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From left: Michelle Salaün, Jeannine Plassard and Marie-Annick Gouez, the daughters of Catherine Tournellec Salaün, stand at their mother‘s grave in Plabennec, in France's Brittany region, in June.

From left: Michelle Salaün, Jeannine Plassard and Marie-Annick Gouez, the daughters of Catherine Tournellec Salaün, stand at their mother's grave in Plabennec, in France's Brittany region, in June. Eleanor Beardsley/NPR hide caption

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Eleanor Beardsley/NPR

Europe

In France, a family reckons with World War II Allies' legacy of rape and murder

In 1944, as Allied troops celebrated D-Day victory, a French family experienced a trauma that would be felt for generations: a murder and sexual assault so traumatic they are only now coming to terms with it.

In France, a family reckons with World War II Allies' legacy of rape and murder

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A pastor speaks before a congregation in a church while standing in front of a crucifix.

Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montgomery County, Maryland is currently meeting at the Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, after their building suffered a fire. It is one example of interfaith cooperation in the most religiously diverse county in the country. Sarah Ventre/NPR hide caption

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Sarah Ventre/NPR

Religion

This county is the most religiously diverse in the U.S.

This stretch of New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring, Md., is so packed with houses of worship, it’s been called the Embassy Row of Religions. But locals know it as the Highway to Heaven.

On the 'highway to heaven' in the most religiously diverse county in the U.S.

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Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell speaks at an event in Boston on Jan. 15.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell speaks at an event in Boston on Jan. 15. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images hide caption

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Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

National

Hundreds of zombies are killed by the Massachusetts attorney general — zombie loans, that is

Attorney General Andrea Campbell is cracking down on a company collecting on "zombie second mortgages" — old loans that homeowners thought were dead but rise from the grave. People are losing houses over them.

Massachusetts is going after a company collecting on 'zombie second mortgages'

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People attend a rally as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2023, by the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

People attend a rally as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2023, by the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Health Care

What Trump's win could mean for transgender health care access, athletes

President-elect Donald Trump promised to limit transgender health care access and ban trans athletes from school sports. Experts discuss what that would mean for trans people in the U.S.

What Trump's reelection could mean for transgender health care access

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Karoline Leavitt, former President Donald Trump's campaign press secretary, speaks to reporters across the street from Trump's criminal trial in New York on May 28. Leavitt will be the youngest person to ever hold the job of top White House spokesperson.

Karoline Leavitt, former President Donald Trump's campaign press secretary, speaks to reporters across the street from Trump's criminal trial in New York on May 28. Leavitt will be the youngest person to ever hold the job of top White House spokesperson. Seth Wenig/AP hide caption

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Seth Wenig/AP

Politics

Trump picks Karoline Leavitt to be youngest White House press secretary in history

Leavitt will be the youngest person to ever hold the job and is expected to deliver press briefings based on Trump's statement late Friday that he has "utmost confidence she will excel at the podium."
Attendees holding signs listen as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Alro Steel on Aug. 29, 2024, in Potterville, Mich.

Attendees holding signs listen as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at Alro Steel on Aug. 29, 2024, in Potterville, Mich. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Environment

Trump wants to ‘Drill, baby, drill.’ What does that mean for climate concerns?

President-elect Donald Trump wants to increase oil and gas production and roll back the Inflation Reduction Act. We asked energy and climate policy expert Brian Murray what that would mean.

Trump promises more drilling in the U.S. to boost fossil fuel production

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Players and coaches from Bay F.C. huddle before last Sunday's quarterfinal playoff game against the Washington Spirit in front of a sellout crowd at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

Players and coaches from Bay F.C. huddle before last Sunday's quarterfinal playoff game against the Washington Spirit in front of a sellout crowd at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images hide caption

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Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Sports

The NWSL rides a 'rocket ship' of interest in women's sports to a record-setting year

Across the board, 2024 was a record year for women's sports. The WNBA saw record audiences. In college basketball, the women's March Madness tournament outdrew the men's. The NWSL was no exception.

