News
Skulls once subject to racist study in Germany are laid to rest in New Orleans
A memorial and jazz funeral honored 19 Black Americans, whose remains were recently repatriated from Germany where they were used for racial research in the late 1800s.
‘We all are going to die’: Sen. Ernst offers bleak response to grilling over Medicaid
The Republican senator offered a glib response to constituent questions at a town hall regarding cuts to Medicaid under the Trump-endorsed One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
An immigration raid at a San Diego restaurant leads to a chaotic scene
Videos show armed agents in tactical gear, a crowd of locals and what appear to be smoke devices deployed.
Greetings from Warsaw, Poland, where the flags are flying ahead of a key election
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international correspondents share snapshots of moments from their lives and work around the world.
Hamas responds to U.S. ceasefire proposal for Gaza
While the militant group says it will release 10 living and 18 deceased hostages still held in Gaza, there appear to be other details that need to be worked out before a ceasefire is declared.
Hegseth says the U.S. will reposition military amid threat from China
At an international forum in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is refocusing its strength and policies on deterring China, and coaxed China's neighbors and U.S. allies to help.
Why Sacred Harp singers are revamping an iconic pre-Civil War hymnal
A new edition of “The Sacred Harp,” a Christian hymnal first published in 1844, is being released this year. It helps carry on the more than 180-year-old American folk singing tradition that is as much about the community as it is the music.
Trump pardons drug kingpins even as he escalates U.S. drug war rhetoric
President Trump has promised to attack drug gangs and called for the death penalty for street dealers. But he has also pardoned more than 20 people serving time for serious drug crimes some involving violence.
A disabled mom’s message to parents: We all need help, and it’s OK to ask for it
Raising two kids while living with an autonomic nervous system disorder taught Jessica Slice to embrace interdependence. Her story is a reminder to parents of the power of asking for help.
Worth playing for? An NPR producer recreates ‘Survivor’ with friends every year
After All Things Considered producer Mia Venkat became a fan of Survivor, she and her friend group play their own version every year.
Memory cafes offer camaraderie and fun for people with dementia — and their caregivers
'Memory cafes' are small social gatherings for individuals with dementia — and their caregivers, too. As public health funding shrinks, memory cafes are cheap to run and can offer measurable benefits.
Trump’s deals with law firms are like deals ‘made with a gun to the head,’ lawyers say
The White House said it's reached deals with nine law firms to provide about $1 billion in pro bono services. But the details of those agreements remain murky.
Meta plans to replace humans with AI to assess privacy and societal risks
Current and former Meta employees fear the new automation push comes at the cost of allowing AI to make tricky determinations about how Meta's apps could lead to real world harm.
CDC recommends parents talk to a doctor about getting COVID-19 shots for kids
RFK Jr. announced this week that the federal government is removing the recommendation that kids and pregnant women get routine COVID-19 vaccines. But CDC advice is more nuanced.
Here’s the science behind the COVID vaccine in pregnancy
Existing evidence on the safety and efficacy of getting a COVID vaccine in pregnancy all points the same way: the shot is important for maternal and fetal health.
Food for Gaza decays in Jordan warehouses as Israel restricts aid
Food aid is moldering in warehouses in Jordan, the main hub for humanitarian aid to Gaza. Other foods and medicines are loaded on trucks that have waited for months at Israeli border crossings.
PBS and Minnesota public TV station sue Trump White House
PBS and Lakeland PBS in rural Minnesota are suing President Trump over his executive order demanding that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting kill all funding for the public television network.
Why did Alabama families drop their challenge to an anti-transgender law?
Alabama parents sued the state over a law banning gender-affirming care for minors, but they dropped the suit earlier this month.
Trump nominates official with ties to antisemitic extremists to lead ethics agency
President Trump nominated Paul Ingrassia to lead the Office of Special Counsel, a government agency that enforces ethics law and protects whistleblowers, despite Ingrassia's links to extremists.
Billowing smoke from Canadian wildfires wafts into the U.S.
The Manitoba wildfires have forced 17,000 people to flee the province. Plumes of heavy smoke are expected to drift into the United States over Friday and Saturday, affecting millions of Americans.
Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams wins libel case against BBC over spy murder claim
Adams sued over an allegation in a 2016 documentary that he sanctioned the 2006 killing of a British spy in Ireland. A jury in Dublin's High Court awarded Adams damages of 100,000 euros ($113,000).
French health ministry extends smoking ban
France to ban smoking at beaches, parks and outside schools from July 1st to protect children.
Supreme Court allows Trump administration to end humanitarian status for some migrants
The move to grant a stay in the case means that the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who were granted temporary parole under the program known as CHNV would lose their temporary legal status to be in the U.S.
Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape, sexual assault charges in U.K.
On Friday, Brand pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and assault that date back more than 25 years. He says the charges are politically motivated. His trial is set for 2026.
Can this nasal spray slow down Alzheimer’s? One couple is helping scientists find out
Joe Walsh is the first Alzheimer's patient to be treated with an experimental nasal spray designed to reduce inflammation in the brain.
Oil companies face a wrongful death suit tied to climate change
Julie Leon died of hyperthermia in Seattle on June 28, 2021 — the hottest day in the city's history. A lawsuit claims she was a victim of oil companies' "misrepresentations" about climate change.
Are you smarter than a 13-year-old? Take our Scripps Spelling Bee test and find out
If you weren't playing along at home during Thursday night's final, take our mini-Bee quiz, which uses words from the real thing.
Will I get refunds? Small businesses wonder as courts rule on Trump tariffs
Court rulings against President Trump's tariffs could spell relief for many American importers — if the decisions hold. For now, the uncertainty remains.
Which Biden-era case is the FBI NOT reexamining? Find out in the quiz
This week, vaccines took a hit from the Trump administration, some reality TV stars got pardoned, and there was a media frenzy around a certain French interaction. Were you paying attention?
Google and the DOJ wrap up a historic tech monopoly case: What to know
The Justice Department and Google have one final chance to convince a federal judge how the tech giant should change its practices so it can no longer monopolize the search market.
Elon Musk is leaving the federal government. What’s next for DOGE?
Elon Musk is leaving the Department of Government Efficiency effort. His 130 day tenure was marked by legal setbacks, overstated savings claims and little evidence DOGE made things more efficient.
Federal workers keep America’s farms healthy. What now under Trump?
More than a thousand people who worked to keep American agriculture free of pests and disease have left the federal workforce in President Trump's massive government downsizing.
