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

Thursday

Health Insurer Aetna Raises Wages For Lowest-Paid Workers To $16 An Hour

Aetna announced one of its largest pay hikes recently. CEO Mark Bertolini says he believes it largely could pay for itself by making workers more productive. Courtesy of Aetna hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Aetna

Business

Health Insurer Aetna Raises Wages For Lowest-Paid Workers To $16 An Hour

Aetna, the giant health insurance company, raised its minimum wage this month. CEO Mark Bertolini says he expects the raise will pay for itself through increased productivity.

Health Insurer Aetna Raises Wages For Lowest-Paid Workers To $16 An Hour

Listen · 4:49
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403257223/403362719" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Compton's Cowboys Keep The Old West Alive, And Kids Off The Streets

Derrick Jennings never goes without his hat, boots or cowboy belt buckle. He wears them so it's clear to people that he's a hardworking cowboy. Gloria Hillard for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Gloria Hillard for NPR

Compton's Cowboys Keep The Old West Alive, And Kids Off The Streets

The city has seen some positive changes in recent years, including a reconnection with the city's rural past. The pastime has given youth an outlet in a region that's at the center of gang violence.

Compton's Cowboys Keep The Old West Alive, And Kids Off The Streets

Listen · 4:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403353200/403362701" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Opinion

The Racially Charged Meaning Behind The Word 'Thug'

NPR's Melissa Block speaks to John McWhorter, associate professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, about the use of the word "thug" to describe Baltimore rioters.

The Racially Charged Meaning Behind The Word 'Thug'

Listen · 6:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403362626/403362634" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sports

Clothing Designer Helps NFL Prospects Suit Up For The Draft

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with clothing designer Boushra Alchabaoun about helping NFL draftees suit up for the draft, which begins Thursday night in Chicago.

Clothing Designer Helps NFL Prospects Suit Up For The Draft

Listen · 3:41
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403362660/403362668" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Why Hillary Clinton Is Just Fine With Bernie Sanders' Candidacy

Bernie Sanders announced his presidential bid Thursday. Though he'll challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, his candidacy could actually help hers. Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Getty Images

It's All Politics

Why Hillary Clinton Is Just Fine With Bernie Sanders' Candidacy

The liberal Vermont senator is running to Clinton's left. Another candidate or two on the Democratic side might actually be a good thing for Clinton.

Why Hillary Clinton Is Just Fine With Bernie Sanders' Candidacy

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403362588/403362589" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Baltimore Through A Reporter's Eyes: 'Primary Problems Are Not Racial'

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Washington Post reporter Michael Fletcher about his experience as a reporter — and a black man — living in Baltimore for the past 30 years.

Baltimore Through A Reporter's Eyes: 'Primary Problems Are Not Racial'

Listen · 4:04
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403362595/403362598" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Documents Show FAA Questioned Mental Fitness of Germanwings Co-Pilot Andreas Lubitz

September 13, 2009 photo of Andreas Lubitz, who is believed to have deliberately crashed Germanwings Flight 9525 into a mountain in southern France on March 24, 2015, killing all 150 people on board. Getty Images/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Getty Images/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Documents Show FAA Questioned Mental Fitness of Germanwings Co-Pilot Andreas Lubitz

Newly released documents show the FAA initially declined to give Andreas Lubitz a medical certificate for his U.S. pilot's license because of his history of depression.

Asia

Returning To Vietnam Years After Fleeing War, A Man Finally Feels At Home

Duc Nguyen left Vietnam in 1975 as a boat person fleeing the communist advance. Now he has returned to an unlikely place — the seat of the communist government in Hanoi.

Returning To Vietnam Years After Fleeing War, A Man Finally Feels At Home

Listen · 5:03
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403362556/403362560" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Space

NASA Spacecraft Crashes Into Mercury, Concluding 4-Year Study Of Planet

A NASA spacecraft plunged into the planet Mercury on Thursday. It's demise comes after four years of studying our solar system's innermost planet.

NASA Spacecraft Crashes Into Mercury, Concluding 4-Year Study Of Planet

Listen · 2:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403362574/403362582" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Law

Baltimore Police Conclude Investigation Into Freddie Gray's Death

The investigation into the death of the 25-year-old has been handed over to the city's prosecutor. But it is raising more questions than answers and failing to quell the community's calls for justice.

Baltimore Police Conclude Investigation Into Freddie Gray's Death

Listen · 3:37
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403362615/403362620" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National Security

House Judiciary Committee Passes Bill To Limit NSA Spying

The House panel voted Thursday to advance a bill that would end the National Security Agency's bulk collection of Americans' phone records.

House Judiciary Committee Passes Bill To Limit NSA Spying

Listen · 3:27
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403362640/403362654" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Plan To Give E-Books To Poor Kids

President Obama announced an initiative to give e-books to low-income students while visiting the Anacostia Library in Washington on Thursday. Shawn Thew//LANDOV hide caption

toggle caption
Shawn Thew//LANDOV

NPR Ed

The Plan To Give E-Books To Poor Kids

Today, President Obama announced a massive effort with major publishers to make thousands of e-book titles free for low-income kids.

The Plan To Give E-Books To Poor Kids

Listen · 3:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/403273087/403362725" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript