National

In this 2010 photo, Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin appears at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his reappointment to be commander of the U.S. forces in Iraq. President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate Austin as the first African-American to be de

National

Lloyd Austin: A Man 'Of The Highest Integrity,' But Still Unknown To Many

10:16pm December 08, 2020

by Tom Bowman

If confirmed as defense secretary, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin would be the first African-American to run the world's largest employer, with some 2.2 million servicemembers.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón is sworn in accompanied, by his wife Fabiola Kramsky. During his inaugural speech, he unveiled a series of criminal justice reforms that impact how prosecutors in his office pursue convictions, sentencin

National

George Gascón Implements Sweeping Changes To Los Angeles District Attorney's Office

7:04pm December 08, 2020

by Brakkton Booker

The new DA in Los Angeles County will not seek the death penalty, excessive criminal sentences or cash bail. He said his experiences as a young police officer 40 years ago shaped his approach.

Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin is President-elect Joe Biden's pick for defense secretary, the top civilian post at the Pentagon. Nominating a recently retired military officer will require a waiver from Congress, which some key lawmakers oppose.

Biden Explains Defense Pick Amid Concerns There Be Civilian Control Of The Military

6:56pm December 08, 2020

by Scott Detrow

Gen. Lloyd Austin retired from the U.S. Army in 2016. He'll need a waiver from Congress to serve as the top civilian at the Pentagon, which some key lawmakers may resist doing.

President Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani speaks during an appearance last week before the Michigan House Oversight Committee in Lansing. Days later, it was revealed he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

After Giuliani Hearing Last Week, Michigan House Is Accused Of COVID-19 Violations

6:49pm December 08, 2020

by Abigail Censky

Following an employee complaint, Michigan's House of Representatives is being investigated over alleged coronavirus safety breaches, but state senators will continue to meet.

National

Uber Sells Its Autonomous Vehicle Research Division

5:52pm December 08, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

Uber has sold its autonomous vehicle research division to a startup named Aurora. It's a major shift for a company that once saw self-driving technology as a core investment for its future.

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Health Care Workers Say They Have To Fight Both The Coronavirus And Disinformation

5:52pm December 08, 2020

by Rachel Cohen

Health care leaders say disinformation is one of the most dangerous elements of the coronavirus pandemic. NPR looks at how and why disinformation is taking hold and discusses its consequences.

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Doctor On What It's Like To Fight The Coronavirus On The Navajo Nation

5:52pm December 08, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Dr. Loretta Christensen, chief medical officer of the Indian Health Service's Navajo Area, about the challenges of fighting the coronavirus on the Navajo Nation.

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Biden Pledges To Conserve Nearly A Third Of U.S. Land And Water By 2030

5:52pm December 08, 2020

by Nathan Rott

President-elect Joe Biden wants to conserve 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030. It's part of a global push to avoid the worst effects of climate change and the decline of the natural world.

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A vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ready for administration at Guy's Hospital in London on Tuesday.

'The End Is In Sight': Louisiana Health Official Hopeful About Vaccine Distribution

5:40pm December 08, 2020

by David Greene

Dr. Joseph Kanter of the Louisiana Health Department's Office of Public Health expects that a few days after the FDA authorizes the Pfizer vaccine it will begin to "go into people's arms."

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What's The Difference Between Nominal And Substantive Diversity In Office?

3:51pm December 08, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Ravi Perry, chair of the political science department at Howard University, about the diversity of Joe Biden's cabinet and representation of civil rights organizations.

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