News

It’s your last chance to claim pandemic-era stimulus checks, the IRS says. Here’s how

The IRS says some Americans who have not filed their 2021 tax returns could be eligible for a pandemic-era relief payment, as long as they do so by April 15. Here's what to know as Tax Day approaches.

Louisiana has a long history with French. This immersion school aims to keep it alive

Most Louisianans no longer speak French, but a growing number of schools are now immersing kids in it. At École Pointe-au-Chien, the focus is on teaching local French dialects first.

‘AI Valley’ author worries there’s ‘so much power in the hands of few people’

Author Gary Rivlin says regulation can help control how AI is used: "AI could be an amazing thing around health, medicine, scientific discoveries, education ... as long as we're deliberate about it."

Israel has launched a new ground invasion into Gaza after breaking ceasefire

Israel's military launched a new ground offensive in Gaza, sending troops into areas they retreated from during a two-month ceasefire. This comes a day after airstrikes killed more than 400 people.

Here are all the ways people are disappearing from government websites

Executive orders from President Trump have agencies across the government scrubbing websites of photos and references to transgender people, women and people of color.

Mahmoud Khalil’s immigration case moves to New Jersey from New York

The decision offers a venue compromise in the bellwether case, while Khalil's legal team seeks to release him from detention and block his deportation.

Zelenskyy and Trump speak after Trump’s call with Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for about an hour with President Trump on Wednesday, following Trump's call on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

How vulnerable might humans be to bird flu? Scientists see hope in existing immunity

Very few humans have gone up against bird flu. But we've all dealt with seasonal flu for years. Some of our immune systems might be primed to fend off a worse case, research finds.

5 ways the pandemic changed us for good, for bad and forever

This month marks five years since the pandemic began, and here are 5 things that changed permanently.

Data centers bring billions to Mississippi. Are the investments worth the risk?

State leaders have lauded the beginning of two new projects, but some industry experts said they come with big power demands and few permanent jobs.

Switching from gas to electric? Here are 3 appliances that are easy to install

Changing from gas to climate-friendly electric appliances often involves expensive retrofits. A growing list of companies offer stoves, heat pumps and water heaters that make it easier and cheaper.

How astronauts adjust when back on Earth after being in space

Astronauts face several risks during spaceflight, including exposure to radiation.

Alabama lawmakers approve a ban on devices that convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns

A bipartisan coalition pushed the Alabama legislation after several multiple mass shootings last year, including the shooting deaths of four people outside a Birmingham nightclub in September. The devices are already banned under federal law, but there’s currently no state law that bans them.

After historic indictment, doctors will keep mailing abortion pills over state lines

Doctors who mail abortion medication pills across state lines have been on alert ever since Louisiana, which bans abortion, indicted a New York doctor for mailing the pills to a woman there.

Trump’s handling of Ukraine and tariffs has NATO rethinking the U.S.-made F-35 fighter

The F-35 was meant as a one-size-fits-all fighter that could be used across NATO. But strained U.S.-Europe relations are giving some member countries second thoughts about the U.S.-built plane.

Family of U.S. student missing in the Dominican Republic believes she drowned

Sudiksha Konanki remains missing after she disappeared during a spring break trip with friends.

Stargazing, poetry and meditation: What connects NPR readers to their spirituality

NPR readers of different belief systems share the poignant rituals that make them feel close to their spirituality. For some, it's poetry and gardening, for others, it's meditation and community.

Why did Israel resume the war in Gaza?

Israel launched deadly strikes in Gaza to pressure Hamas to agree to a new ceasefire. Hamas isn't budging, and more than half of recently freed hostages oppose the renewed war. Why is Israel doing it?

Professional players’ group likens tennis organizers to a ‘cartel’ in its lawsuit

The antitrust lawsuit filed by the Professional Tennis Players' Association says the organizations that run the sport hold "complete control over the players' pay and working conditions."

Sexual misconduct allegations in UN missions topped 100 in 2024

The United Nations has long been in the spotlight over allegations of child rape and other sexual abuses by its peacekeepers, especially by those based in Congo and the Central African Republic.

Mexico City bans violent bullfighting, sparking fury and celebration

The decision sparked angry protests from bullfighting supporters and matadors, some of whom tried to breach a police barricade at the local Congress.

Louisiana executes Jessie Hoffman by nitrogen gas in 1st use of death penalty in 15 years

With Hoffman’s execution, Louisiana joins Alabama as the only other state in the U.S. to use the controversial gas method on a person condemned to death.

Federal judge blocks Trump effort to ban transgender troops from military service

The decision by U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes blocks the Department of Defense from carrying through with a policy directive designed to remove transgender service members from the military.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty sues Trump administration over canceled contract

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a government-backed overseas broadcaster, sued the Trump administration in an attempt to get it to release funds appropriated by Congress.

Alabama’s celebrity weatherman pleads for the National Weather Service

With the life-saving Weather Service in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump and chainsaw-wielding billionaire Elon Musk, weather forecasters like James Spann are speaking out to defend the agency that provides the backbone for their work.

Trump calls for the impeachment of a judge, as lawsuits pile up

To date, 127 legal cases have been filed against the Trump administration's actions since President Trump took office. The cases challenge an enormous range of subjects.

Vice President Vance has a new gig: fundraising for the Republican National Committee

Vance will be the first sitting vice president to serve as party finance chairman, according to the RNC. The move places a top Trump ally within the party's campaign wing ahead of the 2026 midterms.

A federal judge says the USAID shutdown likely violated the Constitution

A federal judge has found that the Trump administration likely violated the Constitution when it effectively shuttered the U.S. Agency for International Development.

4 things to know about Judge Boasberg as he battles Trump over deportation flights

Judge Boasberg's role overseeing a new case that challenges the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador has cast an even brighter light on the longtime judge.

Firing federal employees was swift. Unwinding the terminations is proving complicated

Two federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of probationary employees it illegally fired. Agencies report they are doing so but placing most of them on paid leave.

Tensions mount as DOJ gives sworn response to judge’s questions about deportations

Trump administration lawyers defended the weekend flights that deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members despite a federal judge's order to turn the planes around.

Kremlin says it will halt strikes on Ukraine energy sector after Trump and Putin talk

President Trump has said he wants to broker an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. This was his second call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the issue.