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National

Wednesday

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind, is seen shortly after his capture during a raid in Pakistan in March 2003 in this photo obtained by The Associated Press. The man accused of being the main plotter in al-Qaeda's Sept. 11, 2001 attacks has agreed to plead guilty, The Defense Department said Wednesday.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind, is seen shortly after his capture during a raid in Pakistan in March 2003 in this photo obtained by The Associated Press. The man accused of being the main plotter in al-Qaeda's Sept. 11, 2001 attacks has agreed to plead guilty, The Defense Department said Wednesday. File photo/AP hide caption

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File photo/AP

Law

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused as the main plotter of 9/11, agrees to plead guilty

Mohammed and two accomplices agreed to plead guilty in exchange for sentences of up to life in prison rather than face a death-penalty trial.

Katie Ledecky of Team USA celebrates after winning Wednesday's final of the women's 1,500m freestyle swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It was her eighth Olympic gold medal.

Katie Ledecky of Team USA celebrates after winning Wednesday's final of the women's 1,500m freestyle swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It was her eighth Olympic gold medal. Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

2024 Paris Olympics

Katie Ledecky claims 8th gold medal after 1,500m win, notching new Olympic record

American swimming legend Katie Ledecky pulled away from her competition in the 1,500 meter freestyle and then pulled away even more. The 27-year-old didn't just win gold. She made a statement.

LEDECKY & U.S. SWIMMING

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Frederick Richard, who helped the U.S. win a gymnastics team medal earlier in the week, struggled at times during individual all-around final on day five of the Olympic Games in Paris.

Frederick Richard, who helped the U.S. win a gymnastics team medal earlier in the week, struggled at times during Wednesday's individual all-around final at the Olympic Games in Paris. Jamie Squire/Getty Images hide caption

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Jamie Squire/Getty Images

2024 Paris Olympics

In the Olympic men’s gymnastics individual all-around, the U.S. strikes out

The men’s team captured Americans’ hearts with a bronze medal in the team all-around final on Monday. But in the individual event, U.S. gymnasts Frederick Richard and Paul Juda couldn't keep up.

A Delta Air Lines jet takes off at the Los Angeles International Airport in April. Ed Bastian, the airline's CEO, says the CrowdStrike outage has cost the carrier $500 million.

A Delta Air Lines jet takes off at the Los Angeles International Airport in April. Ed Bastian, the airline's CEO, says the CrowdStrike outage has cost the carrier $500 million. Damian Dovarganes/AP hide caption

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Damian Dovarganes/AP

Business

Delta's CEO says the CrowdStrike outage cost the airline $500 million in 5 days

The airline's CEO, Ed Bastian, says the massive tech outage that stranded countless passengers cost the airline a half-billion dollars. The carrier is now preparing litigation against CrowdStrike, he said.

Maher lifts her hands in celebration after Team USA's rugby sevens victory.

Ilona Maher celebrates the U.S. women's rugby sevens win over Australia for the bronze medal in Paris on Tuesday. Cameron Spencer/Getty Images hide caption

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Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

2024 Paris Olympics

With her signature stiff arm and red lip, Ilona Maher rules Olympic rugby and TikTok

U.S. women's rugby sevens center Ilona Maher has dominated the Olympics, both on the pitch and on social media. Here's what to know about the rising star — and the rising sport.

The new Michael Phelps may be a Frenchman. Gold medalist Leon Marchand stands with silver medalist Tomoyuki Matsushita (left), of Japan, and bronze medalist Carson Foster, of the United States, following the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Sunday in Nanterre, France.

The new Michael Phelps may be a Frenchman. Gold medalist Leon Marchand stands with silver medalist Tomoyuki Matsushita, left, of Japan, and bronze medalist Carson Foster, of the United States, following the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Sunday in Nanterre, France. Matthias Schrader/AP hide caption

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Matthias Schrader/AP

2024 Paris Olympics

The once-mighty U.S. swim team sinks in early Olympic races, winning only two golds

The once-mighty U.S. Olympic swim team has only won two gold medals so far at the Paris Games. Athletes say the sport has grown more competitive since Americans like Michael Phelps owned the pool.

