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Rescue workers carry Diana Troncoso after pulling her from the rubble the day after an earthquake struck Cali, Colombia, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

Rescue workers carry Diana Troncoso after pulling her from the rubble the day after an earthquake struck Cali, Colombia, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. Ivan Valencia/AP hide caption

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Ivan Valencia/AP
Rescue workers carry Diana Troncoso after pulling her from the rubble the day after an earthquake struck Cali, Colombia, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.

Rescue workers carry Diana Troncoso after pulling her from the rubble the day after an earthquake struck Cali, Colombia, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. Ivan Valencia/AP hide caption

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Ivan Valencia/AP

The Americas

Earthquake response strains Colombia's new government and rescuers

The earthquake killed at least 181 people and left 2,595 injured, according to Colombian authorities. At least 195 remained missing, but civilian-run databases put that number closer to 4,000.
This photo provided by the family shows Robert Gilman and his sister, Lexie Hudson, in Lilburn, Ga., in 2019.

This photo provided by the family shows Robert Gilman and his sister, Lexie Hudson, in Lilburn, Ga., in 2019. Gilman family/via AP hide caption

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Gilman family/via AP
This photo provided by the family shows Robert Gilman and his sister, Lexie Hudson, in Lilburn, Ga., in 2019.

This photo provided by the family shows Robert Gilman and his sister, Lexie Hudson, in Lilburn, Ga., in 2019. Gilman family/via AP hide caption

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Gilman family/via AP

World

Former U.S. Marine held in Russia on disputed charges has been released

Russia released an American military veteran, allowing his return to the U.S. after four years of what his family and U.S. officials allege was wrongful incarceration and abusive treatment.
President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Morristown, N.J.

President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption

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Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Morristown, N.J.

President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP hide caption

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Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

World

Trump pivots back to sanctions for Iran as other strategies to end his war fizzle

The shift comes as U.S. stockpiles of key weapons have dwindled and as stop-start talks seem again to have stalled. But Trump insists the pressure can lead to a breakthrough.
An illustration showing the back of a female teacher looking nervously at a class of middle school students who are on laptops showing red screens with a stopwatch, indicating they had reached a screen time limit.
Charlotte Gomez for NPR
An illustration showing the back of a female teacher looking nervously at a class of middle school students who are on laptops showing red screens with a stopwatch, indicating they had reached a screen time limit.
Charlotte Gomez for NPR

Education

The school year begins in LA with one big change: limited screen time

As educators in the nation's second-largest district prepare for the new limits on classroom screen time, some teachers say it will be a difficult adjustment.

The school year begins in LA with one big change: limited screen time

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Being a Grateful Dead fan has always been about a shared experience.

Being a Grateful Dead fan has always been about a shared experience. KT Kanazawich for NPR hide caption

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KT Kanazawich for NPR
Being a Grateful Dead fan has always been about a shared experience.

Being a Grateful Dead fan has always been about a shared experience. KT Kanazawich for NPR hide caption

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KT Kanazawich for NPR

The Ripple Effect

Readers tell us how they became Deadheads

We asked people to share the story of how they became a Deadhead and received hundreds of responses. Their stories are tender, comical and sometimes spiritual.
Andy and Angela McKean take stock of a bracelet in their family safe, belonging to Angela’s grandmother Juanita, as their son, Colin McKean, 15, looks through what remains of his bedroom after a fire destroyed their home, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in northwest Spokane.

Andy and Angela McKean take stock of a bracelet in their family safe, belonging to Angela's grandmother Juanita, as their son, Colin McKean, 15, looks through what remains of his bedroom after a fire destroyed their home, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in northwest Spokane. Megan Farmer/KUOW hide caption

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Megan Farmer/KUOW
Andy and Angela McKean take stock of a bracelet in their family safe, belonging to Angela’s grandmother Juanita, as their son, Colin McKean, 15, looks through what remains of his bedroom after a fire destroyed their home, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in northwest Spokane.

Andy and Angela McKean take stock of a bracelet in their family safe, belonging to Angela's grandmother Juanita, as their son, Colin McKean, 15, looks through what remains of his bedroom after a fire destroyed their home, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in northwest Spokane. Megan Farmer/KUOW hide caption

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Megan Farmer/KUOW

'Overwhelmed' Spokane wildfire victims start recovery

 KUOW

Monday marks nine days since wildfires broke out in Spokane, sending tens of thousands of people fleeing for safety. For victims, recovery will be a long road.
In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is alone — very alone. "There's just nothing better than watching Tom play an awkward scene," says director Destin Daniel Cretton. "His comedic timing with his awkwardness, I think, is one of the most brilliant things about him. It's so relatable."

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is alone — very alone. "There's just nothing better than watching Tom play an awkward scene," says director Destin Daniel Cretton. "His comedic timing with his awkwardness, I think, is one of the most brilliant things about him. It's so relatable." Jay Maidment/Columbia Pictures hide caption

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Jay Maidment/Columbia Pictures
In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is alone — very alone. "There's just nothing better than watching Tom play an awkward scene," says director Destin Daniel Cretton. "His comedic timing with his awkwardness, I think, is one of the most brilliant things about him. It's so relatable."

