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Voters of color in Nassau County, N.Y., a segregated suburb of New York City, are waging an unprecedented redistricting fight under a state voting rights act, an emerging tool for protecting voting rights at the local level. Tracy J. Lee for NPR hide caption

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Tracy J. Lee for NPR

A local redistricting battle in a New York City suburb may lead to a national fight

In one of the most segregated U.S. regions — New York's suburbs — voters of color are waging an unprecedented redistricting fight with an emerging tool for protecting voting rights at the local level.

Gabby Douglas, seen here during her gold-medal campaign at the London 2012 Olympics, is eyeing a return to the highest levels of gymnastics: this summer's games in Paris. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images hide caption

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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Gabby Douglas comes back to competitive gymnastics this month, eyeing the Olympics

Twelve years after stunning the world gymnastics stage with a historic Olympic performance, Douglas, now 28, will compete in a qualifier for the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

Prentice Sinclair Smith says his friend, homeowner Dion Peronneau, was awoken by the sound of cracking around 4 a.m. early morning Monday as a mudflow forced its way into her home in the Baldwin Hills area of Los Angeles. Damian Dovarganes/AP hide caption

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Damian Dovarganes/AP

A risk of landslides remains after record-breaking storms leave Los Angeles saturated

Two record-setting atmospheric rivers this week already have caused hundreds of mudslides and downed trees in the city, its fire chief says.

A woman walks past a vendor's booth at the Take Back Our Border Convoy rally at Cornerstone Children's Ranch on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, near Quemado, Texas. Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images

NATIONAL

Eagle Pass residents on edge as Texas governor vows to expand border operation

Residents of Eagle Pass, Texas, are caught in the middle of a fight over who controls the southern border. Texas is restricting access to Border Patrol agents to a riverfront park, accusing the White House of not being tough enough on illegal crossings.

Visitors to Union Station on Feb. 2 pose with one of the displays in the Grand Ballroom celebrating the Chiefs AFC championship and their upcoming Super Bowl matchup. Carlos Moreno/KCUR 89.3 hide caption

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Carlos Moreno/KCUR 89.3

SUPER BOWL LVIII

Here's how much Kansas City Chiefs fans spent to get to Las Vegas

With the average ticket price over $9,000, some Chiefs fans are splurging on once-in-a-lifetime seats to Super Bowl LVIII, while others are finding alternative ways to celebrate in Las Vegas.

Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

4 exercises that can snap you out of an anxiety loop

Feeling overwhelmed, panicked or anxious? Clinical psychologist Jenny Taitz offers simple techniques to improve your mood and calm your body and mind in minutes.

4 exercises that can snap you out of an anxiety loop

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Virginia music educator Annie Ray poses in the press room during the 66th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP hide caption

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Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

The music teacher who just won a Grammy says it belongs to her students

Virginia music teacher Annie Ray started an orchestra for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She just won a Grammy for music education, and a $10,000 grant for her school.

Electric F-150 Lightning pickup trucks travel down the production line at Ford's Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan on September 8, 2022. Ford has cut two shifts at the plant as it reduces production of the Lightning. But this week Ford CEO Jim Farley told investors "the journey on EVs is inevitable, in our eyes." Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

EVs won over early adopters, but mainstream buyers aren't along for the ride yet

Sales of electric vehicles were increasing rapidly ... until they weren't. The auto industry is still looking ahead toward an EV future, but worries that moving too fast would hurt the bottom line.

Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign rally on Monday in Spartanburg, S.C. Haley has focused her campaign attention and resources on South Carolina, likely causing her loss in Nevada's primary Tuesday to "none of these candidates." Meg Kinnard/AP hide caption

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Meg Kinnard/AP

'None of these candidates' takes the Nevada Republican primary, dealing Haley a blow

Nikki Haley was the only major candidate left in Nevada's presidential primary election but even that advantage did not help her clinch a win in the contest.

A Spanish seafood company says its octopus farm would benefit animals in the wild, citing growing demand for octopus meat. Here, an octopus is seen at the Get Fish market in Sydney, Australia, last December. Jenny Evans/Getty Images hide caption

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Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Octopuses are clever. Their fans aren't happy with a plan to farm them for food

Octopuses are seen as smart and solitary. A seafood company plans to farm them commercially. Octopus garden? Sure. Octopus farm? No way, say the animal's advocates

In her new book Get the Picture, journalist Bianca Bosker explores why connecting with art sometimes feels harder than it has to be. Above, a visitor takes in paintings at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London in 2010. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images hide caption

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Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

How the art world excludes you — and what you can do about it

First of all, can we stop using the word "liminal"? Bianca Bosker spent five years doing in-depth research for Get the Picture — an irreverent book about "strategic snobbery" in the art world.

Jay-Z (left) accepts the honorary Dr. Dre Global Impact Award alongside his daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, during the 66th Grammy Awards on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, Calif. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

When will Black artists be ready to break up with The Grammys?

On Sunday, Jay-Z accepted an honorary Grammy by taking gentle aim at the awards' failure to support Black musicians. "We want y'all to get it right — at least get it close to right" he said.

President Biden greets staff and patrons at Regal Lounge, a Men's Barber & Spa, in Columbia, S.C., before speaking at a political event in the area on Jan. 27. Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images

Here's what matters to voters — and what could change their minds if it's Biden-Trump

Preserving democracy is top of mind for Democrats and independents, while Republicans are most concerned about immigration. And there are big splits on how to handle immigration in particular.

Here's what matters to voters — and what could change their minds if it's Biden-Trump

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Air pollution has fallen across the U.S. since the Clean Air Act of 1970. But some areas, like Los Angeles, still suffer heavy pollution from soot and smog. New rules on soot pollution from EPA aim to lower that pollution burden further. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

The EPA tightens rules on some air pollution for the first time in over a decade

The new regulations could save thousands of lives from deadly air pollution, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's calculations.

Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of Oxford school shooter Ethan Crumbley, enters the courtroom in Oakland County Circuit Court on Monday in Pontiac, Mich. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images hide caption

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Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Jennifer Crumbley is convicted of involuntary manslaughter in her son's school shooting

Prosecutors said Jennifer and her husband ignored signs that their son, Ethan, was seriously troubled, bought him the gun he used and didn't take steps to prevent the 2021 Oxford High School shooting.

Purple Tomatoes ripening in the Norfolk Plant Sciences test garden. Norfolk Plant Sciences hide caption

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Norfolk Plant Sciences

A genetically modified purple tomato is now available to home gardeners

BSPR News

The plant gets its color — and a boost in antioxidants — from genes from an edible flower. It's the first time gardeners have been able to grow a GMO crop at home.

A genetically modified purple tomato is now available to home gardeners

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ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to launch a sports streaming platform in the fall that will include offerings from at least 15 networks and all four major professional sports leagues. David Kohl/AP hide caption

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David Kohl/AP

ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery plan to launch a sports streaming platform

The platform will include games from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA, NASCAR and college sports, including the men's and women's NCAA Tournament, as well as golf, tennis and the FIFA World Cup.

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