The once-mighty U.S. swim team sinks in early Olympic races, winning only two golds

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A police officer visits a mother and her child.
Christina Chung/for NPR

Education

He has a badge and a gun — and he investigates school truancy

WFYI

When students miss lots of school without an excuse, it's known as truancy — and in Madison County, Ind., it can lead to a visit from truancy investigator Mitch Carroll.

In one Indiana county, kids who miss school are paid a visit by the truancy officer

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Frederick Richard reacts during the gymnastics men's team final Monday during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena. Frederick's enthusiasm, zeal and huge social media presence are fueling excitement in Paris and beyond.

Frederick Richard reacts during the gymnastics men's team final Monday during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena. Frederick's enthusiasm, zeal and huge social media presence are fueling excitement in Paris and beyond. Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images

2024 Paris Olympics

Meet Frederick Richard, the TikTok U.S. gymnast competing for (another) Olympic medal

The 20-year-old gymnast has more than 1.2 million followers between his TikTok and Instagram. But more than followers — or even Olympic medals — he wants more people to care about men's gymnastics.

Hurricane Ian hit Matlacha head-on. The financial cards are stacked against many renters who survive hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other major weather disasters. The long-term effects can be devastating.

Hurricane Ian hit Matlacha head-on. The financial cards are stacked against many renters who survive hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other major weather disasters. The long-term effects can be devastating.
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Ryan Kellman/NPR

Climate Change & Your Money

Do you rent? You may be more vulnerable to climate-driven disasters

The financial cards are stacked against many renters who survive hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other major weather disasters. The long-term effects can be devastating.

Personal Finance: RENTERS

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Young people wearing "True Love Waits" T-shirts hammer pledge cards stating they'll abstain from sex until marriage into the lawn of the National Mall in 1994.

In 1994, young people wearing "True Love Waits" T-shirts hammer pledge cards stating they'll abstain from sex until marriage into the lawn of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Richard Ross hide caption

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Richard Ross

30 years later, the evangelical purity movement still impacts sex education

In 1994 on the National Mall, thousands of American teens pledged abstinence until marriage. The movement it created has influenced sex education in schools to this day.

30 years of Abstinence pledge

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This 2002 electron microscope image from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a Listeria monocytogenes bacterium. Health officials have announced a recall of liverwurst and deli meat products in connection with a national listeria outbreak that has sickened nearly three dozen people in 13 states.

This 2002 electron microscope image from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a Listeria monocytogenes bacterium. Health officials have announced a recall of liverwurst and deli meat products in connection with a national listeria outbreak that has sickened nearly three dozen people in 13 states. Elizabeth White/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP hide caption

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Elizabeth White/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP

Health

Boar's Head recalls 7 million more pounds of deli meats tied to listeria outbreak

The new recall includes 71 products made between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar's Head and Old Country brand names, following an earlier recall of 200,000 pounds of sliced deli poultry and meat.

'Not a badge of honor': how book bans affect Indigenous literature
Jackie Lay

Code Switch

'Not a badge of honor': how book bans affect Indigenous literature

For some authors, finding their book on a "banned" list can feel almost like an accolade, putting them right there with classics like The Bluest Eye and To Kill a Mockingbird. But the reality is, most banned books never get the kind of recognition or readership that the most famous ones do.

'Not a badge of honor': how book bans affect Indigenous literature

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Tuesday

USA's Kevin Paredes celebrates scoring his team's second goal during a group match at the Paris Olympics between the United States and Guinea on Tuesday in Saint-Etienne, France. The U.S. defeated Guinea 3-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.

USA's Kevin Paredes celebrates scoring his team's second goal during a group match at the Paris Olympics between the United States and Guinea on Tuesday in Saint-Etienne, France. The U.S. defeated Guinea 3-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images hide caption

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Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

2024 Paris Olympics

The U.S. men's soccer team advances to the quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics

The U.S. men's team defeated Guinea 3-0 to advance to the knockout round in an Olympics for the first time since the Sydney Games in 2000. The Americans will face Morocco Friday in the quarterfinals.