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is alone — very alone. "There's just nothing better than watching Tom play an awkward scene," says director Destin Daniel Cretton. "His comedic timing with his awkwardness, I think, is one of the most brilliant things about him. It's so relatable." Jay Maidment/Columbia Pictures hide caption

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Jay Maidment/Columbia Pictures

Movie Interviews

'Spider-Man' director found his connection to the world at the movies

Destin Daniel Cretton grew up in Maui, and says movies expanded his perspective: "I have always found movies to be a way of peering into other lives that I would never otherwise experience," he explains.

FA Spider-Man Director

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The Road to Nowhere tunnel at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on June 27, 2026.

The Road to Nowhere tunnel at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on June 27, 2026. Charlie Shelton-Ormond/WUNC News hide caption

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Charlie Shelton-Ormond/WUNC News
The Road to Nowhere tunnel at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on June 27, 2026.

The Road to Nowhere tunnel at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on June 27, 2026. Charlie Shelton-Ormond/WUNC News hide caption

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Charlie Shelton-Ormond/WUNC News

The story behind the 'Road to Nowhere' in the Great Smoky Mountains

 WUNC News

A mysterious quarter mile tunnel is part of the "Road to Nowhere" in the Smokey Mountains. The road once had a destination it never reached.
Travelers walk past an Alibaba Cloud advertisement at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Shenzhen, China, on Tues., Oct. 7, 2025. In the most recent quarter, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. reported triple-digit growth in its AI-related products.

Travelers walk past an Alibaba Cloud advertisement at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Shenzhen, China, on Tues., Oct. 7, 2025. In the most recent quarter, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. reported triple-digit growth in its AI-related products. Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Travelers walk past an Alibaba Cloud advertisement at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Shenzhen, China, on Tues., Oct. 7, 2025. In the most recent quarter, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. reported triple-digit growth in its AI-related products.

Travelers walk past an Alibaba Cloud advertisement at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Shenzhen, China, on Tues., Oct. 7, 2025. In the most recent quarter, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. reported triple-digit growth in its AI-related products. Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Understanding AI

China's courts side with workers displaced by AI, but job anxiety persists

China's workers are vulnerable as the push to adopt AI comes from top leaders amid a sluggish economy.

China’s courts side with workers displaced by AI but employees remain anxious

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WATCH

Death Cab for Cutie: Tiny Desk Concert

Death Cab for Cutie has a gift for making the ordinary feel breathtaking. The band splits this mostly acoustic set between new songs and fan favorites.
Voters cast ballots Tuesday at the Copland Center in Wyandotte, Mich.

Voters cast ballots Tuesday at the Copland Center in Wyandotte, Mich. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption

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Finn Gomez/Getty Images
Voters cast ballots Tuesday at the Copland Center in Wyandotte, Mich.

Voters cast ballots Tuesday at the Copland Center in Wyandotte, Mich. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption

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Finn Gomez/Getty Images

Elections

Voters are sick of the 2-party system. A new poll shows they're open to big changes

A new poll shows support for moving the U.S. toward proportional representation, a system that elects multiple representatives in a single district in rough proportion to a party's vote share.

Voters are sick of the 2-party system. A new poll shows they're open to big changes

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A midwife crisscrosses Alabama to care for pregnant women and deliver babies. It's an important profession as maternity deserts expand across the U.S., according to the latest March of Dimes report.

A midwife crisscrosses Alabama to care for pregnant women and deliver babies. It's an important profession as maternity deserts expand across the U.S., according to the latest March of Dimes report. Maria Fabrizio/NPR hide caption

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Maria Fabrizio/NPR
A midwife crisscrosses Alabama to care for pregnant women and deliver babies. It's an important profession as maternity deserts expand across the U.S., according to the latest March of Dimes report.

A midwife crisscrosses Alabama to care for pregnant women and deliver babies. It's an important profession as maternity deserts expand across the U.S., according to the latest March of Dimes report. Maria Fabrizio/NPR hide caption

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Maria Fabrizio/NPR

Healthcare

A midwife crosses 'maternity deserts' to make a difference for Black moms and babies

New research from the March of Dimes says more than half of U.S. counties have no labor and delivery hospitals. One Black midwife tries to make a difference for moms in Alabama.

A midwife crosses ‘maternity deserts’ to make a difference for Black moms and babies

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A Katy High School football practice takes place, Aug. 2026.

A Katy High School football practice takes place, Aug. 2026. Bianca Seward/Houston Public Media hide caption

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Bianca Seward/Houston Public Media
A Katy High School football practice takes place, Aug. 2026.

