National

Gina Olaya (left) and Kellen Quinton at their StoryCorps interview in Oklahoma City last month.

National

Before revitalizing Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller had to prove her critics wrong

7:00am October 10, 2021

The Cherokee Nation's first woman chief revitalized her tribe's culture as she implemented a host of influential progressive policies. But first she had to overcome sexism, say her descendants.

Daniel Romanchuk in Champaign, Illinois, before he departed for the Chicago Marathon.

5 major marathons. In 42 days. 2 back-to-back. How top wheelchair racers are doing it

6:12am October 10, 2021

by Aimee Berg

Due to COVID-19 postponements, the races known collectively as the World Marathon Majors, are all scheduled from Sept. 26 to Nov.7. It's an unprecedented crunch for both runners and wheelchair racers.

National

Cities approach spike in homicides as a public health issue

5:30pm October 09, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Marvia Jones of the Kansas City, Mo., Health Department about why she thinks there was a rise in homicides in 2020 and what can be done about it.

A person wearing a mask walks past posters encouraging census participation in Seattle in April 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted not only last year's national head count, but also a critical follow-up survey that the U.S. Census Bureau relies

How many people of color did the 2020 census miss? COVID makes it harder to tell

4:50pm October 09, 2021

by Hansi Lo Wang

A final round of door knocking for a follow-up survey is now set to last until early 2022, raising concerns about whether the bureau can determine which groups were undercounted in the 2020 census.

Horseback riders head down a trail near June Lake, Calif. As post-pandemic travel increases, people are flocking to outdoor activities and rural areas.

U.S. travelers are back in the saddle again. But they've adapted to a new reality

3:32pm October 09, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

The U.S. travel industry is rebounding after taking massive hits early in the pandemic. But Americans are making different choices now, such as staying closer to home and choosing rural destinations.

Former President Donald Trump has been hinting at another White House run and, in doing so, has frozen the Republican field.

Potential candidates always test political waters in Iowa. Trump's trip is different

10:34am October 09, 2021

by Clay Masters

Former President Donald Trump, who is teasing another run, is holding a large rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Saturday night.

National

A drop in Yukon River salmon has hurt Alaska communities' food supply

8:07am October 09, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Serena Fitka, executive director of the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association, about this year's dramatic scarcity of Yukon River salmon and its effect on communities.

People take part in the Women's March ATX rally, Oct. 2, at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. The march was a response to a Texas law that bans most abortions.

Federal appeals court temporarily reinstates Texas' 6-week abortion ban

10:06pm October 08, 2021

by Ashley Lopez

After a lower court temporarily blocked Texas from enforcing the ban on abortions six weeks into pregnancy, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed that ban to continue.

A view in The Valley of the Gods, part of the area that was removed from the national monument when Trump reduced it's size by 85% in 2017.

National

From Valley of the Gods to an ancient Anasazi site, see the grandeur of Bears Ears

6:08pm October 08, 2021

The Biden administration is restoring the original boundaries of two large national monuments in Utah - Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante.

What's next for Louisiana's LaPlace Parish residents after weathering repeated storms

5:37pm October 08, 2021

by Sarah McCammon

Residents of LaPlace in Louisiana have stayed hurricane after hurricane due to their deep ties to their community. State and federal officials are trying to deal with the area's repeated devastation.