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Alabama inmate asks to meet with governor ahead of execution

Anthony Boyd is scheduled to be executed Thursday evening by nitrogen gas at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility. A jury convicted Boyd of capital murder for the 1993 burning death of Gregory Huguley in Talladega County.

Hyundai still committing billions to Louisiana steel mill after ICE raid in Georgia

The immigration raid last month has analysts questioning whether President Donald Trump’s immigration and manufacturing goals are at odds.

Mental exercise can reverse a brain change linked to aging, study finds

Scientists have found the first compelling evidence that cognitive training can boost levels of a brain chemical that typically declines as people age.

The federal government is still shut down. Here’s what that means across the country

The federal government remains shut down. The NPR Network is following the ways the shutdown is affecting services across the country.

Mamdani’s rise in NYC reflects generational fight within the Democratic Party

Newcomer Zohran Mamdani, age 34, has used social media and big progressive ideas to shoulder past Andrew Cuomo, who's 67 and long a member of Democratic Party royalty.

Trump uses ‘common sense’ to make a political point. It has populist appeal

The phrase appeals more to several demographics that strongly align with Trump, says Republican strategist Frank Luntz, including older voters, for whom he suggests it signals "a more simple past."

The not-so-spooky origins of ‘ghost’ — and why the word still haunts our language

It wouldn't be spooky season without ghosts. But they weren't always the evil spirits we see in books and movies today. For Word of the Week, we look back on the origins of "ghost."

American ‘Bibisitters’ try to keep the Israel-Hamas truce on track

Several top U.S. officials are in Israel to shore up the Gaza ceasefire and attempt to bring about a permanent end to the war. They acknowledge the next phase poses serious challenges.

Spanish league cancels plans for Barcelona to play regular-season match in Miami

The Spanish soccer league said Tuesday that plans for Barcelona to play a game against Villarreal outside Miami in December have been called off, following increased opposition to the match.

Trump pick to lead watchdog agency withdraws after offensive text messages revealed

President Donald Trump 's pick to lead a federal watchdog agency withdrew from consideration Tuesday evening, after his offensive text messages were made public and GOP senators revolted.

Republicans advance the mid-decade redistricting fight into swing-state North Carolina

North Carolina is poised to become the first swing state to draw new congressional districts amid a nationwide redistricting battle initiated by President Trump.

Pardoned Capitol rioter arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Hakeem Jeffries

New York State Police say the man was arrested after they received word from the FBI that that he made "threats to kill a member of Congress."

Reversing peanut advice prevented tens of thousands of allergy cases, researchers say

A decade ago, research said giving young children peanut products can prevent allergies. A new study says that, 10 years later, tens of thousands of U.S. children have avoided allergies as a result.

Israel takes steps to shut down international aid groups in Gaza and the West Bank

Israel is de-registering major nongovernmental aid groups from helping people in the Palestinian territories, according to several officials with humanitarian organizations.

New books this week dance between genres — and deserve your attention

New releases this week include a feminist history of modern Russia, and a candid portrait of Gish Jen's relationship with her mother. Plus, new novels from Philip Pullman and Claire Louise-Bennett.

5 things to know about Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister

Japan ranks low in gender equality among developed nations. The first woman to lead the country is an ultraconservative who cites Margaret Thatcher as a role model. She also loves heavy metal.

Books about race and gender to be returned to school libraries on some military bases

The order is to be implemented at school libraries on military bases in Kentucky, Virginia, Italy and Japan. Students and their families claimed their First Amendment rights had been violated when officials removed the books to comply with President Trump's executive orders.

Just because she won a Nobel doesn’t mean Malala didn’t break some rules in college

In 2014, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person to win a Nobel Prize, an honor that weighed on her when she went off to college. In Finding My Way, she writes about her life at Oxford and beyond.

With steep tariffs on Indian imports, Diwali is expensive to celebrate this year in Alabama

"I guess if I had to take it in a positive way, I would say it's making the artists come out of all of the parents," said one Bollywood dance instructor who is forgoing new costumes this year for her students.

Tech CEOs say the era of ‘code by AI’ is here. Some software engineers are skeptical

While AI is increasingly used to write code, every line is still reviewed by humans. Some engineers complain about having to clean up AI-generated code.

Some ant architects design a colony to cut the risk of disease. Humans, take note!

One kind of tiny ant can serve as a monumental example for how to keep members of a community safe from pathogens. A new study shows how they do it.

Hakeem Jeffries says public pressure will force Congress to extend ACA subsidies

The Democratic House Minority Leader tells NPR Americans will pressure Congress to extend Obamacare subsidies as they realize their health care costs are going up.

A theory why the internet is going down the toilet

A new book diagnoses a sickness affecting some of America's biggest companies.

Amid tariff costs, a ‘speed dating’ event helps connect Southern auto suppliers, makers

Manufacturers like Hyundai gathered in Huntsville to hear pitches from U.S. suppliers, as tariffs have prompted them to look for local options.

‘Cancer doesn’t care’: Patients pushed past divisive politics to lobby Congress

Hundreds of volunteer advocates put partisan differences aside and pressed Congress to help people with cancer. The advocacy came just before the stalemate that has shut down the federal government.

Blue New Jersey is expecting a very close race for governor this November

President Trump and former President Obama have endorsed the two candidates locked in a tight race for New Jersey governor, Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill.

Karine Jean-Pierre on why she left the Democrats — and calls herself independent

In her new book Independent, former Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre writes that party infighting, bias and disloyalty drove her to leave the Democratic Party.

Tyshawn Sorey’s powerful sounds of silence

The composer, multi-instrumentalist and MacArthur "genius" fellow, deftly straddles the classical and jazz realms while unleashing the power of spaces between the notes.

Japan’s parliament elects Sanae Takaichi as nation’s first female prime minister

Japan's parliament elected Sanae Takaichi as the country's first female prime minister Tuesday, after her party struck a coalition deal expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right.

American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky dies at 29

The Charlotte Chess Center, where Naroditsky trained and worked as a coach, announced his death, calling him "a talented chess player, educator, and beloved member of the chess community."

Miami Beach puts the art in offshore artificial reef

The artificial reef off Miami Beach will be an art installation, a restoration of the island's coral habitat and an underwater tourist attraction.

The Dodgers want to win another World Series. The Toronto Blue Jays are in their way

The Los Angeles Dodgers have put all the chips in on their pursuit of being baseball's first back-to-back champions since 2000. The Blue Jays and their red-hot lineup won't go down easy.