A Katy High School football practice takes place, Aug. 2026. Bianca Seward/Houston Public Media hide caption

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Bianca Seward/Houston Public Media

Texas schools tailor outdoor athletic activities to comply with new heat safety measures

 Houston Public Media News 88.7

Schools across the state are required to adjust their practices according to high temperature measurements.
The Washington Monument is seen in the distance as members of the National Guard stand atop the steps at the Lincoln Memorial at sunrise on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2026.

The Washington Monument is seen in the distance as members of the National Guard stand atop the steps at the Lincoln Memorial at sunrise on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2026. Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images

National Guard deployments

Armed troops have patrolled D.C. for 1 year now. It's challenging democratic norms

The deployment is expected to cost in the billions after it was quietly extended until Inauguration Day of 2029.

A year in, thousands of armed troops have quietly become a fixture of D.C. life

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The 1976 film Sparkle wasn't a huge hit, but it has a devoted cult following, and its soundtrack features some of Aretha Franklin's finest performances.

The 1976 film Sparkle wasn't a huge hit, but it has a devoted cult following, and its soundtrack features some of Aretha Franklin's finest performances. Express Newspapers/Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Express Newspapers/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The 1976 film Sparkle wasn't a huge hit, but it has a devoted cult following, and its soundtrack features some of Aretha Franklin's finest performances.

The 1976 film Sparkle wasn't a huge hit, but it has a devoted cult following, and its soundtrack features some of Aretha Franklin's finest performances. Express Newspapers/Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Express Newspapers/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Review

Music

Aretha Franklin's 'Sparkle' soundtrack is a neglected classic

 Fresh Air

The 1976 film is about a '60s trio based loosely on The Supremes. It wasn't a big hit, but it has a devoted cult following, and critic Ken Tucker says it features some of Aretha Franklin's finest performances.

Review: 50th anniversary of Sparkle soundtrack

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FILE - Youngsters hold a photograph of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the militant Kurdish group, or PKK, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Feb. 27, 2025.

FILE - Youngsters hold a photograph of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the militant Kurdish group, or PKK, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Feb. 27, 2025. Metin Yoksu/AP hide caption

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Metin Yoksu/AP
FILE - Youngsters hold a photograph of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the militant Kurdish group, or PKK, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Feb. 27, 2025.

FILE - Youngsters hold a photograph of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the militant Kurdish group, or PKK, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Feb. 27, 2025. Metin Yoksu/AP hide caption

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Metin Yoksu/AP

World

Turkey's parliament approves a pardon-like bill for thousands of PKK militants

Turkey's parliament approved legislation that would introduce a conditional pardon for thousands of Kurdish militants in a bid to advance the government's peace initiative with their insurgent group.
FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2010 file photo, Syria President Bashar al-Assad arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris for his meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2010 file photo, Syria President Bashar al-Assad arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris for his meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Remy de la Mauviniere/AP hide caption

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Remy de la Mauviniere/AP
FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2010 file photo, Syria President Bashar al-Assad arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris for his meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2010 file photo, Syria President Bashar al-Assad arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris for his meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Remy de la Mauviniere/AP hide caption

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Remy de la Mauviniere/AP

Middle East

Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia

A Syrian court sentenced Assad along with his brother to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria's 14-year conflict that left about half a million people dead.
David Hearn (second from left) and his attorney Norman Eisen (right) addressed reporters after he entered his not guilty plea on July 9 in Washington, D.C.

David Hearn (second from left) and his attorney Norman Eisen (right) addressed reporters after he entered his not guilty plea on July 9 in Washington, D.C. Rod Lamkey/AP hide caption

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Rod Lamkey/AP
David Hearn (second from left) and his attorney Norman Eisen (right) addressed reporters after he entered his not guilty plea on July 9 in Washington, D.C.

David Hearn (second from left) and his attorney Norman Eisen (right) addressed reporters after he entered his not guilty plea on July 9 in Washington, D.C. Rod Lamkey/AP hide caption

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Rod Lamkey/AP

Politics

After his Reflecting Pool vandalism case is dismissed, David Hearn looks for closure

The ex-Olympian accused of damaging the reflecting pool tells NPR the experience has been "Orwellian" and "Kafkaesque." And it's not over yet: His lawyers are fighting to close the case permanently.

After his Reflecting Pool vandalism case is dismissed, David Hearn looks for closure

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A collage of photos showing a teen boy in ballet clothes cut out from the rest of the photo, three male ballet dancers rehearsing with one cut out, a photo of Interlochen Center for the Arts, a mug shot of Thomas Clower from 2005 and a photo of him today on a boat with four young girls, whose faces have been removed from the photo.
AFP via Getty Images, Jeremy Thompson/Flickr/Collage by Emily Bogle/NPR

Exclusive

National

An arts school where Epstein allegedly preyed on students reveals decades of abuse

In a new report, former Interlochen students detail some 70 allegations of sexual abuse by nearly 50 adults employed or affiliated with the school. One of the former students tells his story to NPR.

An arts school where Epstein allegedly preyed on students reveals decades of abuse

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