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A haboob covered central Arizona in dust. But what exactly is it?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these storms can whip up walls of dust as high as 10,000 feet.
NEA cancels decades-long creative writing fellowship
For decades the program has supported writers who would become big names – Alice Walker, Michael Cunningham, Louise Erdrich and more. Last week, applicants got an email saying the program would be no more.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are in their engagement era
The singer-songwriter announced the engagement Tuesday on Instagram, with the caption: "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married."
AI “deadbots” are persuasive — and researchers say, they’re primed for monetization
The digital afterlife industry may near $80 billion in a decade, fueled by AI "deadbots." Tech firms see profit. But experts warn of troubling consequences.
Whistleblower says Trump officials copied millions of Social Security numbers
A whistleblower complaint says that the personal data of over 300 million Americans was copied to a private cloud account to allow access by members of the Department of Government Efficiency team.
DNC chair says he’s tired of Democrats bringing ‘pencil to a knife fight’
Day 1 of the Democratic National Committee's summer meeting saw party chair Ken Martin detail how the party is pushing back on Trump administration policies and trying to win back voters.
The DOJ sued the federal district bench in Maryland. A judge just dismissed the case
A district judge in Virginia was specially tapped to oversee the unusual case after DOJ named all 15 federal district court judges in Maryland as defendants in a lawsuit related to deportations.
This week sees a number of new books from seasoned heavy hitters
A number of seasoned veterans with a taste for big swings and clever premises have new novels out this week, including stories of gothic horror and dark academia from the likes of R.F. Kuang, Leah Stein and Helen Oyeyemi.
Whatever happened to … the optimist who thinks games and music can change the world
On a planet that can feel increasingly challenged, we asked activist Edgard Gouveia Jr. about his latest efforts to improve life on Earth, what "artivism" is — and what he dreams of.
You’ve heard of a senior prom. How about a prom for senior citizens?
Fitness instructor Tracy Williams has a passion for this age group. She's planning a "senior" prom for those who never had a chance to go to their proms or would like a do-over.
How plants and fungi trade resources without a brain
Fungi and plants have something to teach humans about global trade and cooperation
A lesson learned after pets were left behind in Hurricane Katrina: Save the animals
People were forced to leave their pets behind during Hurricane Katrina, creating an unprecedented animal welfare crisis that has shaped the country's disaster response ever since.
20 years after Hurricane Katrina, St. Bernard Parish is still recovering
Hurricane Katrina flooded nearly every building in St. Bernard Parish near New Orleans in 2005. Twenty years later, the community is still rebuilding and flood protections encouraged some to return.
20 years after Hurricane Katrina, the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans still lags behind
No neighborhood was hit worse in Katrina than New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward and it's been one of the slowest areas to rebound. There's still an effort to attract new residents and businesses there.
When hospitals and insurers fight, patients get caught in the middle
About 90,000 people spent months in limbo as central Missouri's major medical provider fought over insurance contracts. These disputes between insurers and hospitals are a recurring problem.
Judge orders Kari Lake to answer questions about Voice of America under oath
U.S. Judge Royce Lamberth ordered Trump administration official Kari Lake to be deposed about her plans for Voice of America, saying she was on "verging on contempt."
A mom draws what it’s like to have intrusive thoughts — and how to cope
After giving birth to her second child, NPR's LA Johnson struggled with scary thoughts that didn't seem to go away. She illustrates her experience in a comic, along with tips on how to cope.
‘The most illegal search’: Judges push back against D.C. criminal charges
Inside the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., on Monday, tensions over the potential for federal overreach broke into open court.
ID lost to Hurricane Katrina is returned 20 years later
Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina crashed into Louisiana and Mississippi, surprises continue to surface. A washed-up ID and how a park ranger found its owner is a moment of joy in the tragedy.
Australia accuses Iran of organizing antisemitic attacks and expels ambassador
Australian leader Anthony Albanese accused Iran of organizing two antisemitic attacks in Australia, saying the country would cut off diplomatic relations with Tehran. Iran had no immediate reaction.
Long-elusive Mexican drug lord Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada pleads guilty in U.S.
Former Mexican cartel kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty Monday to U.S. drug trafficking charges.
Attendees could be in for thunderstorms, dust and hail at this year’s Burning Man
These weather patterns are typical for this time of year in Nevada's deserts. Eventgoers should keep an eye on the forecast and prepare for hazardous conditions, the National Weather Service said.
Trump again calls for FCC to revoke ABC and NBC licenses
President Trump lashed out on social media late Sunday against ABC and NBC, putting the nation's top broadcast regulator once more at the center of his culture wars.
Israeli strikes kill 22, including 5 journalists, in a Gaza hospital
Israeli forces killed 22 people, including five journalists, in two strikes on Gaza's Nasser Hospital, drawing global condemnation and prompting a rare admission of regret from the Israeli government.
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre’s memoir will be published months after her death
Virginia Giuffre was one of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's most outspoken accusers. Six months after her death, Giuffre's book detailing her life will be published.
Kennedy Center names new director of dance programming, days after former staff firings
Stephen Nakagawa, a former Washington Ballet dancer, will be the new director of dance programming. The announcement comes five days after the Kennedy Center's previous chief was dismissed.
Trump says National Guard is at the ready but hedges on Chicago plans
President Trump signed a series of executive orders doubling down on law enforcement, particularly related to Washington, D.C., but he equivocated on whether he will send troops to Chicago next.
The U.S. confirms its first human case of New World screwworm. What is it?
U.S. officials confirmed a case of the flesh-eating parasite in a person who traveled from El Salvador. Screwworm typically affects cattle in South America, but has spread north in recent years.
Evergrande’s delisting in Hong Kong: key facts to know
At its peak, China Evergrande Group was worth more than $50 billion. But it all came crashing down in 2021. It was massively in debt and unable to complete some existing projects.
Dr Pepper will unwind its merger with Keurig after buying Peet’s for $18 billion
Seven years after they merged, the soft drink maker and coffee pod innovator will become separate companies again. CEO Timothy Cofer said separate coffee and beverage businesses would be more nimble.
Is Edinburgh’s Fringe still fringe, or has it — gasp — gone mainstream?
It began on the edgy margins of a mainstream festival — which it's now eclipsed. But nearly 80 years on, performers and spectators say rising costs threaten the Fringe's alternative vibe.
Library of Congress acquires only known lyrics sketch of ‘Over the Rainbow’
Scrawled in pencil on a scrap of yellow legal paper by lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, the artifact is among dozens of treasures from The Wizard of Oz donated by composer Harold Arlen's sister-in-law Rita Arlen.
