Front Page

Remembering Gip’s Place and the Bessemer bluesman who started it all

The unassuming juke joint operated in the backyard of longtime Bessemer resident Henry “Gip” Gipson. Gipson died five years ago this fall.

People in colder countries understand the magic of winter. What’s their secret?

Researcher Kari Leibowitz traveled to places with some of the harshest winters on Earth to understand how people thrive in the cold and dark. Her findings may inspire you to find comfort and joy in the season.

‘Nickel Boys’ establishes a new way of seeing Black characters on screen

RaMell Ross' adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is an ambitious, immersive experience.

For kids with rare genetic disorders, customized CRISPR treatments offer hope

The gene-editing technique is effective for treating some illnesses but it's been too expensive to consider it for rare conditions. A new approach in the works could make it more widely available.

Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with widespread aerial strikes

Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Friday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as one of the heaviest bombardments of the country's energy sector since Russia's full-scale invasion.

How much do you remember about 2024? What does 2025 hold? Find out in the quiz

Who or what died? Who or what broke up? Why so many bears? And what color IS "brat green," anyway? Test yourself in this year's final news quiz.

Here are the deadlines for mailing your holiday gifts to ensure they arrive on time

Mail carriers and shipping companies will be closed on Christmas Day.

How D.C. tackled a child care crunch through a tax hike on the rich

In Washington, D.C., a tax on residents earning more than $250,000 a year is boosting the wages of child care workers. Two years in, it's proving to be a great investment.

1972 Munich Olympics thriller shows nail-biting decisions in ABC Sports control room

Director Tim Fehlbaum's new film September 5 is centered on how the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre changed the way media outlets cover major global stories, especially those involving acts of terror.

Stanley recalls about 2.6 million travel mugs

The company behind the uber-viral water bottles is recommending customers affected by the recall reach out for a replacement part.

The 2024 Game Awards recap: All winners and most surprising reveals

Astro Bot, Balatro, and Metaphor Re: Fantazio claimed the most trophies at The Game Awards in a night dominated by sweeps, surprising reveals and fourth-wall breaks.

At 18, India’s Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest world chess champion ever

Dommaraju unseated China's Ding Liren to become the new world chess champion. "Every chess player wants to experience this moment, and very few get the chance," Dommaraju said after the match.

Americans are furious over health care. Is this an Occupy Wall Street moment?

The public outrage unleashed by the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO echoes the anti-banking fury after the financial crisis and comes as populist economic fatigue helped re-elect Donald Trump.

Trump invites China’s Xi to next month’s inauguration

President-elect Donald Trump is breaking with precedent in inviting a foreign head of state to his inauguration.

Remembering Dominique Brown, co-founder of Black Girl Disney

Disney influencer Dominique Brown, co-founder of Black Girl Disney, died last week after experiencing a medical emergency at an event in Los Angeles hosted by BoxLunch.

FBI missed ‘basic step’ in its intelligence efforts ahead of Jan. 6 Capitol riot

The long-awaited report from DOJ Inspector General office comes nearly four years after a crowd of Donald Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to try to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden's election win.

This drug is the ‘breakthrough of the year’ — and it could mean the end of the HIV epidemic

That's the title that Science magazine is bestowing upon the medication called lenacapavir — a twice yearly injectable that prevents infection by the HIV virus.

‘Does This Taste Funny?’ is a Colbert family cookbook

What do cooking and a nightly TV show have in common? Both require "a little care, a little love and a little imagination," says Stephen Colbert. He and his wife Evie Colbert have written a cookbook.

Trump says Kari Lake will lead Voice of America. He attacked it during his first term

If successful, Trump's move would install a loyalist at the helm of the network. A U.S. judge found Trump appointees illegally violated Voice of America's journalistic independence in his first term.

What exactly is driving the conspiracy theories about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs?

A growing list of lawsuits, shadowy figures, a splintered media environment and prejudice towards hip-hop make Diddy's downfall the "perfect storm."

FAA chief Mike Whitaker announces that he will step down in January

Mike Whitaker says he will step down as head of the Federal Aviation Administration on Jan. 20. It's not unusual for FAA administrators to resign at the change of administration, though some have stayed longer.

As Time’s ‘Person of the Year,’ Trump outlines his top priorities in lengthy interview

In a wide-ranging and long interview, President-elect Donald Trump tells TIME Magazine his priorities for the first days of his second time at the presidency.

Missing American Travis Timmerman found wandering barefoot outside Damascus

The 29-year-old had last been seen in Budapest, Hungary. He said he was detained earlier this year after crossing into Syria on foot from Lebanon and held in prison until the fall of the Assad regime.

Girls Rock Birmingham gives future artists the spotlight

Picture a rock band and chances are it’s a bunch of men. But Girls Rock Birmingham, a local youth organization, is fixing that spotlight on girls by giving them the chance to take the stage to rock out.

Biden commutes the sentences for 1,500 people, the largest act of clemency in a day

The 1,500 people had been serving long prison sentences that would have been shorter under today's laws and practices. They had been on home confinement since the COVID pandemic.

Some Syrian refugees in Berlin ponder returning post-Assad, others call Germany home

Germany hosts almost a million Syrians who fled war and dictatorship. The toppling of the Assad regime has raised questions for exiles about their next step.

10 biographies and memoirs for the nonfiction reader in your life

These true stories range from a "meow-moir" of a Siberian cat to an exploration of what U.S. presidents do after the White House. Check out these nonfiction reads recommended by NPR staff and critics.

South Korea’s Yoon defends martial law decree as an act of governance

In an address to the nation, President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed the opposition-controlled parliament has been destroying the country's liberal democratic order.

The Geminids meteor shower peaks at the end of the week. Here’s what to expect

The Geminids are one of the best and most visible annual meteor showers, when at least 120 meteors can usually be seen per hour. But 2024 will be different, thanks to the year's final full moon.

Dear Life Kit: My daughter was left out of the holiday newsletter — again!

A father wonders why his father-in-law keeps neglecting to mention his daughter in his annual newsletter to family. It includes updates on the other grandchildren. Why not her?

The Essential Jazz Discoveries of 2024

This year's unmissable jazz releases came in two flavors: breakthrough releases by driven young newcomers, and a heap of unearthed treasures from the vault.

These neurons in the abdomen help form the gut-brain connection

Scientists have identified two types of brain cells in the abdomen that appear to control different aspects of digestion.