NWSL SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE

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WATCH

Anat Cohen And Marcello Gonçalves: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

It's National Clarinet Day, so we're throwing back to clarinetist Anat Cohen's duo performance with seven-string guitarist Marcello Gonçalves.
A foreign worker from Thailand rests after he was evacuated from Metula following a rocket strike from Lebanon, that killed four foreign workers from Thailand and one Israeli citizen on October 31, 2024 in Kfar Yuval, Israel.

A foreign worker from Thailand rests after he was evacuated from Metula following a rocket strike from Lebanon, that killed four foreign workers from Thailand and one Israeli citizen on October 31, 2024 in Kfar Yuval, Israel. Amir Levy/Getty Images hide caption

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Middle East crisis — explained

In northern Israel, migrant workers are farming while under fire from Hezbollah

Foreign laborers, many from Thailand, are tending fields and livestock in an area Israel has declared off-limits to its own civilians amid ongoing military operations against Hezbollah.
With RFK Jr.'s nomination for health secretary, his 'Make American Healthy Again' movement is poised for real power.

With RFK Jr.'s nomination for health secretary, his 'Make American Healthy Again' movement is poised for real power. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

RFK Jr. wants to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’ He could face a lot of pushback

RFK Jr. wants to tackle chronic disease. Despite his widely disputed views on vaccines, his focus on healthy food and taking on special interests may find broad support — and face political headwinds.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel North Portal in January 2023 in Baltimore. The tunnel, which is more than 150 years old, will be replaced with funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel North Portal in January 2023 in Baltimore. The tunnel, which is more than 150 years old, will be replaced with funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

National

Why the White House hasn't benefited much from investing in infrastructure

The Biden administration is touting the third anniversary of the bipartisan infrastructure law that pumped billions into roads, bridges, airports and more. But there’s been little political benefit.

WHY VOTERS IGNORED INFRASTRUCTURE

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Mahamat Djouma is happy when he gets a chance to play soccer. But most of the time this teenage refugee he is busy taking care of his five-year-old twin brothers and trying to earn money for food.

Mahamat Djouma is happy when he gets a chance to play soccer. But most of the time this teenage refugee he is busy taking care of his five-year-old twin brothers and trying to earn money for food. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Goats and Soda

He's 14. He loves soccer. He's the sole caregiver for his little twin brothers

Mahamat Djouma is one of the millions displaced by the civil war in Sudan. He is part of an especially vulnerable group — unaccompanied minors. Here is his story.
A false color view of Uranus made from images taken by Voyager 2 in January 1986.

A false color view of Uranus made from images taken by Voyager 2 in January 1986. AFP/via Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/via Getty Images

Opinion

Simon Says

Uranus was having a bad hair day. Hey, it was the '80s!

Scientists are reconsidering old information about Uranus. NPR's Scott Simon explains the problem with photos taken of the planet 38 years ago.

ESSAY 11162024

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A woman smells a takeout container of food and is disgusted.
Malaka Gharib/NPR

Life Kit

Is it OK to keep reheating leftovers? Honest questions about food safety, illustrated

How real is the five-second rule? Am I going to get explosive diarrhea if I keep reheating the same leftovers? A refresher course on food safety ahead of the holiday season.

How long do leftovers last? And other food safety questions, answered

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A 2016 file photo of Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has served in the National Guard and is now a Fox News host. If confirmed, he would be the least experienced defense secretary in American history.

A 2016 file photo of Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has served in the National Guard and is now a Fox News host. If confirmed, he would be the least experienced defense secretary in American history. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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National Security

What’s behind defense secretary pick Hegseth’s war on ‘woke’

The selection of Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Trump Defense Department has renewed scrutiny of his political and religious views and his aggressive criticism of the military he'd be leading.
Flags decorate a space at the Education Department in Washington.

In this Aug. 9, 2017, photo, flags decorate a space outside the office of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, at the Education Department in Washington. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Education

What Trump's pledge to close the Education Department means for students and GOP-led states

President-elect Donald Trump promised to close the Department of Education. We asked several education policy experts what the impacts of doing so would mean for students and the country.

A look at the potential impact of shutting down the Department of Education

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