Etchings on the federal courthouse in Boston acclaim a well-administered justice system, but many working in the building say that's getting harder, given the ongoing federal shutdown. Tovia Smith/NPR hide caption
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House oversight committee Chairman Elijah Cummings talks with reporters at the capital. The Maryland Democrat has launched an investigation into the White House security clearance process. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
A Highlands County Sheriff's SWAT vehicle is stationed in front of a SunTrust Bank branch, Wednesday in Sebring, Fla., where authorities say five people were killed in a shooting. Chris O'Meara/AP hide caption
James Jackson, right, confers with his lawyer during a hearing in criminal court Wednesday in New York. Jackson pleaded guilty to killing a black man with a sword, which prosecutors described as terrorism and a hate crime. Bebeto Matthews/AP hide caption
With a downed power utility pole in the foreground, residents of Paradise, Calif., examine a burned-out vehicle destroyed by last year's wildfire. Noah Berger/AP hide caption
Juan Guaidó, head of Venezuela's opposition-run congress, declares himself interim president of Venezuela during a rally against President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on Wednesda Fernando Llano/AP hide caption
Yo-Yo Ma (shown here performing in Washington, D.C., last year) surprised unsuspecting Indians in Mumbai Tuesday with an impromptu roadside performance. Larry French/Getty Images for SiriusXM hide caption
A runner jogs on a treadmill at the Las Vegas Convention Center in January 2018. Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption
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Empty seats in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber as seen in a 2008 file photo. President Trump is pressing forward with his desire to give a State of the Union speech in the chamber next week even as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the speech should be postponed or cancelled due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images hide caption
Shutdown Squeezes IRS Workers Just As The Tax-Filing Season Is About To Start
A student from Covington Catholic High School stands in front of Native American Vietnam veteran Nathan Phillips in Washington, D.C. Kaya Taitano/Social Media/Reuters hide caption
Michael Cohen returned home in New York City amidst photojournalists. The former fixer for Donald Trump says he's postponing testimony at a House hearing next month. Kevin Hagen/AP hide caption
The chairman of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service says the panel's overarching goal is to "create a universal expectation of service" in which every American is "inspired and eager to serve." Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images hide caption
Frank Garcia's latest track "Pequeño Poesias" is in this week's Alt.Latino playlist. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Video of a school in Shanxi province, China, shows principal Zhang Pengfei leading the students in a major update of the standard calisthenics routine. Screenshot by NPR/China Xinhua News/Twitter hide caption
Respiratory therapist Deena Neace checks James Muncy's blood pressure and pulse during a therapy session at the New Beginnings Pulmonary Rehab Clinic in South Williamson, Ky. Muncy is one of thousands of coal miners across Appalachia who are dying of advanced black lung. Matthew Hatcher for NPR hide caption
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When a former patient died from a lethal combination of methadone and Benadryl, Dr. Ako Jacintho got a letter from the state medical board. Whitney Hayward/Portland Press Herald/Getty Images hide caption
Hacienda HealthCare in Phoenix where an incapacitated woman gave birth in December. On Wednesday, police announced that a suspect in the case had been arrested. Ross D. Franklin/AP hide caption
Angela Disisto, right, of Medford, Mass. with her autistic brother Luigi at the Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton, Mass. Angela says Luigi has benefited from the shock treatments and overall structure at the school. The backpack Luigi is wearing carries equipment that would give him a two-second electric skin shock if staff deem his behavior dangerous. Meredith Nierman/WGBH News hide caption
School Shocks Students With Disabilities. The FDA Is Moving To Ban The Practice
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks at the David Berg Distinguished Speakers Series, organized by the Museum of the City of New York with WNET-TV in December. Rebecca Gibian/AP hide caption
The group Handicap International (now known as Humanity & Inclusion) has provided aid in Burundi for 26 years. Above: Thierry, age 9, was born without his left leg and received a prosthesis from the group, which is now pulling out of the country. Evrard Niyomwungere/Humanity & Inclusion hide caption
Band-e Haibat lake at Band-e Amir National Park. MCT via Getty Images hide caption