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A credit card is placed into a credit card machine for processing payments on September 11, 2023 in La Puente, California.

A credit card is placed into a credit card machine for processing payments on September 11, 2023 in La Puente, California. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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A credit card is placed into a credit card machine for processing payments on September 11, 2023 in La Puente, California.

A credit card is placed into a credit card machine for processing payments on September 11, 2023 in La Puente, California. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Business

Tax refunds are trending a bit higher this year. Here's how people are spending them

Some people are splurging. Others are finding that their refunds are being swallowed up by the rising cost of gas.

Early Tax Return Results

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Advertisements for sports betting apps are seen in downtown Kansas City, Mo., in November.

Advertisements for sports betting apps are seen in downtown Kansas City, Mo., in November. Charlie Riedel/AP hide caption

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Advertisements for sports betting apps are seen in downtown Kansas City, Mo., in November.

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Charlie Riedel/AP

Business

When legal sports betting surges, so do Americans' financial problems

As online betting has grown in popularity, a new report from the New York Federal Reserve builds on the troubling link between legal sports wagering and financial health.
Dr. Caspian Chouraya at his home in Babane, Eswatini.

Dr. Caspian Chouraya at his home in Babane, Eswatini. Ben de la Cruz/NPR hide caption

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Dr. Caspian Chouraya at his home in Babane, Eswatini.

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Global Health

Congress gave money for global HIV work. The Trump administration isn't spending it

U.S. work combatting HIV/AIDS has saved millions of lives globally. Under the Trump administration, funding has been slow in coming and unpredictable, wreaking havoc on people trying to do the work.

Congress gave money for global HIV work. The Trump administration isn't spending it

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IN SPACE - APRIL 02: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this handout image provided by NASA, a view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from the Orion spacecraft's window after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026. NASA's Artemis II mission will take Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft. (Photo by Reid Wiseman/NASA via Getty Images)

IN SPACE - APRIL 02: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this handout image provided by NASA, a view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from the Orion spacecraft's window after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026. NASA's Artemis II mission will take Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard their Orion spacecraft. (Photo by Reid Wiseman/NASA via Getty Images) NASA/NASA via Getty Images/NASA hide caption

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NASA/NASA via Getty Images/NASA

The Picture Show

NASA's Artemis II crew are quite the photographers. See what they've snapped so far

Many of the photos that have come out of the moon mission so far were taken by crew members. NASA says the crew is getting guidance from scientists on what to capture when they get closer to the moon.
President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool) Alex Brandon/AP Pool hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP Pool
President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool) Alex Brandon/AP Pool hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP Pool

National

Judge halts Trump effort requiring colleges to show they don't consider race in admissions

A federal judge on Saturday said the Trump Administration the demand to collect data from universities was rolled out in a "rushed and chaotic" manner.
Flames from the Palisades Fire reach the grounds of the Getty Villa Museum on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The museum was forced to close for around six months, causing a major drop in annual visitorship numbers for 2025.

Flames from the Palisades Fire reach the grounds of the Getty Villa Museum on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The museum was forced to close for around six months, causing a major drop in annual visitorship numbers for 2025. Apu Gomes/Getty Images hide caption

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Apu Gomes/Getty Images
Flames from the Palisades Fire reach the grounds of the Getty Villa Museum on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The museum was forced to close for around six months, causing a major drop in annual visitorship numbers for 2025.

Flames from the Palisades Fire reach the grounds of the Getty Villa Museum on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The museum was forced to close for around six months, causing a major drop in annual visitorship numbers for 2025. Apu Gomes/Getty Images hide caption

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Apu Gomes/Getty Images

Culture

Natural disasters and political instability hampered U.S. museum attendance in 2025

The Art Newspaper's latest annual study of "the world's 100 most visited art museums" also reveals signs of modest growth.
A Florida Highway Patrol officer looks at pictures of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes before a press conference at the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations building on November 13, 2025 in Miramar, Florida. Florida law enforcement agencies have among the highest ICE cooperation rates in the nation, with state troopers making a significant number of immigration arrests.

A Florida Highway Patrol officer looks at pictures of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes before a press conference at the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations building on November 13, 2025 in Miramar, Florida. Florida law enforcement agencies have among the highest ICE cooperation rates in the nation, with state troopers making a significant number of immigration arrests. Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America
A Florida Highway Patrol officer looks at pictures of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes before a press conference at the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations building on November 13, 2025 in Miramar, Florida. Florida law enforcement agencies have among the highest ICE cooperation rates in the nation, with state troopers making a significant number of immigration arrests.

A Florida Highway Patrol officer looks at pictures of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes before a press conference at the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations building on November 13, 2025 in Miramar, Florida. Florida law enforcement agencies have among the highest ICE cooperation rates in the nation, with state troopers making a significant number of immigration arrests. Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America

Immigration

After the Minnesota surge, ICE is moving to a quieter enforcement approach

ICE seems to be changing from aggressive immigration enforcement on city streets to an apparent return to operations that rely heavily on local law enforcement. But even in Florida, where sheriffs are required to cooperate with ICE, some conservative sheriffs have concerns about pursuing immigrants with no criminal records.

ICE 287G SHIFT

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Artists say that the sustainability of touring is more crucial than ever.

Artists say that the sustainability of touring is more crucial than ever. Keval Virani / 500px/Getty Images/500px/500px hide caption

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Artists say that the sustainability of touring is more crucial than ever.

Artists say that the sustainability of touring is more crucial than ever. Keval Virani / 500px/Getty Images/500px/500px hide caption

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Keval Virani / 500px/Getty Images/500px/500px

Music

As the Live Nation trial continues, how do artists actually feel about touring?

Independent venue closures, social media algorithms and the rise of generative AI are all part of an ecosystem that artists say is becoming increasingly difficult for working musicians to weather.

WATCH

Bush: Tiny Desk Concert

If you think you know "Machinehead" and "Glycerine," prepare to be surprised by these Tiny Desk arrangements of beloved alt-rock hits.
A black and white photo shows a group of seven protesters in wheelchairs surrounding a bus and stopping traffic in Denver in July 1978. A protestor holds a sign that reads: "Taxation without transportation!"

A group of protesters, now known as the Gang of 19, stops traffic in Denver in July 1978. Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain News Photograph Collection/WH2129-2022-280 hide caption

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Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain News Photograph Collection/WH2129-2022-280
A black and white photo shows a group of seven protesters in wheelchairs surrounding a bus and stopping traffic in Denver in July 1978. A protestor holds a sign that reads: "Taxation without transportation!"

A group of protesters, now known as the Gang of 19, stops traffic in Denver in July 1978. Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain News Photograph Collection/WH2129-2022-280 hide caption

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Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain News Photograph Collection/WH2129-2022-280

America In Pursuit

In 1978, they stopped buses — and helped launch a disability rights movement

People in wheelchairs surrounded and barricaded two city buses over the course of two days, demanding wheelchair lifts and chanting, "We will ride."

How an act of civil disobedience in 1978 Denver helped propel disability rights

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NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Chris O'Meara/AP hide caption

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Chris O'Meara/AP
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Chris O'Meara/AP hide caption

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Opinion

Simon Says

Opinion: Humanity's hopes ascended with Artemis II

NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the successful launch of NASA's Artemis II this week. The four astronauts aboard will travel around the moon.

ESSAY 04-04-26

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Sunday Puzzle

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Sunday Puzzle

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Humor & Fun

"To Be Announced"

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WUNC listener Andrew Patton and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz

Sunday Puzzle: To Be Announced

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