Race

Facing a reckoning, town where Bill Russell lived seeks to honor the basketball great

4:34pm January 10, 2024

by Irina Matchavariani

When basketball great Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics, he lived in the town of Reading — where he didn't always get the nicest of receptions. Decades later, town leaders look to honor him.

Body camera footage shows the moments leading up to Indianola, Miss., police officer Greg Capers shooting and wounding 11-year-old Aderrien Murry following a call the boy made to authorities for help.

National

Police release video of officer shooting boy, 11, who had called 911 for help

3:32pm January 10, 2024

Officials in Mississippi made the footage available after calls from 11-year-old Aderrien Murry's mother and the family's attorney to make it public.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley participates in fourth Republican Presidential Primary Debate on on December 6, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Bringing birther back, Donald Trump questions Nikki Haley's right to be president

11:42am January 10, 2024

by Franco Ordoñez

The former governor of South Carolina, Haley was born in the southern state. But as she surges in Republican polls, Trump is elevating false conspiracy theories about her citizenship on social media.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis speaks to the city council as Mayor Paul Young stands behind her at city hall on Tuesday.

National

Memphis committee recommends replacing police chief, 1 year after Tyre Nichols death

6:11pm January 09, 2024

by The Associated Press

A Memphis City Council committee voted to replace Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis a year after the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by five officers generated intense criticism of her department.

President Biden was giving a campaign speech at Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston, S.C., when protesters interrupted with calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza interrupted Biden's campaign speech

3:19pm January 08, 2024

by Asma Khalid

President Biden has firmly allied himself with the Israeli government after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. But the progressive wing of his party is increasingly critical about civilian deaths in Gaza.

This program could help lower maternal mortality rates for Black women in California

4:43pm January 05, 2024

by Daisy Nguyen

A group perinatal care program in Oakland is trying to lower the maternal mortality rates for Black women. State officials are looking into expanding it to more public hospitals in California.

The U.S. Mint has released the 2024 Harriet Tubman Silver Dollar as part of the Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin Program. The coins include $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half-dollar coins honoring the bicentennial of her birth.

The U.S. Mint releases new commemorative coins honoring Harriet Tubman

5:17pm January 04, 2024

by Jonathan Franklin

The designs featured on the coins honor Tubman's life and her work as an abolitionist and social activist. The coins include $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half-dollar coins.

Global wishes for 2024: Pay for family leave. Empower Black men. Respect rural voices

12:25pm January 04, 2024

by NPR Staff

We asked leaders in global health and development to share their wishes for the new year. Here's what they hope will happen in the year ahead. And readers, we'd like to hear from you.

National

Elmore Nickelberry, Memphis sanitation striker who marched with MLK, has died

4:58pm January 03, 2024

by Debbie Elliott

A civil rights activist from Memphis has died. Elmore Nickelberry was a sanitation worker who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to call for higher pay and better working conditions.

Mario Lopez is surprised that people are not aware of his Mexican roots

5:06am January 02, 2024

NPR's A Martinez talks with actor and TV host Mario Lopez about people on social media questioning his Mexican roots.