News
A South Carolina prisoner is the first executed by a firing squad in 15 years
A South Carolina man who killed his ex-girlfriend's parents with a baseball bat was executed by firing squad Friday, the first U.S. prisoner in 15 years to die by that method.
Trump signs executive action targeting public service loan program
The program forgives the loans of borrowers who work in public service. The executive action would exclude those who work for certain organizations.
The soundtrack to King Charles’ life features music from Kylie Minogue
King Charles III has admitted he is not impervious to a generational earworm like Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head," after sharing a playlist that represents the soundtrack of his life.
Trump administration cancels $400 million in federal dollars for Columbia University
The administration said it was cancelling grants and other federal awards for Columbia for an alleged failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism.
Gene Hackman died of heart disease, his wife died of hantavirus, authorities say
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, authorities revealed Friday.
A Lagos community, destroyed in one day
At least 9,000 people have been forcefully evicted from a riverside community in Nigeria's most populous city, Lagos. Like many waterfront communities across the city, it has faced multiple threats and been targeted by luxury real estate developers.
President Trump brings back practice of detaining families together
President Trump also detained families during his first term in an effort to deter migration through the southern border.
New research reveals ancient humans used animal bone tools much earlier than thought
The handcrafted tools found in Tanzania were made 1.5 million years ago and were fashioned primarily from the bones of elephants and hippopotamuses.
Former government watchdog on his decision to end legal fight challenging his firing
NPR's Juana Summers speaks with Hampton Dellinger, who formerly led an independent watchdog agency, about his decision to drop his lawsuit challenging Trump's attempt to fire him without cause.
Top Democrats ask Rubio for answers on now-canceled $400 million Tesla plan
A letter from two House Democrats presses Rubio for details about who approved an effort to try to use hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money on armored electric vehicles from Tesla.
A former Olympic snowboarder makes the FBI’s Most Wanted list
Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder-turned-alleged-drug trafficker, "went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine," the FBI says.
Syria imposes curfew after its worst clashes since the Assad regime ouster
Syria's new government sent in security reinforcements and imposed curfews on a coastal area after major clashes with fighters loyal to the deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
War heroes are among 26,000 images flagged for removal in Pentagon’s DEI purge
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had given the military until Wednesday to remove content highlighting diversity efforts following an executive order ending those programs across the government.
Immigration bills make headway in Montgomery
Immigration is one of the major issues of the moment at the national level. Alabama lawmakers are not far behind by taking up several bills intended to fight illegal immigration. We hear about some of those measures plus other action this week in Montgomery from Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.
She got her dream job at CDC back. But she’s already moving on
An unknown number of fired CDC workers got their jobs back this week. Among them was Bri McNulty, who had shared her story with NPR.
The job market is still pretty solid — but there are warning signs ahead
U.S. employers added 151,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate inched up to 4.1% from 4% in January.
A look at some of the creative ways companies try to dodge high tariffs
Companies can try to avoid or minimize tariffs by requesting exemptions or legally reclassifying their products. Here's a look at some of the strategies that have worked in the past.
How a measles outbreak overwhelmed a small West Texas town
The kindergarten vaccination rate against the measles in Gaines County is 82%, far below the 95% needed to achieve herd immunity.
Farmers strongly back Trump. A new trade war could test their loyalty
American farmers have stood firmly behind President Trump even when his trade policies hurt them. The latest trade war, which could be even worse for their sector, promises to test those ties again.
Trump says nobody has heard of Lesotho. Can you answer our quiz question about it?
It was another action-packed week, with the Academy Awards, Mardi Gras and the president's address to Congress. Did you pay attention?
Amid a growing measles outbreak, doctors worry RFK is sending the wrong message
There are now two confirmed deaths in a measles outbreak that has spread from West Texas across the border into New Mexico. And infectious disease doctors are concerned RFK Jr's response is missing the mark.
Why VA mental health workers feel Elon Musk’s emails are psychological warfare
Mental health professionals with the Veterans Health Administration say the stress caused by Elon Musk's "What did you do last week?" emails is hurting veterans' care.
The U.S. Postal Service could face substantial change. What comes next?
The changes Trump reportedly is proposing to the Postal Service, such as a merger with the Department of Commerce, would likely be challenged in federal court, experts say.
Trump is set to speak to crypto founders and investors at the White House on Friday
President Trump signed an order late Thursday creating a cryptocurrency strategic reserve using bitcoin seized through court proceedings, directing officials to find "budget-neutral" ways to grow it.
Don’t let daylight saving time mess with your sleep. Sign up for our special newsletter
Prepare yourself for the time change and sign up for our one-week newsletter series, Life Kit's Guide to Better Sleep. You'll get science-backed strategies to help you get your sleep back on track.
‘Queen of the Ring’ star Emily Bett Rickards on wrestling pioneer Mildred Burke
In Ash Avildsen's new film Queen of The Ring, Emily Bett Rickards plays the role of Mildred Burke, a single mother who defied the odds in the 1930s to become the first million-dollar female athlete in the male-dominated world of professional wrestling.
The short history of Trump’s tariff chaos — and more that happened this week
It was a week that saw not only more twists in the tariffs saga but also Trump's big Hill address, the suspension of aid to Ukraine, more firings at agencies, and more. NPR keeps track, day by day.
Five takeaways: China’s foreign minister slams Trump’s ‘two-faced’ policies
China's top foreign policy official addressed the escalating trade war with the U.S. and promoted China as an "anchor" on the global stage as America retreats from international involvement.
Walgreens agrees to be acquired by private equity firm for almost $10 billion
A buyout to take the drugstore chain private would give it more flexibility to make changes to improve its business without worrying about Wall Street's reaction.
Court orders South Korean President Yoon released from jail
The decision would allow Yoon to stand his criminal trial while not being physically detained. The court is expected to rule soon on whether to uphold his impeachment or remove him from office.
SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight ends with another explosion
Nearly two months after an explosion sent flaming debris raining down on the Turks and Caicos, SpaceX launched another mammoth Starship rocket but lost contact minutes into the test flight.
Arts groups sue NEA for new ‘gender ideology’-related grant restrictions
The lawsuit pushes back against a recent executive order from President Donald Trump that asks funding applicants to agree not to promote "gender ideology" in their work.
