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USAID enabled 208 Afghan women to defy the Taliban ban on college — until now
A USAID grant enabled them to either study online or enroll in college in another country. Now the grant has been terminated.
A biotech company says it has bred three pups with traits of the extinct dire wolf
Colossal Biosciences says it used novel gene-editing technology to alter gray wolf DNA to breed the animals. Dire wolves recently featured prominently in the HBO series Game of Thrones.
Supreme Court lets Trump move forward with firing thousands of federal workers
The Supreme Court's stay, which allows the administration to execute the firings for now while it litigates in federal court, does not mean the terminations were lawful.
‘A Minecraft Movie’ is both a box office hit and post-ironic meme
Studios have struggled to get younger generations into the theaters for years. Could more immersive experiences be their golden ticket?
Investigation into Birmingham-area recycling raises more questions
Do you know where your recycling’s going? It seems many residents don’t – and they want to find out. WBHM's Kelsey Shelton sat down with AL.com reporter Margaret Kates to get answers.
5 buzzy books out this week that look inward
A number of books out this week — a tale of tribal politics, a close-focus mystery, measured criticism and a unique relationship — are tied up in answering the question: How do we define ourselves?
U.S. stock markets bounce back after Trump tariffs shock — but nerves abound
After major slides in equity trading across the world, any slight uptick in stock prices will only repair part of the destruction of trillions of dollars in investor wealth over the past few days.
It’s sexual assault awareness month and HHS just gutted its rape prevention unit
The CDC teams that supported local sexual assault prevention groups were 'wiped out' in RFK Jr.'s overhaul of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bienvenidos! Some colleges are targeting a long-neglected group: Hispanic students
Colleges are recognizing the importance of this growing pool of potential students.
The rise of the influencer as rap artist
The YouTube star PlaqueBoyMax built his following the usual way, livestreaming opinions on music and news. What's unusual is his latest move, which tests the modern meaning of the word "creator."
Trump’s election order could jeopardize ‘hundreds of thousands’ of future mail ballots
Eighteen states count mail-in ballots that are received after Election Day, but a new order by President Trump challenges the practice.
Why is Trump sending immigrant university scholars to Louisiana and Texas?
Lawyers say the government is trying to gain a legal advantage as it tries to expel noncitizens over their pro-Palestinian activism.
International students spoke out against the war in Gaza. Now, some face deportation
The Trump administration has targeted students — both those with visas and those with permanent legal status — who protested the war in Gaza. Free speech advocates warn that these are test cases.
How to avoid harmful chemicals in skin care and beauty products
Some ingredients found in personal care products like lotion and shampoo may be harmful to your health. Here's how to avoid these chemicals and choose healthier alternatives.
Iran says it will have ‘indirect’ talks with the U.S. in Oman on Saturday
Iran says it will have indirect talks with the U.S. Saturday in Oman, opening possible diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program but revealing a potential sticking point about the format for negotiating.
Flooding death toll in Congo’s capital reaches 33 as officials race to help victims
Heavy rains began last week, causing the key Ndjili River to overflow on Friday and submerge hundreds of buildings. Many residents blamed the government for not responding quickly enough.
Garbage piles up in Birmingham as the U.K. city’s sanitation strike enters 5th week
As heaps of black bags littered sidewalks with their contents spilling out of holes chewed by critters, the city council declared a major incident to bring in additional cleanup crews and vehicles.
Florida swamps Houston, winning 3rd NCAA men’s basketball national championship
The Florida Gators downed Houston, denying the Cougars their first-ever title. Florida, one of a record 14 Southeastern Conference teams to make the men's tournament, won its third NCAA championship.
China vows retaliation after Trump’s latest tariff threat
Trump said on Truth Social he would impose the new tariffs on China if Beijing did not retract a 34% retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods that it announced in response to Trump's initial salvo last Wednesday.
The U.S. will hold direct, high-level talks with Iran, Trump says
It's been more than a decade since the two powers have had direct talks. President Trump offered few details about what the talks would entail, or when they'd be scheduled.
Supreme Court backs Trump in controversial deportations case
The order marks a win for the Trump administration, even if temporary, and it could well be a harbinger of things to come as the administration continues to clash with federal courts.
How a false X post about pausing tariffs led to multi-trillion-dollar market swings
What began as a misquoted Fox News interview led to a flood of false and misleading posts on X. Before it was corrected, stock markets rallied then plummeted again.
Health secretary RFK Jr. endorses the MMR vaccine — stoking fury among his supporters
Prominent anti-vaccine activists lined up on social media to denounce the move.
Tariffs are fueling fears of a recession. What does it take to actually declare one?
The Trump administration's tariffs are fueling concerns about a potential recession, with several major banks increasing their forecasts. What is recession and who declares one?
What’s on TV: ‘Hacks,’ ‘Doctor Who’ and a final season for ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
The sixth and final season of The Handmaid's Tale, which debuts Tuesday, explores questions of trauma and revenge. Also this week: Hacks returns and Jon Hamm stars in a layered whodunit.
Deadline looms in case of Maryland man’s wrongful deportation to El Salvador
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to lift a midnight deadline to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was deported to a prison in El Salvador by mistake, to the U.S.
‘Due process does look different’: DHS official defends deportation of Maryland man
The Trump administration has defended the deportation of Maryland man mistakenly sent to El Salvador.
They had left their DEI roles. Trump still fired them
The Trump administration is firing hundreds and perhaps thousands of federal workers as part of a crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Many of the fired weren't in DEI jobs.
Wall Street leaders warn of harsh economic consequences from Trump’s tariffs
The business sector has tried to avoid criticizing Trump in public and welcomed his vows of lower taxes and deregulation, but the market sell-off appears to have loosened more tongues on Wall Street.
Transfer to Alaska? Offer to health leaders called ‘insult’ to Indian Health Service
NPR obtained emails that went out last week to leaders at health agencies offering to transfer them to postings in tribal communities. Officials close to Dr. Anthony Fauci got the offer.
WBHM wins 3 ABBY Awards
WBHM 90.3 FM won 3 ABBY Awards for 2025 – a prestigious honor given annually by the Alabama Broadcasters Association. The ABA presented the awards Saturday, April 5 in Birmingham.
Most Americans want to read more books. We just don’t.
When we worry about the declining rates of literacy and a lack of reading skills, it's often about children. But how often are adults reading these days? And what are we reading? A new NPR/Ipsos poll finds out.
