Around the Nation

State Rep. Dickie Drake, who sponsored Alabama's new cursive law, says it's about making sure that state's students know how to perform important life tasks, such as signing their name.

Cursive Law Writes New Chapter For Handwriting In Alabama's Schools

5:02pm August 26, 2016

by Kyle Gassiott

Schools in Alabama were already required to teach cursive writing, but a new law now requires schools to provide cursive instruction by the end of the third grade, and report proficiency levels.

Queue Listen Now

National

Judge In Stanford Sex Assault Case Is Transferring To Civil Court

4:41pm August 26, 2016

by Richard Gonzales

Judge Aaron Persky's controversial six-month jail sentence for a former Stanford student convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman continues to cast a shadow over his deliberations.

National

Obama Expands National Marine Monument Off Hawaii Coast

4:29pm August 26, 2016

President Obama expanded a national marine monument to encompass 582,578 square miles of land and sea off Hawaii. It's now the largest protected area on the planet. NPR's Kelly McEvers talks with Douglas McCauley, assistant professor at University of California, Santa Barbara, about its beauty and significance.

National

Hurricane Katrina Victim Helps People Recover After Louisiana Floods

4:29pm August 26, 2016

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Errol Joseph, whose house was flooded by Hurricane Katrina, about how he is working with volunteers from the non-profit Lowernine.org to help people rebuild after flooding in Baton Rouge, La.

National

Thrill Ride Accidents Renew Calls For Regulation

4:29pm August 26, 2016

by Frank Morris

A Kansas waterslide recently decapitated a 10-year-old boy, and the tragedy is raising new questions about thrill ride regulation. No federal agency oversees amusement parks or water parks.

All U.S. Blood Donations Should Be Screened For Zika, FDA Says

4:29pm August 26, 2016

by Joe Neel

The recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration represent a major expansion in testing blood for Zika. The agency had earlier advised testing only in areas with an active outbreak.

Ramen will buy anything from smuggled fruit to laundry services from fellow inmates, a study at one prison finds. It's not just that ramen is tasty: Prisoners say they're not getting enough food.

Ramen Noodles Are Now The Prison Currency Of Choice

4:08pm August 26, 2016

by Maria Godoy

Ramen will buy anything from smuggled fruit to laundry services from fellow inmates, a study at one prison finds. It's not just that ramen is tasty: Prisoners say they're not getting enough food.

Breitbart's Milo Yiannopoulos, a self-proclaimed leader of the movement, co-wrote a manifesto of sorts about what the alt-right believes.

Politics & Government

What You Need To Know About The Alt-Right Movement

3:35pm August 26, 2016

by NPR Staff

Hillary Clinton blasted Donald Trump for aligning with the "alt-right." But what exactly is the movement?

Queue Listen Now

Debris from flood-damaged homes lines Highway 167 in Maurice, La.

National

Locals In Flooded Rural Areas Of Louisiana Say Aid Is Slow To Arrive

3:35pm August 26, 2016

by Kirk Siegler

In Baton Rouge, the recovery is underway after historic floods devastated the southern part of the state. But aid is slower to reach more remote, rural areas that were also hit hard by the rains.

Queue Listen Now

Gov. Paul LePage holds a town hall meeting at Biddeford High School on April 19.

National

LISTEN: Maine's Governor Unleashes Obscenities On Lawmaker Who Criticized Him

3:17pm August 26, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

Maine Rep. Drew Gattine said it was unhelpful when Gov. Paul LePage made "racially charged" statements. In response, LePage told Gattine, "I am after you" — along with much more vulgar remarks.