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Alabama lawmakers advance local ‘Laken Riley’ bill that deputizes police to enforce immigration law
The bill was dubbed “Laken Riley Act,” named after the 22-year-old Augusta University student who was killed last year in Georgia by an undocumented immigrant. President Donald Trump signed a similar law into affect in January that requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes.
Thousands of federal workers would be easier to fire under Trump rule change
The Trump administration is moving forward with efforts to make it easier to fire some federal workers, as part of its push to both shrink the federal government and exert more control over it.
History shows revoking Harvard’s tax status won’t be easy — or fast
A presidential effort to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status could run up against a number of challenges, including violating federal law.
Chinese manufacturers on TikTok claim they make the world’s luxury goods. Is that true?
Amid tariff confusion, online vendors are looking to recruit new customers.
‘Lab Leak,’ a flashy page on the virus’ origins, replaces government COVID sites
The new page emphatically promotes a theory that many scientists question. Meanwhile, basic information about COVID testing and vaccines has disappeared.
30 years later, Oklahoma City bombing survivor recalls vow to change her life while trapped
Amy Downs was buried in 10 feet of rubble after the Oklahoma City bombing 30 years ago. While trapped, she vowed to change her life, but it was long journey.
Nearly 300 scientists apply for French academic program amid Trump cuts in U.S.
Nearly 300 U.S.-based researchers have applied to one program that promises "scientific refugee status" for those fleeing Trump's academic funding rollbacks.
VA officials acknowledge the need for privacy for telehealth therapy
The VA looks like it is changing course on a plan that would have threatened the privacy of veterans receiving mental health care via telehealth, according to documents obtained by NPR.
How FDA cuts could make the food and drug supply less safe
While Food and Drug Administration inspectors who make sure food and drugs meet quality standards were spared in recent cuts, key support staffers were dismissed.
Ukraine sanctions 3 Chinese companies as tensions between Kyiv and Beijing rise
The sanctions mean the companies will not be able to do business with Ukraine and any assets they have in the country will be frozen.
From soap operas to new hobbies, check out these podcasts
This month has brought a shower of new podcasts for your playlist. The NPR One team gathered a few returning favorites as well as some fresh releases from across public media.
Tariffs threaten to push auto insurance rates even higher
Between the slate of tariffs currently in effect and proposed tariffs on car parts, the cost of car ownership is rising. And that's true even if you're not in the market for a vehicle.
Huckabee arrives in Israel as new U.S. ambassador and visits the Western Wall
At the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites, Mike Huckabee said he'd brought a note with a prayer for peace handwritten by President Trump, who had instructed him to insert it into the wall.
Lawmakers advance religious bills including school Ten Commandments displays
It's no secret that Alabama is among the most religious states. It's also no stranger to fights over displays of the Ten Commandments. The state may be gearing up for another one as the Alabama House passed a bill Thursday that would require public schools to display the Ten commandments. We hear details on that from Todd Stacy, host of Capital Journal and Alabama Public Television.
Judge orders new limits on DOGE data access at Social Security Administration
A federal judge in Maryland granted a preliminary injunction that bars DOGE staffers from accessing non-anonymized personal data at the Social Security Administration.
Lawmakers move to mandate the display of Ten Commandments and ban pride flags in Alabama schools
Alabama lawmakers approved a slew of bills on Thursday that would expand the use of Christian texts in public schools and limit protections for LGBTQ+ students, in lockstep with a national conservative agenda that has divided statehouses across the country.
Trump may abandon Ukraine peace talks ‘within days,’ Rubio warns
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the U.S. would walk away from efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine if progress isn't made within days.
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday. Here’s what to watch for
One top seed has never won a Stanley Cup. The other wasn't expected to make the playoffs at all. And a pair of brothers who burned bright for Team USA in February are set to return to the ice.
You’re probably taking over-the-counter painkillers incorrectly
People often use the wrong painkiller or take too much too quickly, increasing the risk of side effects, say pharmacists. Here are safer and more effective ways to take drugs like Advil and Tylenol.
5 takeaways from the week: Nearing a constitutional crisis?
The week was dominated by news about the Maryland man illegally deported to El Salvador. But there was also concern over tariffs and Robert F. Kennedy's work as Health and Human Services secretary.
The State Department is changing its mind about what it calls human rights
The agency's annual human rights reports are being purged of references to prison conditions, political corruption and other abuses.
The best new albums out April 18
Hear new albums by one-third of boygenius, two-thirds of Carolina Chocolate Drops, and one-quarter of TV on the Radio.
Luigi Mangione indicted in federal court in CEO killing
Mangione was indicted on two counts of stalking, one firearms offense and murder through use of a firearm — a charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty.
A wind project is stalled in New York. Experts worry about impacts across the U.S.
The Trump administration halted the construction of a New York offshore wind project. Legal analysts say it has implications far beyond the wind industry.
As Trump jettisons its staff, HUD puts its D.C. headquarters up for sale
The federal housing agency says its 1968 building faces more than $500 million in deferred maintenance. It also says current staff take up only half the space.
Trump’s Forest Service cuts have people in tinder dry New Mexico on edge
The Trump administration's dramatic staffing cuts at federal lands agencies like the Forest Service are causing anxiety in tinder dry New Mexico, where the wildfire threat is already severe this Spring.
How tariffs could impact the availability of baby products
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Steven Dunn founder and CEO of Munchkin a U.S.-based company selling lifestyle products for mothers, babies and children. Dunn has written an open letter to President Trump and Congress about how tariffs could harm his business and American families.
Rubio leads a U.S. team for Paris talks as Macron seeks unity on Ukraine
France hosted top diplomats from the U.S., Germany, the U.K. and Ukraine to discuss efforts toward a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Court denies White House appeal of ‘shocking’ Abrego Garcia deportation case
The Fourth Circuit ruling against the Trump administration came just one day after the government filed an appeal of a lower court order in the Abrego Garcia case, a remarkably short time for a court to reach a ruling.
Will Alabama legislators ban delta-8 this session? It’s coming down to the wire
Several bills currently working their way through the Alabama legislature would effectively ban hemp-derived THC products. Opponents of the bill say it’ll be prohibition all over again.
LA schools superintendent says he’ll protect undocumented students ‘to the very end’
DHS said it was conducting wellness checks on students who arrived unaccompanied to the border. The head of the Los Angeles Unified School District has a different account.
With federal funding on the line, school leaders weigh Trump DEI order
The Trump administration has told states they have until April 24 to promise to end DEI programs in K-12 schools, or risk losing federal dollars.
