Utility company Con Edison says the light emanated from “a sustained electrical arc flash that was visible across a wide area.” Witnesses had many other ideas.
Former Head Of Chinese Counterintelligence Sentenced To Life In Prison
Ma Jian, who served as vice minister of state security from 2006 until he was dismissed in 2015, was convicted on charges of accepting bribes and insider trading.
Financially Struggling Government Workers Are Caught Up In Shutdown
Federal government employees are still being paid for work they did before the shutdown, but the checks will soon end. Among those affected are many who struggle to make ends meet even in good times.
Americans Are Optimistic About The Future — Just Don’t Ask About Politics
A substantial share of Americans are feeling hopeful about the new year, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll. And some of us, especially young people, plan to make resolutions.
Voters Rejected Gerrymandering In 2018, But Some Lawmakers Try To Hold Power
Even as public distaste for gerrymandering led to a wave of successful ballot initiatives this fall, plenty of lawmakers are still trying to make sure they control how political boundaries are drawn.
Safely Evacuating The Elderly In Any Emergency Takes Planning And Practice
After three hurricanes, a big snow storm and an ice storm, residents and staff of a retirement community in Charleston are starting to view evacuations as the reality of growing old on the coast.
‘Miracle’ Boy Survives Avalanche After Being Buried Alive For 40 Minutes
The 12-year-old was alive and conscious when he was rescued on Wednesday, defying bleak statistics for avalanche victims trapped over 15 minutes. “We can call it a miracle,” a rescue captain said.
Smithsonian And National Zoo To Close After New Year’s Day In Government Shutdown
“There’s no getting around it,” says Linda St. Thomas, chief spokeswoman for the Smithsonian. About two-thirds of the institution’s staff are federal employees and will be furloughed effective Jan. 2.
2018 Was A Milestone Year For Climate Science (If Not Politics)
2018 saw a string of more precise — and dire — assessments that a warming climate is affecting the weather. That didn’t keep President Trump and others from questioning those scientific conclusions.
Trump, Leading Democrats Fault Each Other As Partial Shutdown Heads Into 2019
Trump has only a few more days to advance any spending agreement with the help of full GOP control in Washington. But a leading House Republican said no votes in that chamber are expected this week.
‘Can You Come To The White House?’ A Reporter’s Tale Of A Surprise Trip To Iraq
NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith was one of 13 reporters to go with President Trump to Iraq, an assignment that meant keeping a big secret — even from family.
Adults Come Under Scrutiny After HS Wrestler Told To Cut His Dreadlocks Or Forfeit
In a video that has been viewed millions of times, the young black man has his hair cut by a team trainer so he can compete. The referee, who is white, has been accused of racist conduct before.
2018 Was A Year Of Drastic Cuts To U.S. Refugee Admissions
America is rejecting more legal immigrants than ever before. Refugee advocates warn that President Trump’s aim is to dismantle the U.S. refugee resettlement program.
Russia Will Deploy New Hypersonic Missile Systems In 2019, Putin Says
The Avangard weapon system is built around a hypersonic glide vehicle that takes an elusive path toward its target — even as it reportedly travels at more than 20 times the speed of sound.
Virtual Reality Helps Hospice Workers See Life And Death Through A Patient’s Eyes
A Maine medical school and nearby hospice center are trying out a VR program aimed at fostering more empathy for dying patients among health workers-in-training. Not everyone is sold on the idea.
More Police Officers Died From Gunfire Than Traffic Incidents In 2018, Report Says
“Firearms-related fatalities were the leading cause of officer deaths, with 52 officers shot and killed in 2018,” the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says.
The 2018 Midterms Weren’t Hacked. What Does That Mean For 2020?
“There’s some risk that people will look at 2018 and say, ‘Well, nothing happened; that means we’re OK,’ ” said one computer security expert. “Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
Indonesia Extends Exclusion Zone Around Volcano That Caused Tsunami
Anak Krakatau, whose partial collapse is blamed for triggering Saturday’s tsunami that killed at least 430 people, remains active — spewing ash over a large area around the Sunda Strait.
