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

Tuesday

Florida Is Blocking Money From 2 School Districts Over Mask Mandates, Defying A Judge

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the opening of a monoclonal antibody site last month in Pembroke Pines, Fla. DeSantis has sought to block schools from requiring masks for students. Marta Lavandier/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Marta Lavandier/AP

Back To School: Live Updates

Florida Is Blocking Money From 2 School Districts Over Mask Mandates, Defying A Judge

A judge ruled Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban on school mask mandates "is without legal authority" and can't be enforced. But that's not stopping the State Board of Education from withholding paychecks.

Family

Because Of The Pandemic, Some Quinceañeras Are Celebrating 17th Birthdays This Year

Quinceañeras are an important tradition in many Latino cultures, but COVID-19 restrictions canceled party plans. Those delays are bringing a new twist to these celebrations.

Because Of The Pandemic, Some Quinceañeras Are Celebrating 17th Birthdays This Year

Listen · 4:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033085277/1033089290" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
How Climate Change Is Making Storms Like Ida Even Worse

Residents walk down a flooded residential street in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida on August 30, 2021 in Norco, Louisiana. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Consider This from NPR

How Climate Change Is Making Storms Like Ida Even Worse

Hurricane Ida's winds intensified rapidly as the storm approached coastal Louisiana over the weekend — making landfall at its most powerful. NPR's Rebecca Hersher explains how Ida was supercharged by climate change.

How Climate Change Is Making Storms Like Ida Even Worse

Listen · 11:43
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1032762943/1200111136" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Education

Chicago School Bus Drivers Have Quit In Droves Over COVID Vaccine Mandate

Chicago Public Schools says 10% of their school bus drivers quit on Friday as they're unwilling to get mandated vaccines. The district is now offering cash to parents who drive their kids to school.

Chicago School Bus Drivers Have Quit In Droves Over COVID Vaccine Mandate

Listen · 2:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002694/1033002695" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

Lawmakers Want To Know What Went Wrong With Afghanistan

Lawmakers criticized the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. They now want to reassert Congress' authority and continue efforts to evacuate Americans and allies.

Lawmakers Want To Know What Went Wrong With Afghanistan

Listen · 3:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002687/1033002688" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Southern California Has Jobs For Incoming Afghans — But Not Much Affordable Housing

LAist 89.3

Afghans making their way to some California communities have run into a challenge that many residents face — affordable housing. Costs have made it difficult to find long-term places to live.

Southern California Has Jobs For Incoming Afghans — But Not Much Affordable Housing

Listen · 3:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002673/1033002674" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National Security

Winds Have Been High As The Caldor Fire Threatens California's South Lake Tahoe

Firefighters are hoping for favorable conditions today to help them keep the Caldor Fire from getting loose in the city of South Lake Tahoe, California.

Winds Have Been High As The Caldor Fire Threatens California's South Lake Tahoe

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002680/1033002681" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Medical Treatments

COVID Vaccinations Are On The Rise Again, Says White House

Due to more mandates around the U.S., White House COVID advisors say first-time vaccination rates are now on the rise after a slowdown this summer. Millions of unvaccinated children are now in school.

COVID Vaccinations Are On The Rise Again, Says White House

Listen · 3:58
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002659/1033002660" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Jury Selection Begins In The Fraud Trial Of Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes

Elizabeth Holmes, the former CEO of the health technology corporation Theranos, promised miracles with just a finger prick of blood. Jury selection in her fraud trial begins Tuesday.

Jury Selection Begins In The Fraud Trial Of Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes

Listen · 3:26
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002666/1033002667" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

What It Was Like Entering The Kabul Airport Alongside The Taliban

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Nabih Bulos, Middle East correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, about the Taliban's takeover of the Kabul airport.

What It Was Like Entering The Kabul Airport Alongside The Taliban

Listen · 4:17
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002652/1033002653" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National Security

New Orleans's Recover From Hurricane Ida's Damage Has Been Slow

Recovery is slow going in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida stormed ashore on Sunday. Rescue crews are still trying to get into hard hit areas as residents cope with the prospect of no power for weeks.

New Orleans's Recover From Hurricane Ida's Damage Has Been Slow

Listen · 3:32
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002645/1033002646" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sports

New England Patriots Opt For Rookie Quarterback

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Kyle Hightower, Associated Press reporter in Boston, talk about the New England Patriots cutting quarterback Cam Newton, and starting rookie Mac Jones instead.

New England Patriots Opt For Rookie Quarterback

Listen · 3:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002631/1033002632" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

New Orleans Mayor Cantrell On The City's Loss Of Power Brought By Hurricane Ida

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with LaToya Cantrell, mayor of New Orleans, about the damage from Hurricane Ida that has left residents without power for days.

New Orleans Mayor Cantrell On The City's Loss Of Power Brought By Hurricane Ida

Listen · 3:47
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002617/1033002618" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Widow Of Soldier Killed In Kabul Bombing Said He Was 'Brilliant'

One of the 13 U.S. service members to die after the Kabul airport bombing was Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, a 23-year-old special operations soldier from Tennessee. His widow, Alena, remembers him.

Widow Of Soldier Killed In Kabul Bombing Said He Was 'Brilliant'

Listen · 3:54
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002610/1033002611" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

After 3 Failed Attempts To Flee Afghanistan, A Family Clings To Hope

NPR's Leila Fadel talks with Syvash, one of the thousands of Afghans trying to leave the country. Over the last two decades, he's worked on various projects for both the U.S. and the European Union.

After 3 Failed Attempts To Flee Afghanistan, A Family Clings To Hope

Listen · 4:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1033002624/1033002625" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript