News

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.

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.

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.

Trump’s calls for U.S. to ‘take over’ Gaza spurs anger, frustration in Dearborn

President Trump carried the majority Arab American city in the 2024 election, driven by widespread anger over the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza.

Alabama set to execute a man with nitrogen gas for 1991 murder and rape

Demetrius Terrence Frazier was convicted of the 1991 murder of 41-year-old Pauline Brown. Prosecutors said Frazier raped and shot her after breaking into her Birmingham apartment. If carried out, Frazier's execution will be the third in the United States in 2025 and the first in Alabama this year.

Some federal health websites restored, others still down, after data purge

While some information has been restored, scientists are still alarmed over the removal of data. It's not clear what has changed, and some pages remain offline.

Spinal stimulation restored muscles wasted by rare genetic disorder

Three patients with spinal muscular atrophy had improved muscle strength and could walk farther after a month of daily spinal stimulation.

Israel defense minister tells army to prepare to relocate Palestinians from Gaza

He says the military should prepare exit options by land, sea and air so that anyone who wishes to can leave for "any country willing to accept them."

You have more control over your emotions than you think

In his new book, Shift, psychologist and neuroscientist Ethan Kross busts common assumptions about how to manage big feelings and explains why it's OK sometimes to avoid them for a while.

Even now, Ke Huy Quan doesn’t feel good enough — but that narrative is changing

The Everything, Everywhere, All at Once star says the day after he won his Oscar for the role, he woke up thinking, "Was that all a dream?"

Don’t give a hoot about sports? The Superb Owl might be for you

What began as an accidental misspelling or an online joke has soared into a cultural phenomenon.

Why CBS stands at the epicenter of Trump’s assault on the media

CBS News appears likely to settle a lawsuit brought by President Trump in a case that legal observers say it should win. The network is caught up in Trump's broader assault on the media and an owner intent on finalizing a sale.

Here’s who will perform at the Super Bowl on Sunday

Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show with special guest SZA. Jon Batiste will sing the national anthem.

FBI agents, prosecutors fear retribution from Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump

Officials involved in Jan. 6 prosecutions say the Trump administration isn't protecting them from threats. "We don't think they'll care — unless and until one of us gets killed," an official told NPR.

How U.S. progressives broke the administrative state, according to Marc J. Dunkelman

Author Marc Dunkelman discusses how progressive policies have stifled the government's ability to carry out big infrastructure projects.

As ‘Fork’ resignation deadline arrives, a federal judge will consider a stay

The Trump administration has given more than 2 million federal employees until Thursday to decide whether to stay or go. A last-minute court hearing may throw a wrench into the administration's plans.

Baltic nations count final hours to ending electricity ties to Russia

The severing of electricity ties to Russia is rich in geopolitical significance. Work on it sped up after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.

Mexico deploys the first National Guard troops to U.S. border after tariff threat

Trump said he would delay imposing tariffs on Mexico for at least a month. In exchange, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum promised to send the country's National Guard to reinforce the border.

Guatemala gives U.S. another migrant deportation deal

The agreements potentially help the Trump administration address a key sticking point in immigration enforcement since not everyone in the U.S. illegally can be easily sent back home.

A new type of bird flu has been found in dairy cows in Nevada

The strain of bird flu is distinct from what has previously been found in dairy cattle. The finding means the virus has again spilled over from birds to cows, and it raises some worrying questions.

Protesters rally against Trump’s stop-work order for USAID

USAID and nonprofit workers gathered near the Capitol in D.C. to protest Elon Musk's efforts to shut down the aid agency with his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

New attorney general moves to align Justice Department with Trump’s priorities

Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have both argued the Justice Department under Biden unfairly targeted conservatives, most notably Trump himself.