Illinois To Ban 'Gay Panic Defense' In New Year
LGBTQ activists say they hope lawmakers in other states will also ban the legal defense, which blames a victim's sexual orientation for an attacker's violent reaction.
National
Portions Of Ailing White House Magnolia Removed Over Safety Concerns
The Jackson Magnolia, one of the oldest and storied trees on the White House lawn, just got a major trim. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with historian Jonathan Pliska about the tree's significance.
Roy Moore's Defeat By Doug Jones In Senate Race Is Certified By Alabama Board
The Alabama Republican claimed election fraud was "sufficient to overturn the outcome." But Secretary of State John Merrill said his office found that several fraud claims that circulated were "lies."
In Houston, Thousands Remain Displaced As Harvey Recovery Continues
Thousands of residents are still living in hotels and rental housing while they await insurance money to help them rebuild homes that were flooded in Hurricane Harvey this summer.
Will Gathering Vast Troves of Information Really Lead To Better Health?
Hundreds of millions of dollars are pouring into research labs in an effort to collect genetic information on a million people. But some skeptics say the focus should be on humans themselves, not DNA.
IRS Warns Strategy Of Prepaying Property Taxes May Not Be Allowed
Homeowners in high-tax areas have been racing to prepay their 2018 property taxes in an effort to beat the new deduction limits that take effect next year. But the IRS warns in many cases that strategy may not be allowed.
Federal Appeals Court Gives EPA 90 Days To Propose Long-Awaited Lead Standards
A federal appeals court has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to propose a new standard for lead inside homes within 90 days. NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Eve Gartner, who litigated on behalf of groups suing the EPA to update the standards.
Flint Accused Of Violating Agreement To Replace Lead Service Lines
Advocacy groups say Flint isn't sharing information about efforts to remove lead service lines. They're asking a judge to force the city to comply.
Understanding Baltimore's Murder Epidemic From Multiple Perspectives
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with photographer Amy Berbert and Rev. Rodney Hudson of Ames Memorial United Methodist Church in Baltimore. Throughout 2017, Berbert has documented the location and time of the more than 300 homicides that took place in the city during 2016.
Harvard Student Cracks Incan Code
The Incas did not have a written language. Instead, they communicated using a system of knots in colored strings — called khipus. NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Harvard student Manny Medrano about his groundbreaking work analyzing the code.