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Flu cases rise again, while COVID takes a back seat

It's an unusual winter for respiratory illnesses. The flu is peaking twice: once in early January and again in February. Meanwhile, it's the mildest COVID winter since the pandemic began.

It’s like ‘dead birds flying’: How bird flu is spreading in the wild

That's the way one scientist puts it — referring to how infected wild birds survive long enough to spread it to birds and mammals around the world. And that's a serious risk for human health.

U.S. education policy is at a crossroads. This congressional hearing shows why

The House education committee is charged with forging consensus on the nation's education policy. But at a recent meeting, partisan differences were on full display.

Do you remember ‘Sharpiegate’? What about Roman numerals? Find out in the quiz

This week calls for some throwback thinking. If you can recall how Roman numerals work, you'll get at least one question correct.

Exclusive: GM, Pepsi, Disney, others scrub some DEI references from investor reports

Some companies have announced diversity rollbacks — but many more are deleting or softening language from their investor disclosures, an NPR analysis finds.

Here’s a Super Bowl riddle: Why are egg prices surging — but not chicken wings?

There is one economic riddle ahead of Super Bowl Sunday: The egg market has been hit hard by avian flu, but wings are abundant and relatively affordable this year. So what gives?

What does Trump mean when he invokes America’s ‘Manifest Destiny’?

The 19th century term describes the perceived right of Americans to use force or the threat of force to wrest desireable land from the grasp of others.

Health care is key for youths getting out of prison. A new law helps them get it

It's common for young people leaving jails and prisons to end up back behind bars, often after lapses related to untreated mental illness or substance abuse. A new law will help them get Medicaid.

Trump’s executive actions curbing transgender rights focus on ‘gender ideology’

President Trump signed a series of executive actions that would limit transgender and nonbinary people's rights by focusing on "gender ideology." But the term is loaded, without a universal definition.

Republicans race to release plans to advance Trump policy agenda in Congress

House Speaker Mike Johnson is working with House Republicans to advance a budget bill that would allow Republicans to pass many of Trump's top policy priorities without threat of a Senate filibuster.

Japan’s Ishiba to push importance of alliance during visit with Trump

Trump has long felt that Japan and other wealthy allies take advantage of the U.S., racking up big trade surpluses, while paying too little for the cost of American military protection.

Trump carries out his ‘flood the zone’ strategy, creating a week of whiplash

An attempt to identify and explain some of the biggest things that happened each week, and draw attention to some that have been overlooked.

Rwanda-backed rebels tell residents of captured eastern Congolese city they are safe

The rebels continued advances in eastern Congo despite their own announcement of a cease-fire. The U.N. secretary-general called for them to lay down their guns and agree to mediation.

Alabama puts man to death in the nation’s fourth execution using nitrogen gas

Frazier in his final words criticized Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for not returning him to serve out a previous life sentence in her state, which doesn't have the death penalty.

NCAA bars transgender athletes from women’s sports after Trump order

The move came one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports.

EPA employees who work on environmental justice are put on leave

In an email obtained by NPR, employees at EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights were told they were on administrative leave, effective immediately.

Senate Democrats call for answers on health communications freeze and funding delays

Two letters from different groups of senators call for answers from the Trump administration about pauses in scientific communications and funding.

Alabama puts man to death for a 1991 murder in the nation’s fourth execution using nitrogen gas

Demetrius Frazier was pronounced dead at a south Alabama prison Thursday evening for his murder conviction in the 1991 rape and killing of Pauline Brown. It was the first execution in Alabama this year.

Member of Elon Musk’s DOGE team resigns after racist posts resurface

Marko Elez had recently been given special access by a federal judge to highly sensitive payment systems in the Department of Treasury.

NASA instructs employees to remove pronouns from all work communications

An email seen by NPR says the move is to comply with a presidential order to "restore biological truth" to the government.

U.K.’s foreign office cat Palmerston shows up for duty in Bermuda

The former rescue feline joined the British diplomatic service in 2016 and gained a large following online for fulfilling his duty with charisma. He retired in 2020 but is back in action now.

USAID cut dramatically as officials address ‘stunning and irresponsible’ changes

Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved less than 300 essential personnel as USAID staff in the U.S. and overseas rush to rapidly close missions and leave jobs by midnight Friday.

Historic Black church given ‘Proud Boys’ trademark calls for stand against hate

A judge ordered the naming rights of the extremist group the Proud Boys be given to the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.

Bill Gates is optimistic about the global future

In a wide-ranging interview with NPR, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates expressed concern about the new administration's recent steps to pull back from approach to public health but says he's optimistic about the future and wants to find common ground with the White House.

Italian politicians allege Donald Trump Jr.’s hunting party killed a protected duck

Italian politicians want action against a hunting party that included the president's son, who they accuse of allegedly killing a ruddy shelduck. One Italian paper called it the "Donald Duck crisis."

Bone appétit! Dog treats from lab-grown meat are hitting the U.K. market

Experts say a fifth of U.K. meat consumption is by pets, not people. If Fido eats lab-grown meat, they say, it could cut the country's carbon footprint.

‘Coming to New York’ stories are alive and well in these two new books

Kay Sohini's graphic memoir, This Beautiful, Ridiculous City, tells a story of migration and redefinition. Gay Talese gathers many of his great pieces about the city in A Town Without Time.

Revenge of the Super Bowl Playlists: Philly Over Everybody

This Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs go head-to-head on the championship stage once more. Gear up for the game with this Philly-centric music mix.

A pro dominatrix and novelist says empathy, curiosity and bravery are key to both jobs

After publishing her first novel when she was 21, Brittany Newell started working as a dominatrix. The job gave her time to write — and plenty of material to draw from. Her new novel is Soft Core.

Today’s local history makers: We want to hear who is making Black history near you

It's Black History Month and the Up First newsletter wants to highlight local history makers. Do you know anyone who has made a difference and should be celebrated this month? If so, we want to hear.

CISA staffers offered deferred resignations, extending broader cybersecurity fears

Staff at the key cybersecurity agency were initially excluded from government efforts to leave their jobs, but then on Wednesday they were given deferred resignation offers with just hours to decide.

Trump’s anti-trans effort is an agenda cornerstone with echoes in history

Extremism experts say a now-familiar playbook to scapegoat transgender people in the wake of high-profile tragedies is part of a political strategy to sow division and expand authoritarian control.