U.S.

National

In Victoria, Texas, Mayor Says Many Residents Ignored Mandatory Evacuation Order

6:40pm August 25, 2017

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Paul Polasek, the mayor of Victoria, Texas, about how the town is preparing for Hurricane Harvey. Victoria is roughly an hour drive inland off the coast of Texas and is right in the path of the storm.

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U.S. Diplomats Suffer Hearing Loss After Serving In Cuba

6:40pm August 25, 2017

by Michele Kelemen

Sixteen U.S. diplomats and family members were injured by "incidents" in Cuba that required medical treatment. The injuries included hearing loss and mild traumatic brain injury, according to reports. Some suspect sonic attacks.

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A Closeted Teen Struggles To Maintain His Double Life In 'Beach Rats'

6:40pm August 25, 2017

by Bob Mondello

NPR movie critic Bob Mondello reviews Beach Rats, which follows a teenager in Brooklyn who is having a lousy summer. The film won the best directing prize at Sundance earlier this year.

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After surgeons removed a tumor from Dan Fabbio's brain, they gave him his saxophone — to see whether he'd retained his ability to play. A year after his surgery, Fabbio is back to work full time as a music teacher.

This Music Teacher Played His Saxophone While In Brain Surgery

6:40pm August 25, 2017

by Andrea Hsu

The surgeons tasked with removing a tumor from Dan Fabbio's brain had worked hard not to disrupt his ability to perform music. They rejoiced when he was able to play his sax on the operating table.

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The Senate health committee meets next month to discuss ways to stabilize the insurance markets. Insurers have until Sept. 27 to commit to selling policies on the ACA marketplaces in 2018.

Four Steps That Could Cut Health Insurance Premiums And Boost Enrollment

6:12pm August 25, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

For now, the Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land. A consulting firm lays out four steps it says would lead to insurance coverage for millions more, at a lower cost.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks at a news conference in Caracas, Venezuela, on Tuesday.

Trump Signs Sanctions Aimed Squarely At Venezuelan Government

5:20pm August 25, 2017

by Scott Neuman

The latest restrictions are the first to target President Nicolas Maduro's regime directly, and they prevent U.S. institutions from buying new debt issued by the government or state-owned oil company.

In San Francisco, Local Teens Consider Protesting Right-Wing Marches

4:35pm August 25, 2017

by Amber Ly

There are two right-wing marches planned in Berkeley, Calif., and San Francisco this weekend. Youth Radio's Amber Ly takes us inside conversations between local teens who are weighing attending the counter-protests — as well as their teachers and parents who are trying to figure out how to respond.

National

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Weighs Federal Response To Hurricane Harvey

4:35pm August 25, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Elaine Duke, the acting Homeland Security secretary, about the federal response to Hurricane Harvey.

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National

Police Face Backlash Over Crowd Control Measures After Several Political Protests

4:35pm August 25, 2017

by Martin Kaste

Police crowd control measures are under scrutiny after a series of political protests. Officers must strike a balance on whether to act or hold back as protests become more contentious.

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National

Advertising Giant WPP Faces Slow Growth As Companies Cut Ad Spending

4:35pm August 25, 2017

by Alina Selyukh

The world's largest advertising company, WPP, is sometimes viewed as a bellwether for the health of the global economy. This week, it jolted the ad and media industries when it slashed the forecast for its own growth this year. WPP has blamed the unexpectedly steep decline in ad spending by some of the most influential consumer goods companies.