National

All news stories by NPR, Associated Press and any other national outlet.

a sign

CVS and Walgreens are ailing. Here’s why.

America’s biggest pharmacy chains are closing hundreds of stores, laying off thousands of workers and rethinking their role in our lives.
a drilling rig

Petroleum drilling technology is now making carbon-free power

A new technique for harvesting geothermal energy being pioneered in Utah has passed a significant milestone.
an aurora

The northern lights dazzle night skies across U.S. and Europe

The aurora borealis did not disappoint on Thursday night, with stargazers seeing the light show from across the U.S. and Europe.
a bear

In Fat Bear Week rematch, mama bear Grazer defeats rival that killed her cub

The 2023 winner beat Chunk, whose attack on her cubs postponed this year's Katmai National Park and Preserve contest.
the Supreme Court

Can ghost guns be regulated as firearms? The Supreme Court will decide.

The government says ghost guns kits count as a firearm under a 1968 law. But challengers contend “a kit of parts is not a weapon.”
a hurricane

Fast-growing Hurricane Milton is officially a Category 5 storm as it nears Florida

Milton grew quickly into a Category 5 storm Monday morning and is forecast to make landfall in Florida midweek.
a port

Port strikes end with deal on wages, averting economic disaster

The International Longshoremen's Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance have agreed to a 62% wage increase over six years.
bananas on a shelf

Why bananas may become one of the first casualties of the dockworkers strike

Hundreds of tons of bananas are stuck in transit — and they won't keep for long.
a debate

Who is the real JD Vance? And 4 other takeaways from the vice-presidential debate

Running mates are unlikely to make a major difference in this election, but there were some takeaways from an interesting night.
portraits of two men

JD Vance and Tim Walz face off in the last scheduled debate of the election season

https://www.youtube.com/live/VAGZGQg31hs?si=rSLFVMjPyoI5U7YJ Vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz will face off onstage in New York tonight at 5 p.m. AST for what is the last...
a customs agent

The pipeline of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. may be drying up, experts say

Many experts say the supply of the deadly synthetic opioid is suddenly drying up in much of the U.S. and fatal overdoses are dropping.
crushed cars and debris as water floods the area

Helene death toll rises to 120 as millions remain without power

Officials warned that rebuilding from the widespread loss of homes and property would be lengthy and difficult.
a car

EVs are cleaner than gas cars, but a growing share of Americans don’t believe it

Data from Ipsos shows the percentage of Americans who believe EVs are better for the environment than gas cars has dropped 5 points since 2022.
cash in hands

In a major shift, the U.S. government explores giving renters cash, not vouchers

A key goal of cash is getting people housed faster.
a house with a for sale sign

Here are 4 ways the Federal Reserve’s big rate cut could change the housing market

After months of anticipation, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates on Wednesday by half a percentage point.
a man in a suit against the wall

The Federal Reserve is on the verge of cutting interest rates. Here’s what to know.

The Fed is expected to start cutting interest rates on Wednesday — marking a milestone in the central bank's long-running battle against inflation.
images of a backpack on a fence

Here’s what we know about the suspect in Trump’s apparent attempted assassination

Ryan Wesley Routh's digital footprint paints a picture of a disillusioned former Trump voter who took up an impassioned defense of Ukraine.
three people stand next to giant vats of water

How a California county got PFAS out of its drinking water

Water utilities across the country will have to comply with EPA limits on "forever chemicals" in drinking water by 2029. Orange County got a head start.
a grocery store

Inflation falls to its lowest level in more than 3 years. Here’s what that means.

Consumer prices in August were up 2.5% from a year ago — the smallest annual increase since February 2021.
a debate

The debate between Harris and Trump wasn’t close — and 4 other takeaways

Tuesday’s debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was a contrast from the debate that forced President Biden from the race.