After back-to-back hurricanes and wildfires, insurers are looking for more-resilient construction materials. That means building model homes and then blowing off their roofs or setting them on fire.
Southwestern China Forest Fire Contained After Killing Over Two Dozen Firefighters
Rugged terrain in the mountainous region of the Sichuan province, including a thick layer of forest and lack of access to water, hindered efforts to put out the fire.
A Shortage Of Shippers For Badly Needed Supplies Of Food And Medicine To Venezuela
Shipments from friends and family in South Florida have been a lifeline for Venezuelans. But, after months of economic and political turmoil, getting supplies to Venezuela has become more difficult.
It’s Not Just Avocados. Closing Mexico Border Would Hit U.S. Auto Plants Too
President Trump has threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico in response to a large number of illegal crossings. A closure would likely hit a wide range of industries, from produce to autos.
Federal Auto Regulator To Investigate Hyundai, Kia Vehicle Fires
Reports of thousands of fires and a petition from a consumer advocacy group led the auto regulator to open new investigations into fires that were not sparked by a collision.
History To Be Made As Chicago Votes For Mayor
No matter who wins, Chicago will be led by an African-American woman for the first time. The free-for-all campaign has represented a sharp contrast to almost every past election in the city.
Amid Scandal, Baltimore Mayor Takes Indefinite, Health-Related Leave
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh is embroiled in a political scandal involving hundreds of thousands of dollars for her self-published children’s books. She says she needs to “focus on her health.”
China To Close Loophole On Fentanyl After U.S. Calls For Opioid Action
Some manufacturers evaded scrutiny by slightly modifying the molecular structures of substances. Monday’s announcement “puts a wider array of substances under regulation,” a Chinese official says.
Venezuela’s Maduro Institutes Plan To Ration Electricity As Outages Spur More Protest
The president pleaded with the public to remain calm and resist violence as the country’s top “specialists, scientists and hackers” work to put an end to power, water and communications blackouts.
Murder Charge Dropped Against Vietnamese Woman In Death Of Kim Jong Un’s Half-Brother
Doan Thi Huong will plead guilty to a lesser charge. All charges against her Indonesian co-defendant, Siti Aisyah, were unexpectedly dropped last month. North Korea very likely ordered the killing.
Growing Corn Is A Major Contributor To Air Pollution, Study Finds
A study ties an estimated 4,300 premature deaths a year to the air pollution caused by corn production in the U.S. In some regions, the per-bushel health costs exceed the corn’s market price.
Have You Gone Live On Facebook? Share Your Thoughts About Facebook Live
Have you ever used Facebook Live? If so, share your experience. Your response could be used in an upcoming NPR story.
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Says He Will Resign By April 28
Bouteflika has been in power since 1999. Instead of holding an election this month to determine who will succeed the 82-year-old leader, Algeria’s government will enter a new “transition” phase.
‘Other Americans’ Take Center Stage In A Timely New Novel
The short chapters in Laila Lalami’s novel are narrated by a rotating cast of characters. They conjure a murder mystery, a cross-cultural romance, an immigrant saga, war stories and family dramas.
Netanyahu’s Tough Election Campaign Approach Appears To Channel Trump
The Israeli leader and his Likud party are waging a mudslinging campaign on social media, taking a page from the prime minister’s close ally President Trump in style and substance.
Carly Rae Jepsen Announces New Album ‘Dedicated’
We are truly blessed. Dedicated comes out May 17.
Supreme Court Closely Divides On ‘Cruel And Unusual’ Death Penalty Case
A divided court ruled against a Missouri man who said that because of a rare medical condition, death by lethal injection would constitute “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Computer Problems Blamed For Flight Delays That Hit U.S. Airlines
The FAA says the issue that affected Southwest, Delta and other carriers has been resolved. But with hundreds of flights affected, the delays could linger.
Census Bureau Must Be ‘Totally Objective’ On Citizenship Question, Director Says
Responding to President Trump’s tweet defending the controversial question, Steven Dillingham says his job will be “to conduct a census whether the question’s in there or if it isn’t.”
New Zealand Introduces Gun Control Bill Expected To Become Law Within Weeks
The bill would ban most types of semi-automatic guns, including those used in massacres at two mosques in March. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the proposed changes shortly after the attacks
Turkish Elections Suggest Cracks In Support For Erdogan’s AK Party
Sunday’s local elections are widely seen as a referendum on both President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership and his AK Party’s grip on power.
Nipsey Hussle, Grammy-Nominated Rapper And Philanthropist, Shot And Killed
Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti announced the news on Twitter Sunday night.
Afghan Vice President Survives Second Assassination Attempt In Less Than A Year
Taliban insurgents attacked the convoy of Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum on Saturday. Afghan officials said he was unharmed but at least one of his guards was killed.
Training A Computer To Read Mammograms As Well As A Doctor
Artificial intelligence is now being brought to bear on mammograms and could improve the accuracy of diagnoses. But previous computerized technology to do that didn’t live up to the hype.
More Than 750,000 Could Lose Food Stamps Under Trump Administration Proposal
The Trump administration has proposed changing food stamp rules to require able-bodied adults without children to work 20 hours or more a week or lose benefits.
3 Months Into New Criminal Justice Law, Success For Some And Snafus For Others
While some prisoners are benefiting from reduced sentences under the First Step Act, implementation of other aspects of the law has been hit with delays.
New Era Name ‘Reiwa’ Defines Japan As Emperor Akihito Prepares To Abdicate
The new era begins on May 1 with the ascension of Crown Prince Naruhito, following the 30-year “Heisei” era of Emperor Akihito.
Fears Are Forever In Jordan Peele’s ‘Twilight Zone’
A new incarnation of The Twilight Zone, narrated and executive produced by Jordan Peele, sees community somewhat differently from the original, but retains its sense of moral peril.
What You Need To Know About The 2020 Census
Why is the census important? How is it conducted? When does it officially start? NPR answers your questions about the upcoming national head count required by the U.S. Constitution once a decade.
More Flamingos Are Flocking to Mumbai Than Ever Before. The Reason Could be Sewage
There is an almost three-fold increase in the flamingo population in Mumbai, India. Rahul Khot, assistant director at the Bombay Natural History Society, tells NPR his speculations as to why.
The ‘Erin Brockovich of Slovakia’ Is Elected The Country’s First Female President
Slovakia elected anti-corruption campaigner Zuzana Caputova Saturday evening. The environmental activist turned politician has been hailed as the “Erin Brockovich of Slovakia.”
Former Homeland Security Head Napolitano Says Cybersecurity Should Be A Top Priority
In an interview about her book, How Safe Are We?, Janet Napolitano says “a wall is a symbol, it’s not a strategy” and that there’s no evidence Russia has stopped interfering with our election systems.
A Key To Peace In Afghanistan? Consider Conservation, Says One Scientist
Alex Dehgan, a former State Department official who ran the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Afghanistan program, argues science diplomacy can play a key role in rebuilding the country.
Closing Time: The Science Behind Nostalgia For Our Favorite Bars
First dates. Local bands. College years. The word “nostalgia” is mentioned frequently in regard to our beloved haunts that shuttered long ago. But how do we form these special feelings for a place?
For The First Time, U.S. Census To Collect Responses In Arabic Among 13 Languages
Households can respond to the 2020 census in more than double the number of languages supported in 2010. But some Arab-American community leaders are worried many Arabic speakers won’t participate.
In An Increasingly Polarized America, Is It Possible To Be Civil On Social Media?
Tyler and Larry have never met. But almost every day for the last few years, they get into a fight on Twitter.