Accessibility links
U.S. News and National Top Stories NPR coverage of national news, U.S. politics, elections, business, arts, culture, health and science, and technology. Subscribe to the NPR Nation RSS feed.

National

Hawaii Extends Thirty Meter Telescope Permit Amid Protests

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he had rescinded an emergency proclamation put in place to deal with telescope protesters who are blocking the access road to the summit of Mauna Kea. Audrey McAvoy/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Audrey McAvoy/AP

Hawaii Extends Thirty Meter Telescope Permit Amid Protests

"Because TMT construction is not imminent, I am withdrawing the emergency proclamation effective immediately," Ige said on Tuesday following a decision to allow an extra two years for construction.

How Voters In Suburban Philadelphia Are Reacting To Trump's Tweets About Baltimore

WHYY

Voters outside Philadelphia react to President Trump's racially-charged tweets about Baltimore. They're mixed on how seriously they should take the president's words.

How Voters In Suburban Philadelphia Are Reacting To Trump's Tweets About Baltimore

Listen · 3:08
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/747041539/747041540" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

West Virginia Hosts 24th World Scout Jamboree With More Than 41,000 Attending Scouts

West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Tens of thousands of young people from more than 150 countries are in West Virginia. They're at the 24th World Scout Jamboree which is in the U.S. for the first time since 1967.

West Virginia Hosts 24th World Scout Jamboree With More Than 41,000 Attending Scouts

Listen · 2:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/747041511/747041512" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
A New Trump Rule Could Weaken A Civil Rights Era Housing Discrimination Law

Wanda Onafuwa says a house next door to her in Baltimore fell into disrepair after Bank of America foreclosed on the property. Courtesy of Wanda Onafuwa hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Wanda Onafuwa

Business

A New Trump Rule Could Weaken A Civil Rights Era Housing Discrimination Law

The Trump administration is moving to weaken the Fair Housing Act, according to housing advocates. They say a proposed rule would make it harder to bring lawsuits alleging racial discrimination.

A New Trump Rule Could Weaken A Civil Rights Era Housing Discrimination Law

Listen · 4:28
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/747006108/747041564" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Environment

D.C. Officials Start To Rethink Swimming Ban In Rivers After Years Of Cleanup Efforts

WAMU 88.5

Swimming has been banned in some of the nation's urban rivers for decades because of pollution. Now, the waterways are becoming cleaner and D.C. may allow swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia.

D.C. Officials Start To Rethink Swimming Ban In Rivers After Years Of Cleanup Efforts

Listen · 3:36
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/747041504/747041505" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Kentucky Coal Miners Protest After Not Being Paid By Company That Declared Bankruptcy

Coal miners in Harlan, Ky., are protesting this week after Blackjewel, one of the nation's largest coal companies, declared bankruptcy without enough money to pay workers their final paychecks.

Kentucky Coal Miners Protest After Not Being Paid By Company That Declared Bankruptcy

Listen · 3:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/747041494/747041498" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Immigrants Rights Attorney Discusses Changes To Asylum Rules Related To Family Ties

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Andrea Lino, staff attorney at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, about a new rule that impacts who can qualify for asylum claims.

Immigrants Rights Attorney Discusses Changes To Asylum Rules Related To Family Ties

Listen · 4:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/747041459/747041488" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

FAA Officials Face More Questions On Why It Approved Boeing's 737 Max Jets

Federal Aviation Administration officials faced more tough questions Wednesday from Congress on why it approved the Boeing 737 MAX and then didn't ground the plane after the first fatal crash.

FAA Officials Face More Questions On Why It Approved Boeing's 737 Max Jets

Listen · 2:36
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/747041417/747041446" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Puerto Rico Gov. Rosselló Names His Possible Successor

Puerto Rico's disgraced Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announced Wednesday he plans to nominate former Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, pictured in 2016, to succeed him when he steps down on Friday. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Evan Vucci/AP

Puerto Rico Gov. Rosselló Names His Possible Successor

"After much analysis, and taking into account the best interests of our people, I have selected Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia to fill the vacancy of Secretary of State," Rosselló tweeted Wednesday morning.

Democrats Embrace Gun Control On Debate Stage; Researchers Question Policies' Impact

Democratic presidential candidate South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (center), speaks while Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders listen during the Democratic presidential debate in Detroit on Tuesday. All three agree on the need to ban assault-style weapons and for a universal background check for gun buyers. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Politics

Democrats Embrace Gun Control On Debate Stage; Researchers Question Policies' Impact

Guns and America

Lowering gun violence was one issue on which Democratic presidential candidates spoke with nearly one voice. But researchers question the effectiveness of some of the Democrats' proposals.

No U.S.-China Trade Deal Yet; Talks To Resume In September

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (left) looks on as U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer speaks with and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Shanghai on Wednesday. Ng Han Guan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Ng Han Guan/AFP/Getty Images

Business

No U.S.-China Trade Deal Yet; Talks To Resume In September

The White House called the brief talks in Shanghai this week between top U.S. and Chinese officials "constructive" and said negotiations are expected to pick up again in early September.

Business

Kentucky Miners Block Railroad In Demand For Pay After Blackjewel Coal Bankruptcy

WMMT-FM

In Kentucky, a group of miners is staging a protest: blocking a railroad. The miners haven't been paid since Blackjewel filed for bankruptcy, so they're preventing a coal train from leaving the plant.

Kentucky Miners Block Railroad In Demand For Pay After Blackjewel Coal Bankruptcy

Listen · 2:13
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/746855366/746855367" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Democratic Voters In Iowa React To First Night Of Presidential Debate

Iowa Public Radio

Democratic voters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, react to the first night of the presidential debate.

Democratic Voters In Iowa React To First Night Of Presidential Debate

Listen · 2:42
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/746855352/746855353" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript