists want to track the world’s biodiversity using DNA in the air
Scientists have found a way to sample DNA out of the air on a large scale — making it possible to one day track the health and well being of all kinds of species around the world.
New Orleans Archdiocese agrees to pay nearly $180M to victims of clergy sexual abuse
Lawyers for survivors said they won't support the agreement, which they say was negotiated behind closed doors.
Alabama Power threatened with lawsuit for contaminating groundwater with coal ash
Nine years after the Gadsden Steam Plant stopped burning coal, its unlined coal ash pond is still polluting Alabama groundwater, records show.
The ‘tush push’ lives on. NFL teams vote to keep the controversial play
The effort to ban the play has faced pushback from teams that regularly employ it, perhaps none more successfully than the Philadelphia Eagles.
Retailers feel pressure to eat the price increases from tariffs
From Target to Walmart, retailers are fighting two battles at once: a financial battle to keep costs low in the face of new tariffs, and a political one to avoid the president's wrath.
Ivey appoints first Black Republican on Alabama Supreme Court
Judge Bill Lewis replaces Justice Jay Mitchell, who resigned Monday. Lewis most recently served on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.
Home Depot doesn’t plan to raise prices due to tariffs. But some items may disappear
The home improvement chain broke from many other retailers, who say they cannot afford to absorb new tariffs. President Trump recently attacked Walmart for warning of price hikes.
Trump has imposed a lot of tariffs. But here’s why collecting them can be hard
Collecting Trump's tariffs could be tricky. The agencies that screen imports say they're frequently overwhelmed and understaffed, and experts say exporters are becoming cannier at evading taxes.
What a Texas showerhead salesman discovered about ‘Made in the USA’ labels
A Texas showerhead salesman wanted to know how much more customers would pay to buy a product that's made in the USA. The answer could pour cold water on President Trump's plan to encourage more companies to open factories in the U.S.
This award-winning podcast explores finding happiness as a young, single person
From hundreds of entries, our judges chose one student's intimate telling of the value of lifelong friendships and being single as the grand-prize winner of the NPR College Podcast Challenge.
The NBA playoffs will end a years-long title drought. The only question is: whose?
It's impossible to predict what will happen in the NBA's conference finals matchups. But one thing is for certain: One long-suffering fanbase is about to have something to celebrate.
Pope Leo meets with Vance, who delivers an invitation to visit the White House
The meeting appeared part of an effort to reset relations with the Vatican after Pope Francis repeatedly criticized President Trump's migration policy. Vance also gave Pope Leo a Chicago Bears jersey.
Trump threatened school funding in Maine. Here’s how that money is used
Schools in Maine are in the middle of a political and legal battle between the Trump administration and Gov. Janet Mills. Key programs for the most vulnerable students are at stake.
Where does your weather forecast come from?
Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.
How new at-home HPV test kits could help Alabama fight cervical cancer
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the country’s first at-home HPV screening kit, a disease that causes nearly all cervical cancers. While some hope the new kits might turn things around, others have questions.
Horse racing industry braces for crackdown on illegal immigration
Horse racing depends on thousands of workers without legal status, and industry leaders fear that Trump's soft touch toward the industry in his first term will not persist in his second.
5 years since Brexit, are Britain and the EU getting back together?
With a war in Ukraine and the U.S. rethinking alliances, Britain and the European Union may need each other more than they thought. They're holding their first summit since Brexit Monday.
These Democratic governors are trying to curb health care for unauthorized immigrants
After expanding state Medicaid programs to cover people in the country without legal status, Democrats are considering changes that would reduce immigrant access.
Losing faith: Rural religious colleges are among the most endangered
Some religious colleges and universities are cutting programs. Others are seeking mergers to reduce costs and expand offerings.
