National

A judge has ordered a special prosecutor to look into how the case against actor Jussie Smollett was handled. Smollett is seen here in March, leaving a courthouse in Chicago after all charges against him were dropped.

National

Judge Orders Special Prosecutor To Review Handling Of Jussie Smollett Case

3:06pm June 21, 2019

by Bill Chappell

A judge in Illinois' Cook County says a special prosecutor should review the case "to restore the public's confidence in the integrity of our criminal justice system."

Flames and smoke rise from the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refining complex on Friday morning. Officials said the fire had been confined but was not yet under control.

National

Explosions At Philadelphia Oil Refinery Send A Giant Ball Of Fire Skyward

2:12pm June 21, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

The blasts were the result of a fire that is "confined and being addressed, but it is not under control," a Philadelphia fire official said. The incident prompted a brief shelter-in-place order.

An aerial view shows homes under construction at a housing development in Petaluma, Calif., in January. As housing prices surge around the country, Democratic presidential candidates are offering plans to address the shortage of affordable homes and apart

2020 Democrats Offer Up Affordable Housing Plans Amid Surging Prices

11:38am June 21, 2019

by Pam Fessler

Candidates have proposed everything from tax credits for renters to spending billions on new affordable housing to address a prime example of racial and income inequality.

In its lame-duck session last December, The state's Republican legislature passed a number of laws curbing Gov. Tony Evers' power.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Sides With GOP Lawmakers To Limit Democratic Governor's Power

11:12am June 21, 2019

by Laurel White

In its lame-duck session last December, The state's Republican legislature passed a number of laws curbing Gov. Tony Evers' power.

Sen. Reed Describes Scene In Situation Room During Briefing On Standoff With Iran

10:18am June 21, 2019

President Trump confirmed Friday that he halted military strikes on Iran. Sen. Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, was among those briefed in the Situation Room on Thursday.

National

U.S. Considered Military Airstrikes Against Iran

9:54am June 21, 2019

Overnight, the New York Times -- and then other news outlets — reported that President Trump had authorized a U.S. military strike in response to the Iranian downing of a U.S. Navy drone.

Queue Listen Now

Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, pictured here in 2015 at a news conference in Mexico City. In an exclusive interview with NPR, Ravanchi said flaring tensions between Washington and Tehran have made diplomatic talks hostile.

Iran's U.N. Ambassador: U.S. Escalating Hostilities Like A 'Knife Under Your Throat'

9:54am June 21, 2019

In an interview with NPR, Majid Takht Ravanchi also denied responsibility for the attack on two tankers last week and steadfastly maintained that Iran is not interested in war.

Queue Listen Now

FAA Orders U.S. Airlines To Bypass Iranian Airspace After Drone Shot Down

9:41am June 21, 2019

The Federal Aviation Administration prohibited U.S. carriers from overflying Iran "until further notice, due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions."

National

Lindy Lou Isonhood: Can You Move On After A Capital Punishment Trial?

8:59am June 21, 2019

by NPR/TED Staff

In 1994, Lindy Lou Isonhood served on a jury that sentenced a man to death. For years, she agonized over her decision. Today, she says, she's moved forward by speaking out against the death penalty.

Queue Listen Now

Maria Ochoa poses by the Arizona-Mexico border wall, south of Tucson, Ariz.

National

1st-Generation Mexican American Attempts To Save Migrant Lives In The Arizona Desert

7:44am June 21, 2019

Maria Ochoa, 70, looks out for the well-being of migrants crossing into the Arizona desert from Mexico. At StoryCorps, she talks about her experiences helping people at the border.

Queue Listen Now