National

IRS Warns Strategy Of Prepaying Property Taxes May Not Be Allowed

5:28pm December 28, 2017

by Scott Horsley

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.

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Federal Appeals Court Gives EPA 90 Days To Propose Long-Awaited Lead Standards

5:28pm December 28, 2017

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.

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Lawyers say the city of Flint is violating the terms of a major settlement agreement reached in March to improve the quality of the city's water.

Flint Accused Of Violating Agreement To Replace Lead Service Lines

5:08pm December 28, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

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.

National

Understanding Baltimore's Murder Epidemic From Multiple Perspectives

4:39pm December 28, 2017

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.

National

Harvard Student Cracks Incan Code

4:39pm December 28, 2017

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.

Thomas Fire Evacuees Return Home To Find What's Left

4:39pm December 28, 2017

by Stephanie O'Neill

The massive Thomas Fire in Southern California is now 89 percent contained and evacuees are starting to return home. The Upper Ojai Valley was especially hard-hit. About a quarter of the homes there were destroyed.

Simeon Peterson, known as "Mr. Pete," in 2009. Patients at Carville leprosarium often used bicycles to get from building to building, which were connected by covered passageways.

Confined By Leprosy, But Open To The World: Remembering 'Ambassador' Mr. Pete

4:05pm December 28, 2017

by Pam Fessler

Simeon Peterson lived 83 of his 89 years in institutions because of a misguided belief that leprosy was highly contagious. Many would consider it a tragic life, but he did not.

Pedestrians walk along Michigan Avenue in Chicago this week. Bitter cold is hitting much of the Northern half of the U.S., with temperatures dipping into the single digits and below zero. The extremely frigid weather is expected to last for days.

National

Cold Much? Here Are Tips From NPR's Northern Stations

3:50pm December 28, 2017

by Bill Chappell

Merino wool gets a big shout-out; so do flannel-lined pants. Warming up the car is a good idea — but stay in the car in Eau Claire, Wis., or you'll face a steep fine.

Donald Trump waits to step onto the portico for his presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.

National

Some Of 2017's Biggest National Stories, In Pictures

3:28pm December 28, 2017

by Tanya Ballard Brown

As the year draws to a close and the news cycle continues to reset every day, let's pause and revisit some of the most important news events from 2017.

The South Carolina Education Lottery says a programming error in its computer system vendor is to blame for a profusion of winning tickets on Christmas. Two of the state's lottery tickets are pictured here in 2005.

National

How The Glitch Stole Christmas: S.C. Lottery Says Error Caused Winning Tickets

1:45pm December 28, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

As word got out on Christmas Day about the sudden proliferation of winning tickets, a frenzy reportedly ensued. The state has suspended sales and validations of the game while it investigates.