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More captives to be freed as mediators work to prolong the Israel-Hamas truce

Palestinian hostages released from Israeli jails arrive in Ramallah by a bus belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Nov. 29, 2023. A Red Cross bus left Israel's Ofer military prison in the town of Beitonia near Ramallah in the West Bank carrying 15 women and 15 children. Anadolu/Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

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Anadolu/Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

More captives to be freed as mediators work to prolong the Israel-Hamas truce

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Demonstrators gather at the federal courthouse following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Austin, Texas. The Supreme Court has ended the nation's constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years. Eric Gay/AP hide caption

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Eric Gay/AP

Texas Supreme Court will decide if the state's abortion ban causes harm to patients and doctors

The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over whether a medical exemption in the state's strict abortion ban is too vague to help people with life-threatening pregnancy complications.
Where the Republican presidential candidates stand on Israel, Ukraine and China

From left to right: former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former President Donald Trump, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Vivek Ramaswamy. Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Elections

Where the Republican presidential candidates stand on Israel, Ukraine and China

Foreign policy doesn't always make headlines in presidential campaigns, but with the U.S. involved in two foreign wars — and facing a rising adversary in China, voters are paying more attention.
Georgia lawmakers gather for a judge-ordered assignment: Make new political maps

The Georgia Capitol is seen on Aug. 27, 2022, in front of the Atlanta skyline. State lawmakers will gather Wednesday to start work on new political district maps. Steve Helber/AP hide caption

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Steve Helber/AP

Elections

Georgia lawmakers gather for a judge-ordered assignment: Make new political maps

 WABE

A special legislative session begins in Georgia to redraw the state's political maps after a federal judge ruled that the current district lines illegally dilute the power of Black voters.
How can we break the cycle of childhood trauma? Help a baby's parents

Teresa Cox-Bates and her husband John Bates, along with their kids Eli, Ava and Issac. Teresa says HealthySteps has helped her face her own childhood trauma and be a better parent. Kholood Eid for NPR hide caption

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Kholood Eid for NPR

Shots - Health News

How can we break the cycle of childhood trauma? Help a baby's parents

HealthySteps is an intervention where new parents get practical help with their lives, allowing them to create stable, nurturing bonds with their babies. It all starts at the baby's checkups.

How can we break the cycle of childhood trauma? Help a baby's parents

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With just a photo and a name, she spent decades looking for her biological dad

Annette Vega. Nellie Gilles/Radio Diaries hide caption

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Nellie Gilles/Radio Diaries

The Unmarked Graveyard

With just a photo and a name, she spent decades looking for her biological dad

Armed just just a name and a photograph, Annette Vega spent years looking for her biological father. The family story would go from Puerto Rico to Florida to New York.

With just a photo and a name, she spent decades looking for her biological dad

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It's peak shopping — and shoplifting — season. Cops are stepping up antitheft tactics

Sgt Casey Hiam of the Bellevue. WA police department on an anti-shoplifting stakeout operation during the holiday shopping season Martin Kaste/NPR hide caption

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Martin Kaste/NPR

National

It's peak shopping — and shoplifting — season. Cops are stepping up antitheft tactics

Merchants say retail thefts have become more frequent and brazen. Law enforcement is now putting more money into things like store stakeouts and task forces that track organized retail crime rings.

It's peak shopping — and shoplifting — season. Cops are stepping up antitheft tactics

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Google is deleting unused accounts this week. Here's how to save your old data

Google is deleting accounts that haven't been used recently, as soon as Dec. 1. Now's the time to make sure you don't need any data from Gmail, or other Google products associated with an inactive account. Patrick Semansky/AP hide caption

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Patrick Semansky/AP

Technology

Google is deleting unused accounts this week. Here's how to save your old data

If you haven't logged in with your Google account recently, it's at risk of vanishing. So is any data in that account. Here's how to ensure you don't lose your account, emails, photos and more.
Mark Cuban working on sale of NBA's Mavericks to Sands casino family, AP source says

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban applauds as Mavericks are introduced for an NBA against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in Denver. Cuban is reportedly in talks to sell his stake in the team to the Miriam Adelson, widow of Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

Sports

Mark Cuban working on sale of NBA's Mavericks to Sands casino family, AP source says

While Cuban would sell the team to Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, he would retain control of basketball operations. The agreement would be in the range of $3.5 billion.
In the battle over books, who gets to decide what's age-appropriate at libraries?

Parents Against Bad Books co-founder Carolyn Harrison (center) talks with people last month outside the public library in Idaho Falls, Idaho, about what she considers obscene books on the shelves. Kim Raff for NPR hide caption

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Kim Raff for NPR

National

In the battle over books, who gets to decide what's age-appropriate at libraries?

There are efforts to change how decisions are made about which books libraries should stock and which section they belong in. Some advocate using a national rating system like the one used for movies.

In the battle over books, who gets to decide what's age-appropriate at libraries?

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Protesters hold up red carnations in a silent protest for Jayland Walker outside the Stubbs Justice Center in Downtown Akron on Monday, April 24, 2023. Ygal Kaufman/Ideastream Public Media hide caption

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Ygal Kaufman/Ideastream Public Media

Investigation finds police officers were justified in Ohio shooting of Jayland Walker

Walker, a 25 year old Black man, was shot and killed by Akron police officers in 2022, after failing to pull over for a traffic stop and leading police on a car and foot chase. A special grand jury declined to press charges against the eight officers involved in the shooting.
Alex Murdaugh's financial fraud victims confront him in court before his sentencing

Alex Murdaugh, right, talks with his attorneys Dick Harpootlian, left, and Jim Griffin during his sentencing for stealing from 18 clients on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, at the Beaufort County Courthouse in Beaufort, S.C. Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier/Pool via AP hide caption

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Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier/Pool via AP

Law

Alex Murdaugh's financial fraud victims confront him in court before his sentencing

The emotional testimony from victims who had been duped by the disgraced lawyer came before a judge accepted a deal sentencing Murdaugh to 27 years in prison for stealing about $12 million.
First lady Jill Biden unveils this year's White House Christmas decorations

Santa Claus in his sleigh and a team of reindeer fly through the columns of the Entrance Hall of the White House. The theme for this year's White House decorations is "Magic, Wonder and Joy." Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

National

First lady Jill Biden unveils this year's White House Christmas decorations

This year's theme is the "magic, wonder and joy" of Christmas time through the lens of children. Throughout the White House grounds are 98 Christmas trees, almost 34,000 ornaments and 72 wreaths.
John Cale, ever restless, keeps moving out of his comfort zone

John Cale says hip-hop is the avant-garde of today. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Main Character of the Day

John Cale, ever restless, keeps moving out of his comfort zone

With a legendary musical career that spans decades, John Cale is still restlessly creating and collaborating on new music.

John Cale, ever restless, keeps moving out of his comfort zone

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The proposed redesign of Kansas license plates drew opposition from residents and lawmakers for its color choices that resemble the New York license plate and the University of Missouri. Governor Laura Kelly's Office hide caption

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Governor Laura Kelly's Office

Kansas sends its 'to the stars' license plate design to the trash because everyone hates it

The design did not sit well with many Kansans, who argued the colors too closely matched New York license plates or were the colors of the University of Missouri. The governor says they'll go back to the drawing board.
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