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Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton used text-to-speech technology to advocate for her bill on the House floor Monday, following her diagnosis with the rare brain condition known as progressive supranuclear palsy. C-SPAN/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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C-SPAN/Screenshot by NPR

A lawmaker with a brain disease used voice assist to back her bill on the House floor

Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia was diagnosed last year with rare disease that makes it hard to speak. She still advocated for a bill renaming a post office in her district – and the House passed it.

Esther Nesbitt lost two of her children to drug overdoses, and her grandchildren are among more than 320,000 who lost parents in the overdose epidemic. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images

In a decade of drug overdoses, more than 320,000 American children lost a parent

New research documents how many children lost a parent to an opioid or other overdose in the period from 2011 to 2021. Bereaved children face elevated risks to their physical and emotional health.

Police face off with pro-Palestinian students after dismantling part of the encampment barricade on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, early on May 2. Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images

Students and civil rights groups blast police response to campus protests

Students say they suffered broken bones, concussions and other injuries from allegedly aggressive police action breaking up pro-Palestinian protests last week.

A U.S. Navy ship docks off the coast of the Gaza Valley area in the central Gaza Strip on April 29, 2024. The ship is expected to participate in the construction work of a floating naval dock to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip announced in March. Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption

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Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images

The U.S. military pier off Gaza may soon be operating. Aid workers question its role

With aid groups warning of famine and the war between Israel and Hamas entering its seventh month, the assistance is needed, but there are key questions about its effectiveness and security.

Alissa Pili #35 and Jenna Johnson #22 of the Utah Utes react after a basket against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Spokane, Wash. on March 25, 2024. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) Steph Chambers/Getty Images hide caption

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Steph Chambers/Getty Images

A man admits racial harassment of the Utah women's NCAA basketball team

Prosecutors in northern Idaho say they won't bring charges against a man who admitted to using a racial slur against University of Utah women's basketball players.

Judge Juan Merchan presides over proceedings on Tuesday as Stormy Daniels, far right, answers questions on direct examination by assistant district attorney Susan Hoffinger in Manhattan criminal court as former President Donald Trump and defense attorney Todd Blanche look on. Elizabeth Williams/AP hide caption

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Elizabeth Williams/AP

Adult film star Stormy Daniels testifies against Trump in New York trial

Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, has spent the last several years in legal battles with former President Trump. She took the stand to testify against him in a criminal trial.

Yajaíra Peñaloza and Marion Aroujo pose with their children while waiting for their ride at the Casa Alitas shelter in Tucson, Ariz., on March 26. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

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Ash Ponders for NPR

Migrants claiming asylum can be allowed into the U.S. Here's how it works

Asylum rules in the U.S. paired with millions of cases backing up immigration courts are causing a major headache for the country.

Migrants claiming asylum can be allowed into the U.S. Here's how it works

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Bonneville Elementary School parents and students gather during a block party supporting trans and non binary students and staff on April 29, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Rick Bowmer/AP hide caption

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Rick Bowmer/AP

Activists flood a Utah tip line with hoax reports to block enforcement of a bathroom law

Activists have flooded the tip line with thousands of hoax reports in an effort to shield trans residents and their allies from any legitimate complaints that could lead to an investigation.

Katy Perry pictured at an event in Los Angeles in April. She wasn't at Monday night's Met Gala, despite the fake photos of her circulating on social media. Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP hide caption

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Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Katy Perry's own mom fell for her Met Gala AI photo. Do you know what to look for?

Katy Perry and Rihanna weren't at the Met Gala on Monday night, despite the viral AI-generated photos showing them on the red carpet. Here are some tips for recognizing and investigating deep fakes.

A woman carries a child as she walks through the al-Hol refugee camp in northeastern Syria in Oct. 2023. Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images

After years in a Syrian ISIS camp, a 10-person American family is back in the U.S.

The complex deal also brought home two sons of a Minnesota man who fought for ISIS.

After years in a Syrian ISIS camp, a 10-person American family is back in the U.S.

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The Food and Drug Administration has missed its own deadline to propose a ban on the use of formaldehyde as an ingredient in hair relaxers and hair straighteners on the market in the United States. The federal agency proposed the ban in October 2023 and was scheduled for implementation in April 2024. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

The FDA misses its own deadline to propose a ban on formaldehyde from hair products

It is unclear why the suggested rule was not released by its intended deadline. But a spokesperson for the federal agency told NPR that its implementation "continues to be a high priority."

Rosbely Sira Linarez holds her infant son in the north Denver encampment where they've been living with other South and Central American immigrants who arrived in Colorado in the last year. Apri 24, 2024. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite hide caption

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Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

Migrant arrivals stretched Denver's budget. Now, the city is scaling back aid

CPR News

In the last two years, Denver has seen more than 40,000 migrants arrive, many on buses chartered by Texas' governor.

Migrant arrivals stretched Denver's budget. Now, the city is scaling back aid

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Patti Garamendi (seated in blue) chairs the congressional spouses club. She recently attended a Capitol Hill reception with her husband, Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif. (standing above her) to tout a bipartisan project aimed at cancer prevention. Marion Meakem Photography hide caption

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Marion Meakem Photography

Bipartisan congressional spouses tackle cancer prevention, and leave politics out

Lawmakers' spouses from both parties have worked to promote cancer awareness and prevention for more than 30 years. They stress the disease impacts families regardless of party and needs a spotlight.

People protest outside the House chamber after legislation passed that would allow some teachers to be armed in schools during a legislative session Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV/AP hide caption

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George Walker IV/AP

After calls for gun safety, Tennessee votes to arm teachers

WPLN News

Despite calls for gun safety legislation after the Covenant School shooting, Tennessee passed a measure allowing teachers to carry firearms in schools.

After calls for gun safety, Tennessee votes to arm teachers

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