National

National

A glimpse into how Times Square's ball drop celebration will be different this year

7:01pm December 31, 2021

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks to Thomas Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, about the preparations being made for the New Year's Eve celebration in New York City.

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Rep. Joe Neguse says wildfires consumed neighborhoods with 'unprecedented' speed

6:11pm December 31, 2021

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse about wildfires that tore through towns outside of Denver, forcing more than 30,000 residents to evacuate.

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Words that define 2021 include vaccine, infrastructure and insurrection

5:17pm December 31, 2021

If you had to define 2021 with just one word what would it be? Merriam-Webster Editor-at-Large Peter Sokolowski talks about what words were most on people's minds throughout the year.

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Colorado residents assess damage from wildfires

4:42pm December 31, 2021

Residents of Denver's suburbs who had to flee Thursday's wildfires describe the damage.

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Americans didn't count down the new year until the 1970s

4:42pm December 31, 2021

Looking back, countdowns weren't always good news. Think atomic bomb tests. Americans also counted down moon missions and Top 40 hits. It wasn't until 1979 that a Times Square crowd joined in.

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Asian American groups file a legal challenge to Texas' redistricting plans

4:41pm December 31, 2021

by Andrew Schneider / Houston Public Media

The Asian population in Fort Bend County is Texas' largest. When the Texas Legislature met to redraw congressional maps, many Asian Americans hoped it would reflect that. That didn't happen.

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Michigan is trying to lure electric car makers

4:41pm December 31, 2021

by Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network

Michigan wants to remain a center of automotive development and manufacturing. As the state faces interstate competition, political leaders are looking to industry incentives.

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Energy got a lot more expensive in 2021

4:41pm December 31, 2021

Compared to this time last year, we're all paying a lot more to use many kinds energy — whether it's gasoline for our cars or heating fuel for our homes.

A pediatrician's advice to parents on omicron, travel and vaccines

4:41pm December 31, 2021

Children are being hospitalized for COVID-19 at record rates amid the current surge. Mary Louise Kelly puts questions from parents of kids under 5 to pediatric infectious disease doctor, Ibukun Kalu.

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A paper mill in Maine asks for donations

4:27pm December 31, 2021

by Robbie Feinberg

A paper mill in Maine says raw materials are too expensive and hard to find right now. So they're asking locals to drop their used pizza boxes and other packaging off at the plant.