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Alice Fordham Alice Fordham is an NPR International Correspondent based in Beirut, Lebanon.
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Alice Fordham

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Thursday

National

Not all tribes agree with drilling ban around New Mexico's Chaco Canyon

KUNM

Native American communities in the Southwest are divided over new federal protections for land some tribes consider sacred.

Not all tribes agree with drilling ban around New Mexico's Chaco Canyon

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Thursday

Fake 'sober homes' targeting Native Americans scam millions from taxpayers

Reva Stewart preparing to meet people without housing at a park in Phoenix Alice Fordham/KUNM hide caption

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Alice Fordham/KUNM

Mental Health

Fake 'sober homes' targeting Native Americans scam millions from taxpayers

KUNM

The scale of a scam to recruit Native Americans into fake treatment for substance in Phoenix and bill the government fraudulently is now emerging. It's huge.

Fake 'sober homes' targeting Native Americans scam millions from taxpayers

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Wednesday

National

A Texas group that wants to ban abortion nationwide is targeting New Mexico

KUNM

A nationwide movement to enact local ordinances against abortion drugs has New Mexico's attorney general taking action. A fight in the courts may be just what abortion opponents want.

A Texas group that wants to ban abortion nationwide is targeting New Mexico

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Wednesday

National

A losing GOP candidate in N.M. is charged with shootings at homes of Democrats

KUNM

Political leaders in New Mexico call for accountability after a convicted felon and failed GOP legislative candidate was arrested for conspiring to shoot up homes and offices of elected Democrats.

A losing GOP candidate in N.M. is charged with shootings at homes of Democrats

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Thursday

National

Transitioning away from coal leaves Navajo communities struggling

KUNM

Despite years of warnings about coal mines and power plants shutting down on the Navajo Reservation, promised funding to help an economic transition has failed to materialize.

Transitioning away from coal leaves Navajo communities struggling

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Wednesday

National

N.M. community is stunned after Muslim man is suspected of killing Muslim men

KUNM

Police in Albuquerque plan more charges against the man arrested in connection with the killing of four Muslim men. Investigators say the suspect prayed at the same mosque as the victims.

N.M. community is stunned after Muslim man is suspected of killing Muslim men

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Wednesday

National

It was supposed to be a controlled burn, but a New Mexico fire got out of control

KUNM

The biggest wildfire ever recorded in New Mexico is all but contained now, and residents are assessing the damage and challenges to recover.

It was supposed to be a controlled burn, but a New Mexico fire got out of control

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Monday

National

Biden pledges more aid to New Mexico to help fight the state's massive wildfire

KUNM

President Biden is back in Washington after visiting New Mexico for a briefing on wildfires which have now burned more than 900 square miles.

Biden pledges more aid to New Mexico to help fight the state's massive wildfire

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Tuesday

National

People in New Mexico brace for other issues a menacing wildfire will create

KUNM

As the largest wildfire in New Mexico's history continues to grow, efforts to prevent mudslides and protect drinking water are underway.

People in New Mexico brace for other issues a menacing wildfire will create

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Wednesday

National

Encore: New Mexico has a generous free tuition program, but there are limits

KUNM

New Mexico is the latest of dozens of states to offer free college tuition in some form. The benefits are generous, but only last for a year. (This story first aired on ATC on March 21, 2022.)

Encore: New Mexico has a generous free tuition program, but there are limits

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Monday

Animals

Biologist In Iraq Tracks Leopards Crossing The Border From Iran

Landmines make the northern part of the Iraq-Iran border forbidding for humans, but they also seem to have created space for what's thought to be a growing population of rare leopards.

Biologist In Iraq Tracks Leopards Crossing The Border From Iran

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Monday

Middle East

In Iraq, Herding Water Buffalo Is Once Again A Growing Industry

In the marshes of southern Iraq, water buffalos provide a livelihood for people outside the reach of many of the country's problems. There are new efforts intended to boost local agriculture.

In Iraq, Herding Water Buffalo Is Once Again A Growing Industry

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Sunday

'We Will Never Break': In Iraq, A Yazidi Women's Choir Keeps Ancient Music Alive

Rana Sulaiman Halo (center), performs with a traditional daf drum with the Ashti (Peace) Choir. Emily Garthwaite/INSTITUTE for NPR hide caption

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Emily Garthwaite/INSTITUTE for NPR

World

'We Will Never Break': In Iraq, A Yazidi Women's Choir Keeps Ancient Music Alive

Women from Iraq's Yazidi minority get together to perform centuries-old sacred songs. They've survived captivity by ISIS and loved ones' deaths. "They are trying to heal," says a Yazidi politician.

'We Will Never Break': In Iraq, A Yazidi Women's Choir Keeps Ancient Music Alive

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Monday

Religion

Pope Francis Concludes 1st Papal Visit To Iraq With Mass In Erbil

Pope Francis is back at the Vatican after a historic trip to Iraq, the home of a dwindling but determined Christian community.