Department Of Homeland Security Promises Changes To Protect Migrant Children
Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen promises new “extraordinary protective measures” in the wake of the death of a second migrant child this month. They will require assistance from multiple federal agencies.
Sicily Is Shaken By Earthquake As Mount Etna Erupts Once Again
The volcano erupted two days ago, triggering 1,000 mostly small tremors. At least 10 people were injured and a number of buildings were damaged in Wednesday’s quake.
Some Japanese-Americans Wrongfully Imprisoned During WWII Oppose Census Question
In the 1940s, the U.S. government used census data to locate and wrongfully incarcerate Japanese-Americans. Some are now speaking out against plans to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
Trump And First Lady Make Secret Trip To Iraq To Visit U.S. Troops
The president visited U.S. forces who are part of the fight against ISIS, amid criticism of a sudden decision to pull troops from Syria. It’s his first such trip since taking office.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Released From Hospital
Ginsburg underwent surgery last Friday for early stage lung cancer. At 85, she is the oldest justice on the Supreme Court and a stalwart of the court’s liberal wing.
Girl Still Believes In Santa, Even After Trump Casts Doubt On His Existence
The president caused a stir when he asked a 7-year-old caller to the Santa tracker hotline whether she still believed in Saint Nick.
GoFundMe Provides Refunds To Donors Duped By Viral Campaign
More than 14,000 donors were tricked into paying for a couple’s vacations and handbags by a heartwarming story featuring a homeless veteran. Now GoFundMe has returned their money.
Executives In Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Deserve 5-Year Prison Terms, Prosecutors Say
Japanese prosecutors say three top TEPCO executives didn’t do enough to protect the nuclear plant, despite being told in 2002 that the Fukushima facility was vulnerable to a tsunami.
Opinion: 5 Ways The U.S. Retreated From The World Stage Under Trump This Year
In 2018, the Trump administration made good on its promises to unwind long-standing U.S. commitments to guarantee global security and prosperity, writes Ted Piccone of the Brookings Institution.
There’s A Lot At Stake In The Weekly U.S. Drought Map
As drought has deepened across the West, much attention is paid to a colorful map that shows the hardest-hit areas. The scientists who update the map each week face enormous pressure to get it right.
Japan Embraces Commercial Whaling, Pulls Out Of Global Alliance That Banned It
Japan is leaving the International Whaling Commission, which put a moratorium on commercial whaling in the 1980s. The country will allow commercial hunts for the first time in 30 years next July.
The Most Viral Teaching Moments Of 2018
Teachers used social media this year to let the world into their classrooms. What did we see? A lot of crying, hugging and learning.
Insured, But Indebted: Couple Works 5 Jobs To Pay Off Medical Bills
Even after buying employer-provided health insurance, an Arizona couple incurred a mountain of medical debt since a new baby was born.
For The Catholic Church, A Year Of Unending Clergy Abuse Revelations
The Catholic Church has been roiled by revelations about clergy abuse in dioceses across the country in 2018. It began with a Pennsylvania grand jury report in August that detailed decades of abuse.
At Least 429 Dead In Indonesian Tsunami, As Residents Warned To Remain Vigilant
The tsunami that battered coastlines along the Sunda Strait over the weekend follows a similar wave that pounded the island of Sulawesi in September, killing an estimated 2,100.
Shutdown Continues As President And Democrats Remain At Odds Over Funding For Wall
President Trump, holed up in the White House, issued a series of angry tweets blaming Democrats for the impasse, which will affect some 800,000 federal employees.
After Big Losses, Investors Keep A Lookout For Santa Claus Rally
On Monday, the Dow logged a nearly 3 percent loss — breaking a 100-year-old record for the worst Christmas Eve performance. After a day off for Christmas, trading resumes Wednesday.
ICE Continues To Release Asylum-Seekers At Public Park In El Paso, Texas
Officials appear to have resumed coordinating with local shelters after days of dropping off hundreds of mostly Central American migrants without any plan.