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Even in extreme winds and intense heat, some homes remain standing. Fire experts are finding there's a lot homeowners can do to increase the chances a house survives.

Even in extreme winds and intense heat, some homes remain standing. Fire experts are finding there's a lot homeowners can do to increase the chances a house survives. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

California Wildfires

Some Los Angeles homes made it through the firestorm. Here's how

Houses are still standing in the burn zone in Los Angeles, ones that made it through the fires. Experts on the ground are finding those homeowners made some key preparations.
The Federal Trade Commission has sued PepsiCo, accusing it of "rigging" the market for soft drinks by offering special deals to one big-box retailer, but not others.

The Federal Trade Commission has sued PepsiCo, accusing it of "rigging" the market for soft drinks by offering special deals to one big-box retailer, but not others. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Business

Pepsi is accused of illegal pricing deals with 'a large, big box retailer' in U.S. lawsuit

The Federal Trade Commission is suing Pepsi, alleging it has rigged competition by offering unfair pricing deals to a big retailer at the expense of smaller rivals, resulting in higher costs for shoppers.
Security contractor Zachary Young alleges CNN defamed him in a November 2021 report, shown above, about Afghans’ fears of exorbitant charges from people offering to get them out of the country after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. CNN says it will defend the report in a trial set to start in a Florida court Monday.

Security contractor Zachary Young alleges CNN defamed him in a November 2021 report, shown above, about Afghans' fears of exorbitant charges from people offering to get them out of the country after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. CNN says it will defend the report in a trial set to start in a Florida court Monday. CNN via Internet Archive/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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CNN via Internet Archive/Screenshot by NPR

Media

CNN settles lawsuit after $5 million defamation verdict

CNN settled with a security consultant after a Florida jury found the network had defamed him in a story that suggested he was charging "exorbitant prices" to evacuate people from Afghanistan in 2021.

WATCH

Red Clay Strays: Tiny Desk Concert

It wasn't a given that the Strays could rein in the grandeur that its fanbase relishes to fit the modest Tiny Desk, but this set proves why it's one of the fastest-rising ensembles in any genre now.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Michele Austin in Hard Truths.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Michele Austin in Hard Truths. Bleecker Street hide caption

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Bleecker Street

Review

Movie Reviews

This film offers 'Hard Truths' about why some people are happy — and others are miserable

Marianne Jean-Baptiste gives a phenomenal performance as a profoundly unhappy woman. There isn't a lot of plot, but director Mike Leigh builds his stories from the details and detritus of daily life.

Film offers 'Hard Truths' about why some people are happy — and others are miserable

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Workers build an electrical substation for a new Facebook data center under construction on May 29, 2019 in Eagle Mountain, Utah.

Workers build an electrical substation for a new Facebook data center under construction on May 29, 2019 in Eagle Mountain, Utah. George Frey/Getty Images hide caption

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George Frey/Getty Images

Climate

U.S. electricity demand is set to explode. That will make it harder to cut climate pollution

Analysts say the country will burn a lot more natural gas in the coming years to meet soaring electricity demand, potentially locking in decades of heat-trapping emissions.

U.S. electricity demand is set to explode. That will make it harder to cut climate pollution

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Containers of Zyn, a smokeless nicotine pouch, are displayed for sale among other nicotine and tobacco products at a newsstand in New York on Feb. 23, 2024.

Containers of Zyn, a smokeless nicotine pouch, are displayed for sale among other nicotine and tobacco products at a newsstand in New York on Feb. 23, 2024. Bebeto Matthews/AP hide caption

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Bebeto Matthews/AP

Business

Zyn nicotine pouches can be marketed in the U.S., the FDA says. What does this mean?

The FDA said "an extensive scientific review" found the products were found to pose lower risks of cancer and other serious health conditions compared to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.
Adam Scott and Britt Lower in Severance

Adam Scott and Britt Lower in Severance Apple TV+ hide caption

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Apple TV+

Review

TV Reviews

The second season of 'Severance' manages to be even weirder than the first

The Apple TV+ series emerged as an engrossing puzzle box of a show when it first debuted three years ago. And it just got even more surreal.

The second season of 'Severance' manages to be even weirder than the first

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Side-by-side photos of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and Trump's 2017 inauguration, both in Washington, D.C.

Side-by-side photos of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and Trump's 2017 inauguration, both in Washington, D.C. Almost a decade later, Trump will be sworn in for his second term on MLK Day. Mandel Ngan/Getty Images; Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/Getty Images; Alex Wong/Getty Images

National

Trump's inauguration falls on MLK Day. That overlap is pretty rare

Trump is only the third president to be sworn in on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Due to the particulars of the calendar and the Constitution, the two events won't overlap again until 2053.
The federal government has the power to negotiate the prices Medicare pays for some drugs.

The federal government has the power to negotiate the prices Medicare pays for some drugs. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Health Inc.

Medicare targets 15 more drugs for price negotiations — including Ozempic

On its last weekday in power, the Biden Administration has chosen the next batch of drugs up for price negotiation in Medicare.

Medicare targets 15 more drugs for price negotiations

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Amit Mehta came to Charlotte, North Carolina on an H1-B visa in 1999. He now works in cybersecurity for one of the city’s large banks. He’s standing in front of house on Jan. 13.

Amit Mehta came to Charlotte, North Carolina on an H1-B visa in 1999. He now works in cybersecurity for one of the city's large banks. He's standing in front of house on Jan. 13. Steve Harrison/WAFE hide caption

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Steve Harrison/WAFE

National

Indian Americans debate the merits of the H-1B visa program after some calls for changes

In recent weeks, there's been a debate among conservatives over the H-1B visa program. State Department data shows that workers from India received the majority of H-1B visas issued last year.

NC H1B Visa Debate Indian American Reax 

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people stand in line at night in front of a building

At the No Limits food pantry in Landover, Md., the line of people waiting to get in on Dec. 6, 2024, stretched to the street and down the block. Dee Dwyer/for NPR hide caption

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Dee Dwyer/for NPR

National

Food pantries are bracing for more demand if the Trump administration cuts food aid

The first Trump administration tried to scale back who gets food benefits, and allies aim to try again. Food pantries say they're already busier than ever.

Food pantries are bracing for more demand if the Trump administration cuts food aid

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DSC_2045-Enhanced-NR (C) Graham Lacdao.jpg
Graham Lacdao

Review

Music

Can James McVinnie change your mind about the pipe organ?

On his new album, the British keyboardist offers both engaging and entertaining contemporary works for the misunderstood instrument.

Can James McVinnie change your mind about the pipe organ?

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