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Bill Chappell Bill Chappell is a writer and editor on the News Desk in the heart of NPR's newsroom in Washington, DC.
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Bill Chappell

The Supreme Court's majority and dissent opinions on Dobbs reveal a massive schism

A group photo of the justices at the Supreme Court in Washington on April 23, 2021. Seated from left: Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor. Standing from left: Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett. Erin Schaff /AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Erin Schaff /AFP via Getty Images

Reproductive rights in America

The Supreme Court's majority and dissent opinions on Dobbs reveal a massive schism

"The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority. The court's liberals warn that other rights could now be vulnerable.

The abortion case is named after Thomas Dobbs, who says he has nothing to do with it

Thomas Dobbs is the state health officer at the Mississippi State Department of Health. His name appears on the landmark Supreme Court case on abortion rights, despite having "nothing to do with it," he has said. Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

Reproductive rights in America

The abortion case is named after Thomas Dobbs, who says he has nothing to do with it

The "Dobbs" in the case title refers to Thomas Dobbs, an infectious diseases doctor who became Mississippi's top health officer the same year the state adopted new abortion restrictions.

Israeli gunfire killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, U.N. says

Palestinian artists paint a mural in honor of slain veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Gaza City, after she was killed on May 11. A new U.N. report says Israeli forces fired the shots that killed Abu Akleh and injured a colleague. Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East

Israeli gunfire killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, U.N. says

"We have found no information suggesting that there was activity by armed Palestinians in the immediate vicinity," U.N. Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said.

When a U.S. swimmer sank to the bottom of the pool, her coach jumped in to save her

Team USA coach Andrea Fuentes brings Anita Alvarez from the bottom of the pool at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest. Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

Sports

When a U.S. swimmer sank to the bottom of the pool, her coach jumped in to save her

"I saw that the lifeguards were not jumping into the water because they were paralyzed," Team USA coach Andrea Fuentes said. Luckily for athlete Anita Alvarez, Fuentes is an Olympic swimmer.

An Argentine judge orders 8 to face a homicide trial in soccer star Maradona's death

A man prays in front of a sanctuary for the late soccer star Diego Maradona at Argentinos Juniors stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last November. Rodrigo Abd/AP hide caption

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Rodrigo Abd/AP

Latin America

An Argentine judge orders 8 to face a homicide trial in soccer star Maradona's death

The defendants include a neurosurgeon, two nurses and a car coordinator. Diego Maradona was under their care when he died at age 60 — and prosecutors say they were recklessly negligent.

The FDA knows nicotine is addictive. It wants to regulate it for the first time

The FDA hopes that a new limit on nicotine levels in cigarettes will help people stop smoking or avoid the habit altogether. Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images

Your Health

The FDA knows nicotine is addictive. It wants to regulate it for the first time

The Food and Drug Administration is poised to set a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes and some other tobacco products, looking to make them less addictive and wean smokers off the habit.

More than 900 people have reportedly been killed in an earthquake in Afghanistan

In this image taken from video from Bakhtar State News Agency, Taliban fighters secure a government helicopter to evacuate injured people in Gayan district, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Bakhtar State News Agency via AP hide caption

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Bakhtar State News Agency via AP

World

More than 900 people have reportedly been killed in an earthquake in Afghanistan

The hardest hit areas were remote farming villages in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika. "All the village completely is destroyed," said one man, showing collapsed homes on a cell phone video.

More than 900 people have reportedly been killed in an earthquake in Afghanistan

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Texas GOP's new platform says Biden didn't really win. It also calls for secession

The Republican Party of Texas refuses to recognize the legitimacy of President Biden's election win. Just before Biden's inauguration in 2021, armed groups held a rally in front of the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Matthew Busch/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Matthew Busch/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Texas GOP's new platform says Biden didn't really win. It also calls for secession

"We reject the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election," the Republican Party of Texas says, referring to President Biden as the "acting" leader.

COVID cases are upending cycling, and the Tour de France starts in 2 weeks

Cyclist Aleksandr Vlasov was leading the Tour de Suisse before a positive coronavirus test forced him to abandon the race — a fate shared by many other riders. Vlasov is seen here in March, at the Paris-Nice race. Francois Mori/AP hide caption

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Francois Mori/AP

Sports

COVID cases are upending cycling, and the Tour de France starts in 2 weeks

"It's just crazy," Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas said at the Tour de Suisse on Friday, after around 30 riders were forced to abandon the race.

Will Julian Assange be extradited to the U.S.? Where his case stands now

Stella Assange, wife of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, speaks in front of the U.K. Home Office in London as protesters demand Julian Assange's release on May 17. Home Secretary Priti Patel signed the extradition order on Friday. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images hide caption

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Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Europe

Will Julian Assange be extradited to the U.S.? Where his case stands now

The WikiLeaks founder will face 18 federal counts — whenever he's brought to a U.S. courthouse in Virginia. For now, he has at least one more avenue of appeal.

Days of intense heat have killed thousands of cattle in Kansas

Kansas officials say weather conditions made it hard for cows to cool down in an intense heat wave. Here, cattle graze near wind turbines in Hays, Kansas, in 2017. Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

National

Days of intense heat have killed thousands of cattle in Kansas

Temperatures topped 104 degrees in the state's top cattle county. In widely seen video footage, rows of carcasses are shown lined up along the edge of a field.

The WHO wants to give monkeypox a new name

A medical technician shows a suspected monkeypox sample at the microbiology laboratory of La Paz Hospital on June 6 in Madrid. The World Health Organization is working with experts on changing the name of the virus. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images hide caption

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Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

Global Health

The WHO wants to give monkeypox a new name

Scientists recently criticized the current name as "discriminatory and stigmatizing." They also say it's inaccurate to name versions of the virus after parts of Africa.