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In this picture, taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers patrol a street in northern Gaza on Wednesday. The Israeli military says it's launched a new ground offensive in Gaza, a day after Israel broke a ceasefire with a punishing series of airstrikes that killed more than 400 people.

In this picture, taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers patrol a street in northern Gaza on Wednesday. The Israeli military says it's launched a new ground offensive in Gaza, a day after Israel broke a ceasefire with a punishing series of airstrikes that killed more than 400 people. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

Israel has launched a new ground invasion into Gaza after breaking ceasefire

Israel's military launched a new ground offensive in Gaza, sending troops into areas they retreated from during a two-month ceasefire. This comes a day after airstrikes killed more than 400 people.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Stephen Capus speaks about the status of Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist who is detained in Russia, during a forum at the National Press Club on May 3, 2024 in Washington, DC.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Stephen Capus speaks about the status of Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist who is detained in Russia, during a forum at the National Press Club on May 3, 2024 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

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Interview highlights

Radio Free Europe CEO expects 'pretty drastic actions' following federal budget slash

Stephen Capus, who leads Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, discusses why his organization is filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

RFERL head discusses the news outlet's future following funding cuts

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson (center) answers questions during a press conference at the Minneapolis federal courthouse on Wednesday in Minneapolis.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson (center) answers questions during a press conference at the Minneapolis federal courthouse on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Kerem Yücel/MPR News hide caption

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Kerem Yücel/MPR News

National

Feeding Our Future head Aimee Bock convicted on all fraud charges

 MPR News

A federal jury convicted Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock and former restaurateur Salim Said on charges stemming from a scheme to fleece taxpayers out of $250 million meant to feed children.

WATCH

Theo Croker: Tiny Desk Concert

The opening song, "JAZZ IS DEAD," is sure to catch attention and elicit questions, but listen to the lyrics to understand Theo Croker's determination to both reclaim, and expand, the form.
Woman preparing an injection.

Woman preparing an injection at home. Guido Mieth/Getty Images/Digital Vision hide caption

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Guido Mieth/Getty Images/Digital Vision

Treatments

Patients scramble as cheaper obesity drug alternatives disappear

Compounding pharmacies have been allowed to essentially make a cheaper version of Eli Lilly's Zepbound, but they have to stop Wednesday. That has left many patients wondering what to do next.

Production of cheaper alternatives to name brand obesity drugs will stop on Wednesday

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Clotilde Poujade practices French pronunciations with students at École Pointe-au-Chien practice French pronunciations with their teacher.

Clotilde Poujade practices French pronunciations with students at École Pointe-au-Chien. Aubri Juhasz/WWNO hide caption

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Aubri Juhasz/WWNO

Education

Louisiana has a long history with French. This immersion school aims to keep it alive

 WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio

Most Louisianans no longer speak French, but a growing number of schools are now immersing kids in it. At École Pointe-au-Chien, the focus is on teaching local French dialects first.

A French immersion school in Louisiana teaches kids the state's unique local dialects

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Student protesters gather inside their encampment on the Columbia University campus, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah, File)

Student protesters gather inside their encampment on the Columbia University campus, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah, File) Stefan Jeremiah/AP hide caption

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Stefan Jeremiah/AP

Interview highlights

Weaponizing antisemitism makes students 'less safe,' says drafter of definition

Kenneth Stern, who drafted a widely used definition of antisemitism, says the Trump administration is using antisemitism claims to stifle speech and debate on the Middle East on college campuses.

Weaponizing antisemitism makes students 'less safe,' says drafter of definition

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Casim Abbas, a mathematics professor at Michigan State University, feeds chickens at his small egg farm at his home in Williamston, Michigan, on February 8, 2023. - Due to the ongoing egg shortage and the rise in prices due to avian flu, some people in the US are turning to local farms and backyard operations to purchase their eggs. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher / AFP) (Photo by MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP via Getty Images)

Casim Abbas, a mathematics professor at Michigan State University, feeds chickens at his small egg farm at his home in Williamston, Michigan, on February 8, 2023. - Due to the ongoing egg shortage and the rise in prices due to avian flu, some people in the US are turning to local farms and backyard operations to purchase their eggs. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher / AFP) (Photo by MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP via Getty Images) MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP/Getty Images

Public Health

If bird flu jumps to humans, immunity from seasonal flu may offer some protection

Very few humans have gone up against bird flu. But we've all dealt with seasonal flu for years. Some of our immune systems might be primed to fend off a worse case, research finds.
A 1040 tax form, a calculator and a pencil.

The IRS says Americans have until April 15 to claim refunds for the 2021 tax year, including some pandemic-era relief payments. Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images

Your Money

It's your last chance to claim pandemic-era stimulus checks, the IRS says. Here's how

The IRS says some Americans who have not filed their 2021 tax returns could be eligible for a pandemic-era relief payment, as long as they do so by April 15. Here's what to know as Tax Day approaches.
Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, in Washington in November 2022.

Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, in Washington in November 2022. Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/AP hide caption

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Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/AP

Interview highlights

Trump admin. cuts funding for program that tracked Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Rep. Greg Landsman, a lawmaker who signed a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking whether a database of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia had been deleted.

Lawmakers asks Rubio if database of abducted Ukrainian kids has been deleted

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A pregnant woman brought her child to a health clinic in Farchana, Chad. They are sitting under a mosquito net.

A pregnant woman brought her child to a health clinic in Farchana, Chad. They are sitting under a mosquito net. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Goats and Soda

As U.S. foreign aid programs grind to a halt, African health leaders look for a silver lining

Chad has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality. A group of midwives helped but now their jobs are on the line — one of many cases where countries must try to keep such programs alive.

Africa Reacts to USAID Cuts

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U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell holds a press conference after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Powell said inflation has started to rise in part due to President Trump's tariffs, stressing that it is tough to isolate the effects of levies on price increases. "Clearly some of it, a good part of it, is coming from tariffs," Powell noted, adding that "there may be a delay in further progress" on inflation over the course of this year.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell holds a press conference after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Powell said inflation has started to rise in part due to President Trump's tariffs, stressing that it is tough to isolate the effects of levies on price increases. "Clearly some of it, a good part of it, is coming from tariffs," Powell noted, adding that "there may be a delay in further progress" on inflation over the course of this year. Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

Economy

The Fed holds interest rates steady as Trump's trade agenda sparks uncertainty

The Fed held rates steady, but left the door open to cut them later this year if inflation continues to ease. Trump's tariffs, however, could complicate efforts to bring prices under control.

federal reserve

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A view of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) building headquarters on March 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump administration employees entered the building on Monday with the help of law enforcement officials after President Trump ordered the dismantling of the congressionally funded independent nonprofit.

A view of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) building headquarters on March 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump administration employees entered the building on Monday with the help of law enforcement officials after President Trump ordered the dismantling of the congressionally funded independent nonprofit. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Politics

Judge declines to immediately reverse Trump moves at U.S. Institute of Peace

Founded during the Cold War to project American soft power and foreign policy expertise, the federally funded nonprofit think tank is now in the White House's crosshairs.
Earlier this month, Flow won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Earlier this month, Flow won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films hide caption

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Courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films

Animals

Dogs dig 'Flow.' A researcher explains what might be catching their eye on the screen

Oscar-winning film Flow has caught the eye of many pets. Here's what a researcher told NPR our furry friends might pay attention to on the screen.

What do dogs see when they look at a TV screen?

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with the Finnish president at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Wednesday. Ukraine's President Zelensky and First Lady Zelenska are on an official visit to Finland.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with the Finnish president at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on Wednesday. Ukraine's President Zelensky and First Lady Zelenska are on an official visit to Finland. HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine invasion — explained

Zelenskyy and Trump speak after Trump's call with Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for about an hour with President Trump on Wednesday, following Trump's call on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
An illustration shows a small figure from behind, standing in the mouth of a cave that is shaped like a human head. The person is looking out into the distance at a gorgeous landscape with pink and blue clouds and rolling green hills, meditating on natural beauty and their place in the universe.

Concept art of nature change freedom dream success and hope , conceptual idea artwork, surreal painting of a man with landscape nature in a door , Mountain Jorm Sangsorn/Getty Images hide caption

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Jorm Sangsorn/Getty Images

Perspective

Life Kit

Stargazing, poetry and meditation: What connects NPR readers to their spirituality

NPR readers of different belief systems share the poignant rituals that make them feel close to their spirituality. For some, it's poetry and gardening, for others, it's meditation and community.

How to create your own spiritual practices

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David McCormack of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in March Madness last year.
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David McCormack of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in March Madness last year. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images
David McCormack of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in March Madness last year.

David McCormack of the Kansas Jayhawks cuts down the net after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in March Madness last year.

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I'm Really Into

An ode to March Madness, where you can always expect the unexpected

As a former college basketball player, I know firsthand how hard the players work to stay in the tournament for as long as possible. Here's why you should fill out a March Madness bracket this season.
The Copper induction stove has a battery under the oven, so the appliance can plug into a regular household outlet.

The Copper induction stove has a battery under the oven, so the appliance can plug into a regular household outlet. Jeff Brady/NPR hide caption

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Jeff Brady/NPR

Climate

Switching from gas to electric? Here are 3 appliances that are easy to install

Changing from gas to climate-friendly electric appliances often involves expensive retrofits. A growing list of companies offer stoves, heat pumps and water heaters that make it easier and cheaper.

Switching from gas to electric? Here’s 3 appliances that are easy to install

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Dr. Kurt Papenfus in 2020 is shown wearing surgical scrubs, gloves, a mask and a plastic shield over his face.

Dr. Kurt Papenfus in 2020. He is the CEO of Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells, Colo. Dr. Kurt Papenfus hide caption

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Dr. Kurt Papenfus

Shots - Health News

5 ways the pandemic changed us — for good, for bad, and forever

This month marks five years since the pandemic began, and here are 5 things that changed permanently.

Checking back in with a doctor 5 years after he was on the frontlines of the pandemic

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