Investigations

Couy Griffin, a commissioner in Otero County, N.M., speaks to journalists as he leaves the federal court in Washington, D.C., on March 21, 2022.

National

'Cowboys for Trump' leader is given a mixed verdict in his Jan. 6 Capitol riot trial

3:14pm March 22, 2022

by Allison Mollenkamp

A federal judge found Couy Griffin, a county commissioner from New Mexico and founder of the group "Cowboys For Trump," guilty on one of two counts stemming from the Capitol riot.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in a meeting with Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich (on the left, in the center) in 2010.

How 'shock therapy' created Russian oligarchs and paved the path for Putin

6:30am March 22, 2022

by Greg Rosalsky

In the 1990s, reformers adopted a radical economic program in Russia. It devastated ordinary Russians and created a new class of oligarchs. And it explains the rise of Putin and the leader he is today

After 20 years of setbacks, the U.S. military court in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, is exploring the idea of settlement talks for the 9/11 detainees. If that happens, the defendants could plead guilty, serve life in prison and avoid the death penalty.

National

Guantánamo prosecutors are exploring plea deals in 9/11 case after years of setbacks

3:54pm March 21, 2022

by Sacha Pfeiffer

After 20 years of failure, the U.S. military court in Guantánamo is admitting a 9/11 trial may never happen. Instead, the defendants may plead guilty, serve life in prison and avoid the death penalty.

NPR talked to nearly two dozen judges, attorneys and jurors who have participated in online jury trials. Nearly 18 months in, some evidence is in but the verdict is still out. Some fears were realized but there were unexpected benefits as well, including

National

To try or not to try — remotely. As jury trials move online, courts see pros and cons

5:45am March 18, 2022

by Huo Jingnan

Courts turned to remote juries during the pandemic. Now they're grappling with continuing a practice that can expand the pool of jurors but is also susceptible to problems common to all video calls.

Courtney Gramm waited seven months to receive her nurse practitioner license in California. Nursing boards, meant as a safeguard, have become an obstacle, preventing qualified nurses from getting into the workforce for months when basic vetting should tak

Nurses are waiting months for licenses as hospital staffing shortages spread

10:48am March 10, 2022

by Austin Fast

Almost 1 in 10 nurses who were issued new licenses last year waited six months or more, an NPR analysis found. Nurses say patient care suffers as these delays make staffing shortages even worse.

Queue Listen Now

Nurses are waiting 6 months or more for licenses despite hospitals' need for nurses

10:47am March 10, 2022

by Austin Fast

Staffing shortages at hospitals across the U.S. are worsened by state boards taking months to process nursing licenses. It's resulted in a huge backlog in nurses waiting for jobs during the pandemic.

Queue Listen Now

New York City officials announced the city will no longer take Social Security checks from children to pay for foster care.

New York City will stop collecting Social Security money from children in foster care

1:57pm March 09, 2022

by Joseph Shapiro

New York City officials announced the city will no longer take all Social Security checks from children to pay for foster care. Last year NPR and The Marshall Project investigated the common practice.

This sketch depicts Guy Wesley Reffitt (left) and his lawyer, William Welch, in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28. A jury found Reffitt guilty on all counts for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Politics & Government

In the first Jan. 6 trial, a jury found Capitol riot defendant Guy Reffitt guilty

6:36pm March 08, 2022

by Tom Dreisbach

A jury found Guy Reffitt guilty on all counts for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. The case has been widely watched by other defendants as a potential bellwether.

Ron Shehee had been at the federal prison complex in Lompoc, Calif., only a few months when the pandemic struck.

As COVID spread in federal prisons, many at-risk inmates tried and failed to get out

5:00am March 07, 2022

Federal prisons saw a significant rise in deaths during the pandemic years, NPR found. Of those who died from COVID-19, nearly all were elderly or had health conditions, and many had tried to get out.

This artist sketch depicts Judge Dabney Friedrich looking out from the bench during proceedings in the trial against Guy Wesley Reffitt, joined by his lawyer William Welch, top right, in federal court in Washington.

Jan. 6 riot defendant was "tip of this mob's spear," prosecutor tells jury

7:12pm March 02, 2022

by Tom Dreisbach

Prosecutors laid out their case against Guy Reffitt, who is the first defendant connected to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection to face trial. His attorney described the case as based on "hype."