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Something in the river: in search of the Muscle Shoals Sound
The Muscle Shoals area has given life to some of music’s most enduring hits, producing a sound that musicians far and wide have sought for decades. Part soul, gospel, country and rock, it’s something that transcends any one genre, ultimately getting chalked up to the “Muscle Shoals Sound.”
Colorado senator on Schumer: ‘It’s important for people to know when it’s time to go’
Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet stopped short Wednesday of calling on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to step down from leadership, but came pretty darn close.
Malaysia approves a new search for MH370 wreckage in the Indian Ocean
The Boeing 777 plane vanished from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014, carrying 239 people. The plane headed south to the far-southern Indian Ocean, where it is believed to have crashed.
Canada says China executed four Canadians earlier this year
Beijing's embassy in Ottawa said the executions were due to drug crimes and noted that China does not recognize dual citizenship.
Trump to sign order aiming to close the Education Department
The Trump administration has already moved to cut the department's staff by half.
Jury says Greenpeace owes hundreds of millions of dollars for Dakota pipeline protest
Experts say the verdict has relevance for free speech issues nationwide.
Birmingham mayor warns violators after Alabama bans gun conversion devices
The devices convert semi-automatic guns to fire like a fully automatic weapon. A bipartisan coalition pushed the Alabama legislation after several mass shootings last year, including the deaths of four people outside a Birmingham nightclub in September.
Trump admin. cuts funding for program that tracked Ukrainian children abducted by Russia
NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Rep. Greg Landsman, a lawmaker who signed a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking whether a database of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia had been deleted.
These scientists are building a cat database to understand why they act like that
The project, called Darwin's Cats, aims to enhance our understanding of feline behavior and genetics.
Miami Beach drops plans to evict a theater for showing ‘No Other Land’
Miami Beach's mayor has dropped an effort to evict and defund an arts cinema after strong opposition from the community and other elected officials.
As U.S. foreign aid programs grind to a halt, African health leaders look for a silver lining
Chad has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality. A group of midwives helped but now their jobs are on the line — one of many cases where countries must try to keep such programs alive.
The Fed holds interest rates steady as Trump’s trade agenda sparks uncertainty
The Fed held rates steady, but left the door open to cut them later this year if inflation continues to ease. Trump's tariffs, however, could complicate efforts to bring prices under control.
Patients scramble as cheaper obesity drug alternatives disappear
Compounding pharmacies have been allowed to essentially make a cheaper version of Eli Lilly's Zepbound, but they have to stop Wednesday. That's left many patients wondering what to do next.
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.
Karen Russell’s ‘The Antidote’ is an American epic — and well worth the wait
Russell has published excellent short story collections since her 2011 debut novel Swamplandia!, but this is her first novel in nearly 15 years. It follows a "Prairie Witch" in Dust Bowl-era Nebraska.
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.
Told one minute at a time, micro dramas are soap operas designed to fit in your hand
Apps like ReelShort, FlickReels and DramaBox offer short clips that add up to movie-length stories. Plus, they're filmed vertically, so you can follow the twisty plotlines without turning your phone.
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.
