News

Woodfin officially announces bid for third term as Birmingham mayor

He cited his investments in infrastructure, including redevelopments of blighted structures and street paving. He also didn’t shy away from what many consider to be Birmingham’s biggest issue: public safety.

Pope Francis is in critical condition, the Vatican says

The 88-year-old Francis has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection.

NIH funding freeze stalls applications on $1.5 billion in medical research funds

The National Institutes of Health had to stop considering new grant applications, delaying funding for research into diseases ranging from heart disease and cancer to Alzheimer's and allergies.

Opinion: Amazon to deliver a new James Bond

Amazon has acquired the creative license to the long-running James Bond franchise. But how do they plan to deliver?

Burnout is a problem for caseworkers serving unhoused people

People who provide assistance to the unhoused often feel traumatized by their work.

Trump administration plans mass firing at office that funds homelessness programs

Staffing at the HUD office that pays for housing and support services across the country is slated to be cut by 84%. Advocates warn such heavy cuts could make record-high homelessness even worse.

How many fourth-graders does it take to make a podcast? Here’s what we learned

Students in an elementary school broadcasting club in California are among the youngest winners of NPR's Student Podcast Challenge.

Elon Musk blurs the line between his government and business roles

The tech titan and President Trump say they will avoid any conflicts of interest, but it's difficult for the public to verify that.

Here’s what to know about Germany’s election this Sunday

An economic slump, an immigration crisis and the lifting of a security blanket provided for decades by the U.S. are issues on the minds of German voters. The far-right AfD is polling in second place.

Want to reduce soreness after a workout? Make time for this 4-step routine

These simple post-workout activities can help reduce pain and even improve athletic performance. But many people don't prioritize recovery and self-care after exercise.

Hamas releases Israeli hostages, returns remains of Shiri Bibas

Hamas to release the last six live hostages whose freedom they agreed to under the current ceasefire deal.

Arab leaders huddle in Saudi Arabia in pushback to Trump’s Gaza plans

Leaders from Egypt, Jordan and other Arab states met in Saudi Arabia to discuss alternative plans for Gaza's future than the one laid out by President Trump, which calls for displacing Palestinians.

Federal prisons prep to move trans inmates as early as next week

The Bureau of Prisons is moving forward with plans to move transgender inmates out of prisons that align with their gender identity and into facilities that align with their assigned sex at birth.

Trump fires the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Trump announced the dismissal of Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and said he would nominate Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, a retired three-star general, to succeed him as the top U.S. military officer.

Judge largely blocks Trump’s executive orders ending federal support for DEI programs

A U.S. district judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from terminating or changing federal contracts they consider equity-related.

NBC settles defamation lawsuit with doctor falsely labeled “uterus collector”

MSNBC had aired stories falsely claiming the doctor performed mass hysterectomies on female detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Georgia.

Federal judge hears arguments to decide the future of Trump’s federal funding freeze

The case, brought by attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia, represents a pivotal test for the administration as it pursues a dramatic review of government spending priorities.

A brief history of beards and baseball after the Yankees lift their no beard policy

The New York Yankees are changing a nearly 50-year-old policy that banned beards. Here are some things to know about the history of beards in major league baseball.

Census Bureau stopped work on data for protecting trans rights, former director says

Because of a Trump executive order, the Census Bureau is stopping work on statistics that could help protect the rights of transgender people, its recently departed director, Robert Santos, tells NPR.

Man who stabbed Salman Rushdie convicted of attempted murder

Hadi Matar faces up to 25 years in prison for the attack that left the 77-year-old writer blind in one eye.

In court, Luigi Mangione’s lawyer claims he was searched illegally during arrest

Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had his first court appearance since he was arraigned in December on charges including murder as an act of terrorism.

Supreme Court punts on order that blocked Trump’s firing of special counsel

Per Congress' directive, the occupant of the position can only be fired for "inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office."

Trump’s passport policy leaves trans, intersex Americans in the lurch

President Trump's executive order that the federal government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, is disrupting the lives of some trans, nonbinary and intersex people applying for passports.

AP sues Trump White House for denying access over ‘Gulf of Mexico’ row

The White House has kept the wire service from covering key events because it refuses to call the body of water between Mexico and Florida the Gulf of America, as the Trump administration prefers.

The Netherlands will return more than 100 bronze artifacts to Nigeria

The artifacts were stolen by British soldiers in the late 19th century and eventually made their way to a Dutch collection.

‘See you in court’: Trump and Maine’s governor spar over trans athlete order

The Maine Principal's Association said it would continue to allow trans girls to compete in school sports, saying President Trump's recent executive order is in conflict with state law.

Federal judge wants ‘adversarial’ review of NYC Mayor Eric Adams-DOJ deal

Corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams are on hold while a judge seeks legal input on whether the DOJ can dismiss them.

After mass layoffs, some federal agencies are trying to bring employees back

A number of federal agencies, from HHS to the USDA, have laid off employees only to rescind those terminations days later. An expert says it "suggests something about mismanagement of government."

Senate adopts budget resolution after marathon vote-a-rama. Now what?

The Senate's budget framework is at odds with the House's approach, and both chambers ultimately have to be on the same page to get the legislation across the finish line.

Can there be peace in Ukraine, or is Putin just playing for time?

As the Trump administration works toward a halt in the fighting, many experts fear that Ukraine will be forced to accept a ceasefire deal that will only give Russian forces a badly needed breather.

Alabama lawmakers target social media

Social media is under fire nowadays, especially when it comes to use by children. Several bills in the Alabama Legislature would restrict how kids could use social media. We hear more about that and other happenings in Montgomery from Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.

Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime to win the contentious 4 Nations Face-Off

The North American hockey rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into an geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.