National

A thick haze hangs over Manhattan on Tuesday. Wildfires in the West, including the Bootleg Fire in Oregon, are creating hazy skies and poor air quality as far away as the East Coast.

The Western Wildfires Are Affecting People 3,000 Miles Away

8:38pm July 21, 2021

by Josie Fischels

Eastern states have been clouded in a smoky haze for days, and with the smoke comes poor air quality. People far away from the fires aren't ready for the breathing problems the smoke brings.

While continuing to deny any wrongdoing, Johnson & Johnson will contribute $5 billion over a nine-year span to the $26 billion opioid settlement announced Wednesday.

State Attorneys General Reach A $26 Billion National Opioid Settlement

5:31pm July 21, 2021

by Brian Mann

Payouts will be spread over the next 18 years, with much of the funding going to help communities struggling with high rates of opioid addiction and overdose deaths.

With new infections rising around the country due to the delta variant, reports of breakthrough cases among the fully vaccinated can be worrisome.

Worried About Breakthrough COVID Cases? Here's What To Know

5:02pm July 21, 2021

Fully vaccinated Olympic athletes and members of Congress have tested positive for the virus. Should you be worried? How common are breakthrough infections, and are they rising?

Harvey Weinstein is already serving a 23-year prison sentence for rape and sexual abuse in New York. He was extradited to California early Tuesday for his arraignment.

Harvey Weinstein Pleads Not Guilty To Sexual Assault Charges In Los Angeles Court

4:51pm July 21, 2021

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The disgraced former movie mogul was charged Wednesday with four counts of rape and seven other sexual assault charges in California. He is already serving a 23-year sentence in New York.

Time For Caution Amid COVID-19 Surge And Breakthrough Cases

4:48pm July 21, 2021

by Allison Aubrey

It's an unsettling moment in the pandemic as cases rise, Delta sweeps and more reports are made of breakthrough cases. Here are the latest recommendations to keep people and communities safe.

Federal Judge Blocks Arkansas Ban On Gender Confirming Treatments For Trans Youth

4:48pm July 21, 2021

by Melissa Block

A judge in Arkansas has temporarily blocked a law that forbids doctors from providing gender confirming treatment to transgender youth, meaning an American Civil Liberties Union suit can proceed.

Wildfires Are Roaring In The West — But Not All Of Them Are Bad

4:48pm July 21, 2021

by Nathan Rott

Another large fire season is casting smoke across the country, with conditions ripe for major devastation. But not all fires are bad, and the widespread burning also brings long-term benefits.

How Giannis Antetokounmpo Got From Athens To The Pantheon Of The NBA

4:48pm July 21, 2021

For the first time in 50 years, the Milwaukee Bucks have won an NBA championship. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Mirin Fader of The Ringer about how forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led them to victory.

Nancy Pelosi Rejects 2 GOP Picks For Jan. 6 Inquiry Committee

4:48pm July 21, 2021

by Claudia Grisales

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has rejected two of House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy's nominations to serve on the select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Real Life Sports Coaches Are Taking Notes From Ted Lasso

4:48pm July 21, 2021

What can youth coaches learn from a fictional TV one like Ted Lasso? Lots, according to the Positive Coaching Alliance, an organization that helps train coaches in the power of positivity.