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Holy white smoke: New pope selected by Catholic Church
White smoke streamed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the world that the 133 cardinals inside have elected a new pope. But we don't yet know his identity.
Ivey overhauls Birmingham Water Works Board amid cries of racial discrimination
The bill redistributes power from Birmingham city officials — who currently appoint a majority of the nine-person board — to the governor, the lieutenant governor and the surrounding four counties that are also in the board’s jurisdiction. It also reduces the number of board members to seven.
As Pynk Beard, Grammy-winning songwriter Sebastian Kole turns the page
Grammy-winning songwriter Sebastian Kole has accomplished a great deal in his career. As his alter ego Pynk Beard, though, he could achieve much more. The Birmingham native is stepping out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight to bring his brand of country music to the masses.
Americans are already seeing Trump’s tariffs kick in. They sent in receipts to prove it
There's new tariffs on almost everything that is imported. Some of that increased cost is being eaten by exporters in other countries, but a lot of the higher prices are being picked up by Americans, who are seeing it in their receipts.
Medicaid payments barely keep hospital mental health units afloat. Federal cuts could sink them
Patients seeking mental health care are more likely to be on Medicaid than patients in more profitable areas of care, such as cancer or cardiac treatment.
Wanda Sykes is grateful her audience sticks with her
Wanda Sykes says getting back on the road helps remind her that she's still funny. On this week's Wild Card, Sykes talks about her conversations with God and why she loves bowling alleys.
How one writer quit dieting and discovered her strength through weightlifting
Casey Johnston spent years running and restricting calories. When she started weightlifting, she rebuilt muscle mass — and her relationship with her body.
Q&A: How lethal injection ‘hides the violence’ of executions in the South and elsewhere
A new book explores the secretive, complicated history of lethal injection and its relationship to the death penalty.
Not taking India-Pakistan escalation seriously a ‘huge risk,’ warns conflict expert
Efforts to mediate the India-Pakistan conflict are not going to work "unless the U.S. steps in with full sincerity," Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, told NPR.
Discovering a mom we never knew, in letters she saved from WWII soldiers
My sister and I recently unearthed a forgotten box of correspondence our mom received from servicemen she'd met at Red Cross dances in Rome near the end of the war. She would have been 100 this year.
Glittering blue creatures are washing up on California beaches. Here’s why
Hundreds of thousands of Velella velella, more commonly known as by-the-wind-sailors, are drifting onto the coastline. Beachcombers say they look like "blue diamonds strewn across the beach."
GOP-led states are passing new restrictions for voters to get issues on the ballot
Two dozen states allow citizens to propose ballot measures. But Republican lawmakers in many of those states are now adding hurdles to those efforts, saying they want to combat fraud.
Economists warn Trump’s research cuts could have dire consequences for GDP
President Trump has proposed slashing federal scientific funding. Economists say the long-term consequences could be dire.
Cancer-causing chemicals are in many beauty products women use, a study finds
Soaps, lotions and shampoos were found to have formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.
Trump is set to announce his first trade deal since his tariffs sent markets reeling
Presidenti Trump did not reveal the trading partner, saying only that it was "A BIG, AND HIGHLY RESPECTED, COUNTRY" and that representatives would join him at 10 a.m. ET in the Oval Office.
USDA chief says agency is trying to fill key jobs after paying 15,000 to leave
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the department will consider bringing back some employees who took the government's deferred resignation offer.
Trump picks Casey Means for surgeon general, after first nominee withdraws
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat withdrew her nomination for Surgeon General after questions about her credentials. Dr. Casey Means has a medical degree from Stanford and a best-selling book on metabolic health.
Energy Star, efficiency program that has steered consumer choice, targeted in cuts
An Environmental Protection Agency plan to eliminate its Energy Star offices would end a decades-old program that gave consumers a choice to buy environmentally friendly electronics and save money on bills, consumer and environmental groups said.
In the wake of tariffs, cargo at the Port of LA is down 35%
The immediate impact of the cargo decline affects virtually every business around the ports, but port officials say this downturn will soon be felt much more broadly.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ fame posed challenges during jury selection
Nearly 100 potential jurors were whittled down to a group of 45 on Wednesday ahead of the mogul's case for racketeering and prostitution. For many, his outsized celebrity was an issue.
How a visit from actor Jon Voight led Trump to post about movie tariffs
Since he announced his intention to impose a 100% tariff on movies made outside of the United States, President Trump has hedged, saying he's open to meeting with industry leaders.
After an Arizona man was shot, an AI video of him addresses his killer in court
AI experts say this is likely the first time that AI has been used in the U.S. to create an impact statement read by an AI rendering of the deceased victim
3 former Memphis police officers found not guilty in the death of Tyre Nichols
A jury found the three men not guilty of all charges in connection with the 2023 fatal beating, including the most serious charge of second-degree murder.
Disney’s newest theme park will be in Abu Dhabi
The company's theme parks and cruises make up a fast-growing section of its profits. The new park will be located on Yas Island with a number of existing attractions.
Cheap and easy ways to stock your emergency go bag
Putting together a go bag doesn't have to be daunting or expensive. Here's how to create a functional kit that doesn't require much money, time or effort.
Black smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel as cardinals cast an unsuccessful first vote
Black smoke streamed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the more than 130 cardinal electors have not come to a two-thirds agreement about who the next pope should be.
Tensions escalate as Pakistan calls India’s operation ‘an act of war’
Pakistan says India's strikes on Wednesday is "an act of war." India's military described its operation as targeting "terrorist infrastructure."
Humans still haven’t seen 99.999% of the deep seafloor
Human eyes have only seen a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of the areas of the world that are covered by deep water. Scientists want to change how they explore these regions.
A Swedish hard-rock band tops the charts, while Kendrick Lamar ties an all-time record
The Swedish hard-rock band Ghost has never topped the Billboard 200 albums chart — until this week. Elsewhere, Kendrick Lamar's "Luther (feat. SZA)" holds at No. 1 for an 11th week, tying a record for hip-hop songs.
Trump administration plans to deport migrants to Libya
A U.S. official has confirmed to NPR that the Trump administration is planning to deport migrants to Libya, another step in a crackdown on illegal immigration.
JD Vance’s half-brother advances in his uphill quest to become Cincinnati’s mayor
Cory Bowman, who shares a father with Vance, says he was inspired to enter the race after his half-brother's inauguration. A Republican last ran for Cincinnati mayor, unsuccessfully, in 2009.
On his surprise piano EP, André 3000 continues to play with our expectations
Few music icons have consistently pulled magic — or unpredictable pivots — out the hat like André 3000. 7 piano sketches, his newly released surprise EP, follows up the instrumental turn he took on 2023's New Blue Sun with another non-rap project.
