News

National

Zombie Festival Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, 5 Injured

3:54pm October 18, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

A late-night gathering in Florida — a charitable festival where people dress up as zombies — suddenly turned chaotic and violent late Saturday. The shooter is still at large, police say.

Environment

Conservationists Push For A National Undersea Monument

12:40pm October 18, 2015

by Heather Goldstone

Conservationists want a large swath of ocean off of Cape Cod to be declared a national monument. Fishing groups oppose the plan, which would make Cashes Ledge and other fishing areas off limits.

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Charter schools have been the subject of passionate and often acrimonious debate about the right way to fix public education in America.

As Charter Schools Become Divisive, Two Parents Give Their Take

10:38am October 18, 2015

by Rachel Martin

The number of charter schools that are suing the Baltimore City Public Schools is increasing and some parents need to make a choice between two big options: district vs. charter.

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Two men stand near the port in Gwadar, Pakistan. NPR's Phil Reeves unexpectedly ended up a VIP there — and it wasn't a good feeling.

World News

The Shame Of Being A VIP In Pakistan

9:12am October 18, 2015

by Philip Reeves

Have you ever felt bad about something, and wanted to get it off your chest? That's how our correspondent Philip Reeves feels right now — which is why he sent this essay from Pakistan.

National

New York City Pulls Plug On Taxi TV

8:43am October 18, 2015

Yellow cab passengers have had enough. They are tired of the blaring ads and no way to turn them off. Finally, New York City is dumping Taxi TV.

National

Syrian Family Finds Support, Tough Transition In North Carolina

8:43am October 18, 2015

by Emily McCord

The U.S. accepted just 2,000 Syrian refugees this year; next year it will accept 10,000. For those who are already here, especially if they are older, it can be difficult to adjust to their new home.

Raymond Cabahug moved from the Philippines to teach math in the U.S. He likes life in "peaceful" Bethune, Colo.

Education

A Tiny School District Reaches Far And Wide For New Teachers

6:13am October 18, 2015

by Jenny Brundin

Across the country, school districts are struggling to find new teachers. One rural town in Colorado is reaching outside the 50 states.

Kamala in front of her menstruation shed.

A Girl Gets Her Period And Is Banished To The Shed: #15Girls

8:25pm October 17, 2015

When a teenage girl in rural Nepal gets her period, an ancient tradition may drive her to sleep outdoors. But one 15-year-old is trying to break the taboos around menstruation.

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Alan Hoffman, shown with his wife Nancy at their home in Dumfries, Va., found that his Parkinson's symptom improved when he took a cancer drug.

Can A Cancer Drug Reverse Parkinson's Disease And Dementia?

5:29pm October 17, 2015

by Jon Hamilton

People with Parkinson's and related forms of dementia improved dramatically when they took a leukemia drug called nilotinib. Researchers say the drug seems to help brain cells eliminate toxins.

Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Marco Rubio are helping make paid family leave a major issue in this election.

Why Paid Family Leave Has Become A Major Campaign Issue

5:21pm October 17, 2015

by Danielle Kurtzleben

Paid family leave has never been a major topic in a presidential election — until now. Here's what got it there.