Without offering specifics, the president says he is increasing sanctions as Washington accuses Tehran of downing a U.S. drone and attacking foreign-owned oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
Artists File $100 Million Suit Against Universal Music Over 2008 Fire
A group of bands, artists and estates — including the estates of Tupac Shakur and Tom Petty as well as Hole, Soundgarden and Steve Earle — are suing the world’s biggest record company for damages.
Pickup Truck In New Hampshire Collides With Marine Motorcycle Group; 7 Killed
“I can’t emphasize enough how horrific this is,” says Charlie St. Clair of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association. “It’s our worst nightmare.” Three other motorcyclists were injured.
Satchmo In His Adolescence: 1915 Film Clip May Show Young Louis Armstrong
Music historian James Karst explains his recent research into the early life of the legendary Louis Armstrong.
Move Over, Goat Yoga. Alaskans Now Have Reindeer Yoga
A ranch in Fairbanks, Alaska, offers yoga classes with reindeer. An owner says the animals are particularly well-suited to it because they are twisty creatures.
‘Stonewall’ Opera Marks Uprising’s 50th Anniversary
New York City Opera has commissioned Stonewall, a new opera premiering one week before the 50th anniversary of the riots that sparked the modern gay-rights movement.
Forced To Demolish Their Own Homes, Syrian Refugees In Lebanon Seek New Shelter
Lebanon requires refugees to live in shelters made of canvas or wood. A new military decree directs them to demolish concrete walls over 3 feet high by July 1. Many don’t know where they’ll live next.
Supreme Court Overturns Precedent In Property Rights Case — A Sign Of Things To Come?
For the second time in weeks, the court’s five conservatives teamed up to overturn decades of precedent, to the consternation of the court’s four liberals.
The Hawaiian Language Nearly Died. A Radio Show Sparked Its Revival
In Hawaii today, nearly everyone knows how to speak a few words and phrases of Hawaiian. But the practice of primarily speaking the Hawaiian language from birth nearly died two generations ago.
‘I Didn’t Think It Was Possible’: North Carolina City Rings In Its First LGBTQ Pride
Organizer Laura Bannister says no one should have to leave their community to celebrate Pride. Despite some resistance from the community, the city was overwhelmed by the turnout.
A Travel Nightmare: Waking Up Cold And Alone In A Darkened Plane
A female passenger tells a story about being overlooked when other passengers and crew disembarked an Air Canada flight to Toronto.
Trump Denies New Sexual Assault Allegation By Advice Columnist E. Jean Carroll
Trump says Carroll’s allegations, published in New York magazine, are an attempt to sell copies of her new book. Carroll says Trump attacked her in a New York City department store in the mid-1990s.
‘We Have No Choice’: Acting ICE Director Defends Planned Immigration Raids
In an interview with NPR, Acting ICE Director Mark Morgan says his agency is only enforcing the law. “So what are our options?” he asked. “They’ve had due process.”
Spain’s Supreme Court Reverses Earlier Decision, Convicts ‘Wolf Pack’ Of Rape
The five men were initially sentenced on the lighter charge of sexual abuse, but judges on Friday ruled they are guilty of rape and increased their jail time. The case prompted national protests.
Judge Orders Special Prosecutor To Review Handling Of Jussie Smollett Case
A judge in Illinois’ Cook County says a special prosecutor should review the case “to restore the public’s confidence in the integrity of our criminal justice system.”
1st-Time Homebuyers Are Getting Squeezed Out By Investors
The pool of smaller, affordable starter houses is low. And the market for these first-time home purchases is increasingly being driven by investors who help push prices out of reach.
Missouri Refuses To Renew License For State’s Last Abortion Provider
The St. Louis facility will continue to provide abortions for now, however, because of a judge’s order.
‘Legion’ And ‘Jessica Jones’ Played The Long Game — And It Paid Off
After three seasons, both Marvel TV shows are ending their runs with first-rate acting and storytelling that’s strong, ambitious and surprisingly satisfying.
