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Wednesday

Pentagon Releases New Policies Enabling Transgender People To Serve In The Military

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, seen here at the Pentagon last week, announced the military's new policies on Wednesday, International Transgender Day of Visibility. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/AP

National Security

Pentagon Releases New Policies Enabling Transgender People To Serve In The Military

President Biden signed an executive order repealing the Trump transgender ban in his first week in office, directing the Pentagon to begin the process to allow transgender people to serve openly.

Monday

Yemen: Saudi Arabia Proposes A Peace Deal, But Houthis Say It's Not Enough

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud proposed a ceasefire for Yemen on Monday, speaking from Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East

Yemen: Saudi Arabia Proposes A Peace Deal, But Houthis Say It's Not Enough

The Saudi proposal includes a nationwide ceasefire and reopening the airport in the Yemeni capital. But the Iranian-backed Houthis say the plan stops short of lifting a blockade.

Wednesday

White House Announces $10 Billion For COVID-19 Testing In Schools

A student gives her coronavirus swab to Helenann Civian, the principal of South Boston Catholic Academy in Boston in January. The White House announced $10 billion to expand testing in K-12 schools. Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe via Getty Images hide caption

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Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

White House Announces $10 Billion For COVID-19 Testing In Schools

The new funds will enable K-12 schools to ramp up screening testing, which can "identify asymptomatic disease and prevent clusters before they start," said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

Tuesday

Vaccine Distribution: An Equity Challenge

A nurse administers the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at Kedren Community Health Center, in South Central Los Angeles, California on February 16, 2021. APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images

Short Wave

Vaccine Distribution: An Equity Challenge

The Biden Administration has prioritized speed in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Also, a priority...distributing those doses to the populations most impacted by the coronavirus. Host Maddie Sofia talks with NPR science reporter Pien Huang about the challenges underserved communities face in getting the vaccine and the Biden Administration's plans to address vaccine equity in the pandemic.

Vaccine Distribution: An Equity Challenge

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Wednesday

'It's a Minefield': Biden's Pick For Health Secretary Faces Abortion Politics

Xavier Becerra, President Biden's nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, contended with critics of abortion rights on the first day of his confirmation hearings Tuesday. Sarah Silbiger/POOL/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Sarah Silbiger/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

'It's a Minefield': Biden's Pick For Health Secretary Faces Abortion Politics

KFF Health News

As California's attorney general, Xavier Becerra fought Trump-era restrictions on reproductive health. If confirmed, he'll navigate an even more difficult legal and political landscape.

Monday

As U.S. Death Toll Surpasses Half A Million, Biden Plans To Order Flags To Half-Staff

Columns along the sides of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool pay tribute to victims of COVID-19 at a Jan. 19 memorial. Just over a month later, a Monday evening ceremony will pay tribute to 500,000 Americans lives lost. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

As U.S. Death Toll Surpasses Half A Million, Biden Plans To Order Flags To Half-Staff

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that at a Monday event marking 500,000 COVID-19 deaths, President Joe Biden will order flags on federal property to be lowered to half staff for five days.

Wednesday

White House Announces Expanded COVID-19 Testing, Manufacturing And Virus Sequencing

The Biden administration announced on Wednesday a range of initiatives to expand testing capacity in the U.S. A COVID-19 testing site in Seattle is seen here on Saturday. David Ryder/Getty Images hide caption

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David Ryder/Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

White House Announces Expanded COVID-19 Testing, Manufacturing And Virus Sequencing

The administration says there will only be a few million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine available to distribute right away, assuming the company gets FDA authorization in the next few weeks.

Monday

As Biden Reopens ACA Enrollment, Are You Eligible To Sign Up Or Switch Health Plans?

The federal health insurance exchange, HealthCare.gov, has reopened until May 15 for new sign-ups; you can also switch to a different health plan on the exchange. But some states that run their own health insurance marketplaces have different rules. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

As Biden Reopens ACA Enrollment, Are You Eligible To Sign Up Or Switch Health Plans?

KFF Health News

The federal insurance exchange, HealthCare.gov, has reopened for changes and new sign-ups until May 15. But states with their own exchanges have different rules. Here's what you need to know.

Wednesday

U.S. To Impose Sanctions On Myanmar Military Officials Over Coup

Protesters hold images of de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday in Yangon, Myanmar. As fallout from the Feb. 1 military coup continues, U.S. President Joe Biden announced plans to sanction the leaders who directed it. Hkun Lat/Getty Images hide caption

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Hkun Lat/Getty Images

Politics

U.S. To Impose Sanctions On Myanmar Military Officials Over Coup

President Joe Biden announced a series of actions aimed at imposing consequences on the Myanmar military officials responsible for the country's coup, including sanctions and stronger export controls.

Monday

With Border Wall Construction Finally On Hold, Activists Worry About What's Next

A reinforced section of the U.S.-Mexico border fencing seen in eastern Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico on Jan. 20. President Biden signed an executive action and has halted construction of the massive wall for 60 days. Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images

National

With Border Wall Construction Finally On Hold, Activists Worry About What's Next

While border wall opponents are celebrating, they also say the fight may not be over. Environmental activists want wildlife corridors restored; others oppose security measure like cameras and drones.

With Border Wall Construction Finally On Hold, Activists Worry About What's Next

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Thursday

A Wyoming County Predicts 'Total Economic Devastation' From Biden Leasing Ban

A sign in the Jonah Field advertises cheap rates at a deserted motel built for oil and gas workers. Kirk Siegler/NPR hide caption

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Kirk Siegler/NPR

President Biden Takes Office

A Wyoming County Predicts 'Total Economic Devastation' From Biden Leasing Ban

Most of the oil and gas drilled in Wyoming comes from federal land and communities there are bracing for job losses and school funding cuts in the wake of a Biden administration pause on new leasing.

A Wyoming County Predicts 'Total Economic Devastation' From Biden Leasing Ban

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Wednesday

At Biden Administration's 1st COVID-19 Briefing, A Pledge To Let Scientists Lead

Dr. Anthony Fauci, shown here earlier this month, participated on Wednesday in the Biden administration's coronavirus team's briefing. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Coronavirus Updates

At Biden Administration's 1st COVID-19 Briefing, A Pledge To Let Scientists Lead

"This is a national emergency. Four hundred thousand people have died. Everything is on the table across the whole supply chain," said Jeffrey Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator.

Monday

Biden To Implement Travel Restrictions To Combat New Coronavirus Variants

President Biden is expected to sign off on new travel restrictions on non-U.S. travelers from South Africa, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

Biden To Implement Travel Restrictions To Combat New Coronavirus Variants

Newly discovered variants of COVID-19 in South Africa and Brazil could make the virus more infectious and may decrease the efficacy of vaccines.

Thursday

Biden Administration Prepares To Overturn Trump Abortion Rule

President Biden signs executive actions hours after his inauguration on Wednesday. He is expected to reverse several Trump-era policies. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

President Biden Takes Office

Biden Administration Prepares To Overturn Trump Abortion Rule

In a move requested by abortion rights advocates, Biden is preparing to overturn the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits U.S. aid to groups that provide or refer for abortion in other countries.

Wednesday