Law

A reparations rally outside City Hall in San Francisco this month, as supervisors take up a draft reparations proposal. The growing number of local actions has renewed hopes and questions about a national policy.

Cities may be debating reparations, but here's why most Americans oppose the idea

5:00am March 27, 2023

by Jennifer Ludden

Compensation for descendants of enslaved people is broadly controversial, and especially so among whites and Republicans. Researchers say one reason may be misperceptions about the racial wealth gap.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little delivers his 2023 State of the State address at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise in January. A new law allows executions by firing squad if no lethal injection drugs are available.

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Idaho is the latest state to permit execution by firing squad

8:05pm March 26, 2023

by Joe Hernandez

Four other states — Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and South Carolina — also currently permit executions by firing squad, according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center.

A case on free speech and immigration at the Supreme Court

5:00pm March 26, 2023

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with Amanda Shanor, a First Amendment scholar, about the case United States v. Hansen, which will be argued before the Supreme Court on Monday.

Books line the shelves at the Rice University Library in April 2022 in Houston.

A judge sided with publishers in a lawsuit over the Internet Archive's online library

5:01am March 26, 2023

by Joe Hernandez

The nonprofit, which has a mission to provide "universal access to all knowledge," says it will appeal the ruling.

People walk outside the U.S. Immigration and Enforcement Processing Center operated by GEO Group Inc. in Adelanto, Calif. The company is facing a lawsuit for the alleged use of hazardous chemicals in the facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

National

GEO Group sickened ICE detainees with hazardous chemicals for months, a lawsuit says

9:11am March 25, 2023

by Jaclyn Diaz

The Social Justice Legal Foundation says one of the country's largest private prison operators knowingly exposed ICE detainees to the disinfectant HDQ Neutral.

A selection of the 1000 people who have been charged for the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

1,000 people have been charged for the Capitol riot. Here's where their cases stand

5:00am March 25, 2023

More than 1,000 people have now been charged for the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. NPR has tracked every case from arrest to sentencing. Here's what is happening to those charged.

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Gwyneth Paltrow enters the courtroom for her trial, Friday, March 24, 2023, in Park City, Utah, where she is accused in a lawsuit of crashing into a skier during a 2016 family ski vacation, leaving him with brain damage and four broken ribs.

National

Gwyneth Paltrow takes the stand in a Utah court for a trial over a 2016 ski crash

7:47pm March 24, 2023

by Jonathan Franklin

The Oscar-winning actress took the stand Friday in Park City for a jury trial that will determine who was at fault in the 2016 crash. Paltrow is seeking $1 in damages.

An officer speaks to migrants as they arrive at the Roxham Road border crossing in Quebec, Canada, earlier this month.

U.S. and Canada reach a deal to close a popular but unofficial border crossing

7:29pm March 24, 2023

by Joel Rose

The U.S. and Canada have reached a deal that will allow both countries to turn back migrants at unofficial border crossings. President Biden announced the deal in remarks to the Canadian Parliament.

Afroman, pictured performing in 2018, made music videos featuring home video footage of a police raid of his house last year. Now some of the officers are suing him, and he plans to countersue.

Afroman put home footage of a police raid in music videos. Now the cops are suing him

4:54pm March 24, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

A police search of the rapper's Ohio home didn't lead to charges, but spawned music videos, merchandise, theft accusations and an invasion of privacy lawsuit. Afroman tells NPR he plans to countersue.

Utah passes an age-verification law for anyone using social media

4:37pm March 24, 2023

by Saige Miller

Utah is the first state to pass an age verification law for anyone using social media. Those under 18 must soon have parental consent. Critics say the law does not protect children as it intendeds.