National

Drinking water crisis in Jackson, Miss., continues as residents rely on bottled water

4:16pm August 31, 2022

by Jennifer Ludden

Jackson, Miss., is still without access to safe drinking water, and it's not clear when it will be available. The government is trying to navigate getting bottled water to 150,000 residents.

Debt relief for Black farmers shows challenges of pursuing racial equity with policy

4:16pm August 31, 2022

by Adrian Florido

A federal program to forgive loans for many Black farmers was ensnared in lawsuits. It speaks to the Biden Administration's challenges in pursuing racial equity through federal policy.

Country music legend Dolly Parton, pictured here in March, announced the launch of "Doggy Parton" on Wednesday. The collection includes pet apparel and accessories, some featuring the singer's face.

Barking 9 to 5! Dolly Parton launches 'Doggy Parton,' a pet apparel collection

4:15pm August 31, 2022

by Vanessa Romo

The line features fringe-trimmed cowgirl dresses, rhinestone-bejeweled harnesses, gingham shirts and bandanas, concert T-shirts, toys and even a blond wig inspired by the singer.

A special commission is reviewing military assets with names tied to the Confederacy at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as well as other properties across the country.

National

A plaque with the words 'Ku Klux Klan' still hangs on a building at West Point

3:07pm August 31, 2022

by Joe Hernandez

The marker, depicting a hooded figure, was highlighted in a recent report by a special commission looking into U.S. military assets with names tied to the Confederacy.

A child sips water from a bottle under a scorching sun on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Forecasters say temperatures could reach as high as 112 degrees in the densely populated Los Angeles suburbs in the next week as a heat dome settles in over parts of Califo

National

A weeklong heat wave in California and other Western states will test the power grid

1:22pm August 31, 2022

by Christopher Dean Hopkins

From Arizona to Washington state, forecasters warn of "possibly record breaking" heat with little relief overnight, lasting past Labor Day. California may need to ask residents to conserve power.

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, right, and former Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, left, attend a summit organized by the America First Policy Institute on July 25, 2022. Meadows and DeMint have both been involved with the Conservative Partners

Experts say a Trump-backed charity is pushing the boundaries of tax law

12:14pm August 31, 2022

by Tom Dreisbach

An NPR investigation has raised questions about whether the nonprofit Conservative Partnership Institute may be violating a legal ban on participating in political campaign activities.

Queue Listen Now

"Why is more God not good?" asked Srivan Krishna, as he sought to donate colorful "In God We Trust" signs at a school board meeting earlier this week.

A Texas school board rejects 'In God We Trust' signs in Arabic

10:48am August 31, 2022

by Bill Chappell

A school board in the Dallas-Fort Worth area says it already has enough signs. Critics are testing a recently adopted Texas law that requires public schools to display a poster bearing the U.S. motto.

Chautauqua has a strict set of zoning restrictions aimed at preserving the Victorian look of the community. Though many do, visitors don't have to attend cultural events. If they want they can bicycle, swim or play lawn games.

Chautauqua Institution re-examines security after Salman Rushdie attack

9:43am August 31, 2022

by Jim Zarroli

When the author was attacked earlier this month, he was taking the stage at New York's Chautauqua Institution. The storied place in American cultural life is now rethinking how open it should be.

Queue Listen Now

Employees of HarperCollins Publisher participate in a one-day strike outside the publishing houses offices in Manhattan on July 20, 2022 in New York City.

National

Support for labor unions in the U.S. is at a 57-year high

5:30am August 31, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

A new poll from Gallup shows that support for unions is the highest it's been since 1965. This comes as workers at companies like Starbucks, Amazon and Chipotle have lately launched union drives.

National

Morning news brief

5:06am August 31, 2022

The DOJ releases new evidence on possible obstruction in the Mar-a-Lago probe. Nuclear inspectors arrive in Ukraine. And, 160,000 people in Mississippi's capital are facing a water crisis.