Teen Yogis Do Yoga On Nails And Eggs
Uttrasree Ilango just got a spot in a book of records for doing lotus pose for an hour atop 2,209 nails. Her brother can perch on eggs without cracking them. What’s their secret?
Explosions At Philadelphia Oil Refinery Send A Giant Ball Of Fire Skyward
The blasts were the result of a fire that is “confined and being addressed, but it is not under control,” a Philadelphia fire official said. The incident prompted a brief shelter-in-place order.
Willie Nelson On Cowboys, ‘Crazy’ and CBD-Infused Coffee
It’s been about a year since World Cafe caught up with Willie, and he’s been busy!
Will 1 Of These 4 Experimental Treatments Cure Ebola?
A landmark study in Congo is very close to finding out. But there are some major obstacles that have nothing to do with science.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Sides With GOP Lawmakers To Limit Democratic Governor’s Power
In its lame-duck session last December, The state’s Republican legislature passed a number of laws curbing Gov. Tony Evers’ power.
How Prince Worked His Magic On The Bangles’ ‘Manic Monday’
In the 1980s, Prince wrote one of the Bangles’ biggest hits, “Manic Monday.” Now, The Prince Estate has released the demo version of the track as part of the artist’s posthumous album, Originals.
Venezuelans Take Risky Voyage To Curaçao To Flee Crisis
Most Venezuelans looking to emigrate cross land borders into Colombia or Brazil. But for many, Caribbean islands like Curaçao are much closer escapes from their country’s turmoil.
Trump Says U.S. Was ‘Cocked And Loaded’ Before He Called Off Strike On Iran
When he was told U.S. strikes against Iran would kill 150 people, President Trump says, he decided the attack was out of proportion to Iran shooting down a U.S. drone.
Music For Plants Is Real (Even If The Science Isn’t)
The bestselling 1970s book The Secret Life of Plants has been effectively debunked — but that hasn’t stopped Stevie Wonder, Solange and scores of ambient musicians from chasing its leafy muse.
Lil Nas X Is More Than Just A Meme Lord, Apparently
The internet native parlayed his brilliance for virality into a breakout career via the year’s most indelible single, and its most unlikely cultural flashpoint. But that was then.
Ever Plugged A USB In Wrong? Of Course You Have. Here’s Why
It’s often hard to plug in a USB device on the first try. Ajay Bhatt, the chief inventor of the USB, agrees the design is annoying but says there was a good reason for it.
A Russian Biologist Wants To Create More Gene-Edited Babies
A Moscow scientist claims he has a safe way of editing genes in human embryos — a method that could protect resulting babies from being infected with HIV. Approval of the experiment seems unlikely.
2020 Democrats Offer Up Affordable Housing Plans Amid Surging Prices
Candidates have proposed everything from tax credits for renters to spending billions on new affordable housing to address a prime example of racial and income inequality.
A 747 Carried 2 Beluga Whales From China To Iceland
Naturally, transporting the whales — each about 13 feet long — was a huge logistical headache. Trainers have been preparing the belugas for the journey and for their new life in open water.
New Alabama Law Permits Church To Hire Its Own Police Force
A mega-church says it needs its own police for security. Critics say the law will grant state authority to church officials and is unconstitutional, violating the separation of church and state.
Regulators Resist Call For Action In Response To Black Lung Epidemic
A top mine safety regulator testified before Congress that no new regulations are needed to protect workers from deadly silica dust, despite an epidemic of advanced black lung disease.
New Report Says Women Will Soon Be Majority Of College-Educated U.S. Workers
This year women who graduated from college will likely make up a majority of adults with degrees in the U.S. labor force. The increase could signal greater earning potential for women in the future.
In Rare Rebuke To Trump, Senate Votes To Block Saudi Arms Sales
With support from a handful of Republicans, the Senate voted Thursday to halt billions of dollars worth of arms sales, paving the way for a veto battle.