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In response to U.S. Postal Service changes, California state officials are urging mail-in voters for a special election on congressional redistricting to return their ballots before Election Day to help ensure their ballots get postmarked by the deadline. Here, a post office in Montclair, Calif., is seen last year.

In response to U.S. Postal Service changes, California state officials are urging mail-in voters for a special election on congressional redistricting to return their ballots before Election Day to help ensure their ballots get postmarked by the deadline. Here, a post office in Montclair, Calif., is seen last year. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

Explainer

Elections

Your ballot or other mail may not get postmarked by USPS the day it's dropped off

Close to a deadline for mailing your ballot, tax return or legal document? To make sure it gets a postmark on time under the latest USPS changes, you may want to send it early or visit a post office.
Attendees cheer during a rally protesting a proposed redistricting map Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C.

Attendees cheer during a rally protesting a proposed redistricting map Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C. Chris Seward/AP hide caption

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Chris Seward/AP

Elections

Republicans advance Trump's redistricting fight into swing-state North Carolina

 WUNC

North Carolina has become the first swing state to draw new congressional districts amid a nationwide redistricting battle initiated by President Trump.

NC redistricting

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WATCH

Taimane: Tiny Desk Concert

Taimane plays fiery flamenco, a famous phrase from the opera Carmen, a touch of Bach and more than a nod to her Hawaiian homeland, all on her ukulele.
Mark Remy started volunteering with SOLVE, a non-profit based in Portland, Ore. about three years ago.

Mark Remy started volunteering with SOLVE, a non-profit based in Portland, Ore. about three years ago. Sarah Remy hide caption

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Sarah Remy

Here to Help

How an Oregon writer finds fulfillment in picking up litter

Three years ago, Mark Remy decided he was fed up with the litter in his city. So, he started to do something about it and learned even small acts of service can have a real impact.

How an Oregon writer finds fulfillment in picking up litter

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A new study found the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the U.S., called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, tended to have fewer side effects than some older medications.

A new study found the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the U.S., called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, tended to have fewer side effects than some older medications. Guido Mieth/Moment RF/Getty Images hide caption

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Guido Mieth/Moment RF/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Antidepressant side effects differ greatly depending on the drug, study finds

Millions of Americans take antidepressants. And like all medication they come with side effects. Researchers studied 30 different antidepressants and found side effects vary from drug to drug.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Mike Johnson for not swearing in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. In this file photo, she speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Mike Johnson for not swearing in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. In this file photo, she speaks during an interview with The Associated Press, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Matt Slocum/AP hide caption

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Matt Slocum/AP

Arizona's attorney general sues to get Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva sworn in

 Arizona Public Media

Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva has still not been sworn in four weeks after her win. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing House Speaker Mike Johnson, citing "taxation without representation."
Independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Democratic candidate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani participate in a second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in the Queens borough of New York, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.

Independent candidate former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Democratic candidate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani participate in a second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in the Queens borough of New York, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times via AP Pool hide caption

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Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times via AP Pool

Mamdani attacked for not taking a position on housing questions in NYC mayoral debate

 WNYC

Republican Curtis Sliwa and Independent Andrew Cuomo pounced when the Democratic frontrunner said he had not taken a position on any of the ballot questions.
How to live better, longer. Can science help slow down aging.
Maria Fabrizio/NPR

Shots - Health News

Scientists can tell how fast you're aging. Now, the trick is to slow it down

Longevity research is booming. Scientists are looking for ways to target the basic biology of aging. And here's the exciting part: Our biological age appears to be malleable.

Scientists can tell how fast you're aging. Now, the trick is to slow it down

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Researchers say fewer children developed peanut allergies after guidelines were put into place calling for introducing peanut products to young children.

Researchers say fewer children developed peanut allergies after guidelines were put into place calling for introducing peanut products to young children. Patrick Sison/AP hide caption

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Patrick Sison/AP

Science

Reversing peanut advice prevented tens of thousands of allergy cases, researchers say

A decade ago, research said giving young children peanut products can prevent allergies. A new study says that, 10 years later, tens of thousands of U.S. children have avoided allergies as a result.

Peanut allergy study

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A composite image of President Trump pointing and Common Sense by American author and politician Thomas Paine from 1776. Subtitled 'Addressed to the Inhabitants of America, on the following subjects. I. Of the Origins and Design of Government in general, with concise Remarks on the English Constitution. II. Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession. III. Thoughts on the present state of American Affairs. IV. Of the present Ability of America, with some miscellaneous Reflections,' the volume was the first published work to openly propose American independence from Great Britain.

Left: President Donald Trump gestures during a meeting at the White House on Oct. 14. Right: Title page of the R. Bell edition of Common Sense by American author and politician Thomas Paine, 1776. Kevin Dietsch and Joe Griffin/Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch and Joe Griffin/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Politics

Trump uses 'common sense' to make a political point. It has populist appeal

The phrase appeals more to several demographics that strongly align with Trump, says Republican strategist Frank Luntz, including older voters, for whom he suggests it signals "a more simple past."

Trump Common Sense

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The outside of the Museum of Christian and Gospel Music from the street.

The Museum of Christian and Gospel Music opened this month in Nashville. Jewly Hight/Nashville Public Radio hide caption

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Jewly Hight/Nashville Public Radio

Religion

The new Museum of Christian & Gospel Music honors a diversity of music with a message

Gospel music has always played a big role in American culture. Now, the music's wide-ranging history is being celebrated at Nashville's new Museum of Christian & Gospel Music.

A new museum in Nashville celebrates gospel music's contribution to American culture

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A cloud of smog hovers above Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 14, 2025. Air pollution from diesel generators and smokey tailpipes are among the reasons that cancer is surging in Lebanon.

A cloud of smog hovers above Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 14, 2025. Air pollution from diesel generators and smokey tailpipes are among the reasons that cancer is surging in Lebanon. Joseph Eid/AFP/via Getty Images hide caption

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Joseph Eid/AFP/via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

This nation has the fastest rising rate of cancer cases — and deaths — in the world

According to a new report, cancer rates are skyrocketing in this tiny country. What's causing this to happen? And what steps can be taken to turn the tide?
A new study finds that cognitive training can increase the levels of a key chemical messenger in the brain responsible for decision-making, and reverse a process associated with aging.

A new study finds that cognitive training can increase the levels of a key chemical messenger in the brain responsible for decision-making, and reverse a process associated with aging. adventtr/iStockphoto/Getty Images hide caption

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adventtr/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Living Better

Mental exercise can reverse a brain change linked to aging, study finds

Scientists have found the first compelling evidence that cognitive training can boost levels of a brain chemical that typically declines as people age.

Intense mental exercise may be able to offset the effects of aging, research finds

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference as the government shutdown enters its third week, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 14.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference as the government shutdown enters its third week, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 14. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

2025 government shutdown

Hakeem Jeffries says public pressure will force Congress to extend ACA subsidies

The Democratic House Minority Leader tells NPR Americans will pressure Congress to extend Obamacare subsidies as they realize their health care costs are going up.

Hakeem Jeffries on the government shutdown and the ongoing stalemate on Capitol Hill

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Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was 17.

Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was 17. Rinaldo Sata/Simon & Schuster hide caption

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Rinaldo Sata/Simon & Schuster

Goats and Soda

Just because she won a Nobel doesn't mean Malala didn't break some rules in college

In 2014, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person to win a Nobel Prize, an honor that weighed on her when she went off to college. In Finding My Way, she writes about her life at Oxford and beyond.

FA: Malala Yousafzai

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