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A precinct worker reaches for more "I Voted" stickers on Nov. 7 in Jackson, Miss. A few polling places in Jackson's Hinds County saw ballot shortages during this year's statewide general election, frustrating voters. Rogelio V. Solis/AP hide caption

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Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Ballot shortages are rare in U.S. elections, but here's why they sometimes happen

Sometimes polling places run out of ballots for voters. It's rare, but it happens. It happened in Mississippi earlier this month, causing serious issues for voters. Here's a look at why it happens.

Ballot shortages are rare in U.S. elections, but here's why they sometimes happen

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De Winton's Golden Mole, a blind mole that lives beneath the sand has been rediscovered in Port Nolloth, South Africa. The small mammal has evaded scientists for nearly 90 years, using sensitive hearing that can detect vibrations from movement above the surface. JP Le Roux/JP Le Roux hide caption

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JP Le Roux/JP Le Roux

Holy Mole-y: A sniffer dog helps rediscover a rare mole

The De Winton's Golden mole was last spotted in 1936. But with the help of a mole-sniffing dog and new environmental DNA analysis, researchers are taking it off the most wanted lost species list.

It took two years for Joyce McMillan to be reunited with her children after they were removed from her care nearly 25 years ago. The experience propelled her advocacy for child welfare system reforms. Catie Dull/NPR hide caption

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Catie Dull/NPR

'Deluged' child welfare systems struggle to protect kids amid calls for reform

More than 3 million U.S. children were involved in an intervention for suspected abuse or neglect in a single year. Advocates say a disproportionate impact on families of color makes reform urgent.

'Deluged' child welfare systems struggle to protect kids amid calls for reform

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This GOES-East GeoColor satellite image taken June 2 shows Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP hide caption

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP

An active 2023 hurricane season comes to a close

The Atlantic hurricane season ends today. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says more named storms formed in the Atlantic this year than any other El Niño year in the modern record.

Gay rights activists carry rainbow flags as they march during a May Day rally in 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Russia's Supreme Court on Thursday effectively outlawed LGBTQ+ activism, in the most drastic step against advocates of gay, lesbian and transgender rights in the increasingly conservative country. AP hide caption

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AP

Russia's Supreme Court effectively outlaws LGBTQ+ activism in a landmark ruling

Addressing a lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry, the court labeled the LGBTQ+ "movement" in Russia an extremist group and banned it. The case was classified, and the ministry disclosed no evidence.

Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American peace activist, who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003, while trying to protect a home in the Gaza Strip from demolition. Courtesy of the Corrie family hide caption

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Courtesy of the Corrie family

Parents of slain Gaza activist Rachel Corrie carry her message forward 20 years after her death

Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American peace activist, was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003, while trying to protect a home in the Gaza Strip from demolition. Her parents, Craig and Cindy Corrie, have devoted their lives to her cause.

The Phillips family with their new favorite player, Jesse Luketa. J.W. Phillips hide caption

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J.W. Phillips

Fans gave NFL linebacker Jesse Luketa a lift to the game after he got a flat tire

Cardinals linebacker Jesse Luketa was stuck at a gas station with less than an hour before he needed to be at the stadium for Sunday's game. He decided to get resourceful.

Fans gave NFL linebacker Jesse Luketa a lift to the game after he got a flat tire

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Members of the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles drive with signs reading: "#Stop Asian Hate," in a caravan around Koreatown to denounce hate against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles on March 19, 2021. Damian Dovarganes/AP hide caption

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Damian Dovarganes/AP

Most Asian Americans say they face discrimination and are often treated as foreigners

In a Pew survey, Asian Americans reported facing the "model minority" stereotype, which assumes they're smarter and more well off, as well as being treated as outsiders even if they were U.S. born.

The J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building, home of the FBI's headquarters, is seen on June 9, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The General Services Administration's inspector general is investigating the decision to build a new HQ in Maryland. Alex Brandon/AP file photo hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP file photo

Inspector general investigating the decision to relocate FBI headquarters to Maryland

Virginia and Maryland competed fiercely for the project. Virginia's congressional delegation said there is "overwhelming evidence" that the process was influenced by politics.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission building in Washington. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/AP

Supreme Court conservatives seem likely to axe the SEC's enforcement powers

The Supreme Court's conservative justices seemed highly skeptical of how the Securities and Exchange Commission conducts in-house enforcement proceedings to ensure the integrity of securities markets.

Supreme Court conservatives seem likely to axe SEC enforcement powers

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Among the trove of games was an original version of the cult hit Chrono Trigger. Screenshot from NPR hide caption

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Screenshot from NPR

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

When a video game store closed in 1998, hundreds of sealed Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis cartridges were stored and forgotten. Now, a collection of the top-graded items has been appraised.

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

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President Nixon walks with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1972, during peace talks in Paris that were aimed at ending the Vietnam War. A year later, Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in negotiating the ceasefire. Keystone/Getty Images hide caption

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Keystone/Getty Images

Henry Kissinger, a controversial diplomat and foreign policy scholar, dies at 100

Kissinger's guiding foreign policy principle was that strategic national interests take priority over more idealistic aims, like the promotion of human rights and democracy.

In Apple TV+'s Slow Horses, Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the slovenly, brilliant spy who's in charge of a group of failed British spies. The series is based on Mick Herron's Slough House novels. Herron says Lamb might not have "a heart of gold" but he does have "a moral code." Apple TV+ hide caption

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Apple TV+

Gary Oldman had 'free rein' in spy thriller 'Slow Horses' — now back for Season 3

Oldman plays the slovenly leader of failed British spies in the Apple TV+ drama, based on Mick Herron's Slough House novels. Herron is more interested in the character's failures than his virtues.

Meta, the social media company that owns Facebook and Instagram, said Thursday that this year it has taken down five networks of fake accounts originating in China that aimed to influence politics in other countries. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Meta warns that China is stepping up its online social media influence operations

China has become the third most common source of foreign influence operations, behind Russia and Iran, according to the owner of Facebook and Instagram.

For Beyoncé's Renaissance tour Es Devlin designed a spherical portal — a 50-foot wide aperture — from which the star, her dancers and musicians could emerge and withdraw between songs. Es Devlin/Thames & Hudson hide caption

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Es Devlin/Thames & Hudson

When stars are on stage, this designer makes it personal for each fan in the stadium

Es Devlin says that stadiums are designed for competition and combat. So her job, whether she's designing for Beyoncé, Super Bowl Halftime, or The Olympics, is to achieve intimacy on a massive scale.

When stars are on stage, this designer makes it personal for each fan in the stadium

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Cochise County Supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd face felony charges for refusing to meet Arizona's deadline for certifying 2022 election results. Alberto Mariani/AP; Mark Levy/Pool Photo via AP hide caption

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Alberto Mariani/AP; Mark Levy/Pool Photo via AP

Arizona GOP county officials face charges after refusing to certify the 2022 election on time

Republican officials of Arizona's Cochise County face criminal charges after they risked more than 47,000 people's votes for the 2022 midterm elections by refusing to certify them by the deadline.

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