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National

Friday

U.S. Ends Funding Of U.N. Agency That Supports Palestinian Refugees

Pierre Krahenbuhl, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), speaks at a press conference in Amman, Jordan, on Thursday. On Friday, the U.S. announced it would cease funding of the aid organization. Raad Adayleh/AP hide caption

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Raad Adayleh/AP

World

U.S. Ends Funding Of U.N. Agency That Supports Palestinian Refugees

"The United States will no longer commit further funding to this irredeemably flawed operation," the State Department said. It's a loss of about $300 million in funding for schools and clinics.

Industry Looks For Hurricane Lessons As Climate Changes

Petrochemical facilities in the Houston area are assessing their hurricane preparedness after Hurricane Harvey. This oil refinery reinforced storage tank roofs with geodesic domes — the gray caps on some of the white tanks in the photo — to better withstand a deluge. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Science

Industry Looks For Hurricane Lessons As Climate Changes

Hurricane Harvey was a wake-up call for petrochemical plants along the Gulf Coast to rethink plans for major floods. Some companies are starting to prepare for storms that are larger and more severe.

Industry Looks For Hurricane Lessons As Climate Changes

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The World Says Goodbye To Aretha Franklin, The 'Queen Of Soul'

Thousands are expected at Friday's funeral for the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Family and invited guests celebrated her life inside the church while the community continued its tribute outside.

The World Says Goodbye To Aretha Franklin, The 'Queen Of Soul'

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Texas Judge Says DACA Is Probably Illegal, But Leaves It In Place

Supporters of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act and others demonstrate outside the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., in May. The Trump administration failed to convince a U.S. appeals court that it was justified in ending the program, but a Texas judge on Friday ruled in a separate case that DACA was likely illegal. Reed Saxon/AP hide caption

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Reed Saxon/AP

Texas Judge Says DACA Is Probably Illegal, But Leaves It In Place

Federal District Judge Andrew Hanen had ended a similar Obama-era program, but he declined to halt DACA, saying the coalition of opposed states waited too long to bring their lawsuit.

Politics

Sen. John McCain Makes His Final Return To The U.S. Capitol

Sen. John McCain makes his final return to the U.S. Capitol where he will lie in state, a rare honor granted to just 30 Americans before McCain.

Sen. John McCain Makes His Final Return To The U.S. Capitol

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Politics

How Trump Tries To Discredit What He Doesn't Like With 'Fake' And 'Phony' Labels

President Trump has long labeled unfavorable media coverage as "fake news," but this week he accused Google and other big tech companies of being in on the fakery. He's also labeled books "fake."

How Trump Tries To Discredit What He Doesn't Like With 'Fake' And 'Phony' Labels

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Environment

Why Seattle Had The Worst Air Quality In The World At Some Points This Summer

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, about the cause of this summer's extremely smoky air in the Pacific Northwest.

Why Seattle Had The Worst Air Quality In The World At Some Points This Summer

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Politics

Week In Politics: Trump's Rhetoric On The Mueller Investigation

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Bre Payton of The Federalist, and Ana Kasparian of the Young Turks Network about President Trump's rhetoric on the Mueller investigation and the upcoming confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Week In Politics: Trump's Rhetoric On The Mueller Investigation

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No NAFTA Deal: Canada-U.S. Talks To Resume Next Week

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland speaks during negotiations for a new North American Free Trade Agreement in October. "We know that a win-win-win agreement is within reach and that is what we are working toward," she said Friday. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

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Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Economy

No NAFTA Deal: Canada-U.S. Talks To Resume Next Week

After days of negotiations, the U.S. and Canada failed to agree on a deal by a Friday deadline to update the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. and Mexico reached a pact earlier.

Michigan Child's Death Puts Spotlight On Clash Between Medicine And Religion

In 34 states and the District of Columbia, there are religious exemptions to child neglect and abuse laws. That means a parent can deny a child medical care for reasons based on religion. John Fedele/Getty Images/Blend Images hide caption

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John Fedele/Getty Images/Blend Images

Here & Now Compass

Michigan Child's Death Puts Spotlight On Clash Between Medicine And Religion

In 34 states and the District of Columbia, there are religious exemptions that allow parents to forgo medical treatment for a child if it conflicts with their religious beliefs.

How Religion Shapes The Way People Approach Medicine

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Music

Remembering The Queen Of Soul In Detroit

In Detroit, Aretha Franklin gets her final sendoff — in the vintage, white Cadillac hearse that once carried civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Her fans have been celebrating the Queen of Soul all week.

Remembering The Queen Of Soul In Detroit

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U.S.-Canada Trade Talks Continue In Bid To Update NAFTA

The United States, Canada and Mexico have been in lengthy talks over changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement since President Trump threatened to scrap the historic treaty. Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

Economy

U.S.-Canada Trade Talks Continue In Bid To Update NAFTA

The United States and Canada are working on changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement, after lengthy talks spurred by President Trump's threats to scrap the historic treaty.