Pope Francis Concludes 1st Papal Visit To Iraq With Mass In Erbil

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Friday

Wednesday

U.S. Civilian Contractor Dies During Rocket Strike On Iraq Air Base

Ain al-Asad military airbase, shown here earlier this year, was hit in a rocket attack, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Ayman Henna/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ayman Henna/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East

U.S. Civilian Contractor Dies During Rocket Strike On Iraq Air Base

The Pentagon said the unnamed U.S. national was taking shelter and suffered a "cardiac episode," dying shortly thereafter. The attack followed U.S. strikes against Iran-backed militants last week.

Tuesday

'It Was Like Magic': Iraqis Visit Babylon And Other Heritage Sites For 1st Time

Visitors with the Bil Weekend tourism company take photographs inside the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon, in the area around the Ishtar gate. The animal on the walls ins a dragon-like creature associated with the Babylonian god Marduk. Alice Fordham for NPR hide caption

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Alice Fordham for NPR

World

'It Was Like Magic': Iraqis Visit Babylon And Other Heritage Sites For 1st Time

Domestic tourism has been strong in Iraq's northern Kurdish region, but sites in more impoverished, insecure areas tend to be visited less. A few Iraqi tourism companies are trying to change that.

'It Was Like Magic': Iraqis Visit Babylon And Other Heritage Sites For 1st Time

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Monday

Pope Plans Historic Visit To Iraq As Its Christian Populations Dwindle

An Iraqi policeman walks by a mural depicting Pope Francis on the outer walls of Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on Monday. Pope Francis' visit from March 5 to 8 will include trips to Baghdad, the city of Mosul and a meeting with the country's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images

World

Pope Plans Historic Visit To Iraq As Its Christian Populations Dwindle

Many Iraqis — Christian and Muslim — say they are excited about the first papal visit to the country, raising hopes of religious tolerance in the face of extremist violence.

Pope Plans Historic Visit To Iraq As Its Christian Populations Dwindle

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Wednesday

Religion

Pope Francis Hopes To Visit Iraq Next Month, Pandemic Permitting

Pope Francis plans to travel the original home of the patriarch Abraham in the Iraqi desert. His tour will also take him to places where there are almost no Christians — most everyone is Muslim.

Pope Francis Hopes To Visit Iraq Next Month, Pandemic Permitting

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Monday

Rockets Kill Civilian Contractor, Injure U.S. Service Member, Others In Erbil, Iraq

People inspect the area where one of the fired rockets was hit at Bahtiyari neighborhood on Monday in Erbil, Iraq. Yunus Keles/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images hide caption

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Yunus Keles/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

National Security

Rockets Kill Civilian Contractor, Injure U.S. Service Member, Others In Erbil, Iraq

Local media reported rockets fell in several areas in and around the city, and multiple people were being treated for injuries in hospital. The identity of the attackers was not immediately clear.

Wednesday

In Iraq's 'Dire' Economy, Poverty Is Rising — And So Are Fears Of Instability

"Now, because of the rise of the dollar and the pensions people aren't receiving, there are two classes of people," says Saad Salman, the owner of a Baghdad sweet shop. "A poor class and a rich class." Alice Fordham/NPR hide caption

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Alice Fordham/NPR

World

In Iraq's 'Dire' Economy, Poverty Is Rising — And So Are Fears Of Instability

"Iraq's economic situation can probably best be described as being dire," says an International Energy Agency expert. Government revenues have plummeted and its currency has been devalued.

In Iraq's 'Dire' Economy, Poverty Is Rising — And So Are Fears Of Instability

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Wednesday

Economy

Iraqis Forced To Cope With Country's Economic Hard Times

In Iraq, a huge share of the country relies on government salaries. But the government relies on oil revenues which have been falling. The purchasing power of average Iraqis has dropped.

Iraqis Forced To Cope With Country's Economic Hard Times

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Thursday

Middle East

More Than 30 Dead And Dozens Wounded After Double Suicide Attack In Iraq's Capital

Twin suicide bombings at a Baghdad market — unheard of in recent years — are raising security concerns as the Biden administration looks at the U.S. troops still in the country.

More Than 30 Dead And Dozens Wounded After Double Suicide Attack In Iraq's Capital

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Twin Suicide Bombings In Baghdad Market Kill At Least 32, Wound Over 100

People and security forces gather at the site of deadly bomb attacks Thursday in a Baghdad market. The rare suicide bombings killed and wounded dozens of civilians. Hadi Mizban/AP hide caption

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Hadi Mizban/AP

Middle East

Twin Suicide Bombings In Baghdad Market Kill At Least 32, Wound Over 100

Suicide bombings have been rare in the Iraqi capital since the country's military largely defeated the Islamic State group in 2017. But ISIS has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Twin Suicide Bombings In Baghdad Market Kill At Least 32, Wound Over 100

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