NPR - Breaking News, Analysis, Music, Arts & Podcasts Top stories in the U.S. and world news, politics, health, science, business, music, arts and culture. Nonprofit journalism with a mission. This is NPR.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer discusses abortion rights on April 5, 2023 — an issue she says motivated voters in her state in the 2022 midterm elections. Carlos Osorio/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Carlos Osorio/AP

One year after the Dobbs ruling, abortion has changed the political landscape

For decades, the politics around abortion were pretty well set. Then came the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. It was a political earthquake, and in many ways the ground is still shaking.

One year after the Dobbs ruling, abortion has changed the political landscape

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1183830459/1183896946" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Kymberly Hobbs next to her brother, Charles Givens, around 2004. Hobbs is suing five Virginia correctional officers for the alleged beating death of Givens. Kymberly Hobbs hide caption

toggle caption
Kymberly Hobbs

They said her disabled brother died in prison naturally. A lawsuit alleges otherwise

On Feb. 5, 2022, Charles Givens was found unresponsive in his cell at Marion Correctional Treatment Center. An autopsy and other documentation indicate Givens suffered a beating, a lawsuit alleges.

Hikers have found human remains in a Southern California mountain area where actor Julian Sands disappeared in January 2023. Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Human remains have been found in the area where actor Julian Sands disappeared

Authorities in California said hikers discovered the remains in a mountain area where the British-born actor best known for his role in the film "A Room With a View" went missing five months ago.

Supporters of Guatemalan candidate for the National Union of Hope party and former first lady, Sandra Torres, attend a campaign rally in Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, on June 17. Johan Ordonez/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Johan Ordonez/AFP via Getty Images

3 things to know about Guatemala's elections

Voters will go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president. But some of the most popular candidates won't be on the ballot.

3 things to know about Guatemala's elections

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1183593979/1183867667" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Several train cars are immersed in the Yellowstone River after a bridge collapse near Columbus, Mont., on Saturday. The bridge collapsed overnight, causing a train that was traveling over it to plunge into the water below. Matthew Brown/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Matthew Brown/AP

A train carrying hazardous materials plunges into Yellowstone River after bridge fails

A bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed early Saturday, plunging portions of a freight train carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur into the rushing water below.

Crystal Rose's video for "Mad Black Woman" caught the eyes and ears of our Tiny Desk Contest judges. YouTube hide caption

toggle caption
YouTube

Crystal Rose came 'Mad' close to winning the Tiny Desk Contest

"Mad Black Woman" was one of Tiny Desk Contest judge Sharon Van Etten's favorite 2023 entries.

Crystal Rose came 'Mad' close to winning the Tiny Desk Contest

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1184139082/1184198924" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Eddie Torres Jr. and Princess Serrano dance with two young salseros at the first pop-up of the International Salsa Museum Willy Rodriguez hide caption

toggle caption
Willy Rodriguez

Oye como va: New York is getting a museum dedicated to salsa music

The International Salsa Museum is already making noteworthy moves in New York City. Its founders hope to have a permament space by 2029.

Oye como va: New York is getting a museum dedicated to salsa music

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1184033027/1184060828" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Eight-member band St. Paul and The Broken Bones is known for its raucous soul music. Its latest album "Angels and Science Fiction" is subtle, reflective, and the closest the Birmingham-based band will get to folk music. Paige Sara/Sacks & Co. hide caption

toggle caption
Paige Sara/Sacks & Co.

Birmingham soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones gets folksy in new album

For "Angels in Science Fiction" front man Paul Janeway wrote songs about fatherhood, love and starfish.

Birmingham soul band St. Paul and the Broken Bones gets folksy in new album

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1183712592/1183721875" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's latest album is the metal-forward PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation. Jason Galea/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Jason Galea/Courtesy of the artist

Here's the deal with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

How did an Australian band with no hits, modest media coverage and a ridiculous name find a massive audience? The group's metal-forward new album is a perfect example of how it weaponizes niche.

LA Johnson/NPR

Pregnant? Here's how to deal with the new you

There are seemingly endless resources for all the physical and logistical aspects of pregnancy but far fewer for renegotiating your sense of self. Life Kit spoke with author and journalist Chelsea Conaboy about how pregnancy impacts the brain and how to embrace the changes that parenthood brings.

Pregnant? Here's how to deal with the new you

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1175190657/1175194988" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Taiki and Arisa Chisaka watch as their son Tatara plays at a city-run child care center in western Japan's Akashi city. Anthony Kuhn/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Anthony Kuhn/NPR

Japan's plan to boost its birthrate raises doubt. But one city has reason for hope

For years, Japanese leaders have tried to halt the country's falling birthrate. They might find lessons in the city of Akashi, whose population has been growing.

Japan's plan to boost its birthrate raises doubt. But one city has reason for hope

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1182457365/1182459009" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Patrons at a club in Kharkiv hold sparklers in the darkened room in eastern Ukraine. Despite the ongoing war, people are still finding a way release tension in nightclubs in the the battered city. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Claire Harbage/NPR

Up past curfew, the party lasts all night at a basement dance club in Ukraine

Despite more than a year of war in Ukraine, regular missile strikes and power outages, the party goes all night long at a basement club in Kharkiv.

Attorney John Eastman stands outside the California State Bar Court in downtown Los Angeles. The State Bar is seeking to revoke Eastman's law license over his work on former President Donald Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Jae C. Hong/AP

What we've learned from pro-Trump attorney John Eastman's state bar trial

Attorney John Eastman was a key player in Donald Trump's legal efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The State Bar of California is now seeking to revoke Eastman's law license.

Ablaye Ndiaye (front row, center) poses with the Senegalese basketball team at the Special Olympics in Berlin. On Saturday, the team beat France to nail the bronze medal in 5-on-5 unified basketball. The coach says that Ndiaye, who has Down syndrome, brings energy and joy to the game and "is the face of the team." Jacobia Dahm for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Jacobia Dahm for NPR

A hoopster from Senegal has a ball — and wins a medal — at 2023 Special Olympics

Ablaye Ndiaye, who has Down syndrome, carried the torch at opening ceremony. It was, he says, "a great moment." But the reality for people with intellectual disabilities in Senegal is a challenge.

more from