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Dr. Erica Schwartz at her confirmation hearing to become director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on July 15.

Dr. Erica Schwartz at her confirmation hearing to become director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on July 15. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption

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Dr. Erica Schwartz at her confirmation hearing to become director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on July 15.

Dr. Erica Schwartz at her confirmation hearing to become director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on July 15. Finn Gomez/Getty Images hide caption

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Finn Gomez/Getty Images

Health

CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz faced questions in Senate hearing

Trump's nominee faces the Senate health committee for her confirmation hearing on July 15. If confirmed, she will lead an agency dealing with workforce and leadership shortages and new layers of political review.

CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz faced questions in Senate hearing

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A makeshift memorial for a man that was fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, on July 14, 2026 in Biddeford, Maine. The victim has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old man from Colombia.

A makeshift memorial for a man that was fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, on July 14, 2026 in Biddeford, Maine. The victim has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old man from Colombia. Ryan Murphy/Getty Images hide caption

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A makeshift memorial for a man that was fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, on July 14, 2026 in Biddeford, Maine. The victim has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old man from Colombia.

A makeshift memorial for a man that was fatally shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, on July 14, 2026 in Biddeford, Maine. The victim has been identified as Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old man from Colombia. Ryan Murphy/Getty Images hide caption

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Ryan Murphy/Getty Images

Family members and friends remember Biddeford shooting victim as a kind and dedicated family man

 Maine Public News

Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was killed Monday by an ICE agent while driving in Biddeford. The shooting has reverberated across the U.S. and his native Colombia.

Scientist pipetting samples from clinical trail into multi well

Scientist pipetting samples from clinical trail into multi well Andrew Brookes/Image Source/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Brookes/Image Source/Getty Images
Scientist pipetting samples from clinical trail into multi well

Scientist pipetting samples from clinical trail into multi well Andrew Brookes/Image Source/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Brookes/Image Source/Getty Images

Health

Cancer disparities researchers say federal funding changes have disrupted their work

In a survey, 93% of cancer researchers who study disparities said federal policy changes have affected them. Funding is harder to come by and they worry it's slowing progress in their field.
Heavy equipment and cars are prepared for shipment by rail in Yantai, eastern China's Shandong province, on June 20, 2026.

Heavy equipment and cars are prepared for shipment by rail in Yantai, eastern China's Shandong province, on June 20, 2026. AP/CHINATOPIX hide caption

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AP/CHINATOPIX
Heavy equipment and cars are prepared for shipment by rail in Yantai, eastern China's Shandong province, on June 20, 2026.

Heavy equipment and cars are prepared for shipment by rail in Yantai, eastern China's Shandong province, on June 20, 2026. AP/CHINATOPIX hide caption

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AP/CHINATOPIX

Asia

China's economy grows 4.3% in Q2, slowest since late 2022

Lagging consumer spending and business investment offset the boost from strong exports thanks partly to the boom in artificial intelligence.

WATCH

Tiny Desk Concert: Napalm Death

Napalm Death's ongoing campaign for musical destruction comes to the Desk. The founding fathers of grindcore speed through a sprawling catalog with manic energy.
A Senegalese man on West 116th Street in Harlem waves a scarf after Senegal scored a goal in the team’s game against Belgium in the World Cup.

A Senegalese man on West 116th Street in Harlem waves a scarf after Senegal scored a goal in the team's game against Belgium in the World Cup. Arya Sundaram/Gothamist hide caption

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Arya Sundaram/Gothamist
A Senegalese man on West 116th Street in Harlem waves a scarf after Senegal scored a goal in the team’s game against Belgium in the World Cup.

A Senegalese man on West 116th Street in Harlem waves a scarf after Senegal scored a goal in the team's game against Belgium in the World Cup. Arya Sundaram/Gothamist hide caption

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Arya Sundaram/Gothamist

Soccer Edition

In the city of immigrants, the World Cup has given many New Yorkers a welcome respite

 WNYC

Some say the matches have been a welcome distraction from anxieties over immigration and cultural identity.
The exteriors of the Greenfield Book Store is seen in Mong Kok district, Hong Kong, on Wednesday, July 15 2026.

The exteriors of the Greenfield Book Store is seen in Mong Kok district, Hong Kong, on Wednesday, July 15 2026. Kanis Leung/AP hide caption

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Kanis Leung/AP
The exteriors of the Greenfield Book Store is seen in Mong Kok district, Hong Kong, on Wednesday, July 15 2026.

The exteriors of the Greenfield Book Store is seen in Mong Kok district, Hong Kong, on Wednesday, July 15 2026. Kanis Leung/AP hide caption

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Kanis Leung/AP

Asia

Hong Kong booksellers arrested for allegedly selling seditious books

Hong Kong was once known for its freedom of publication, but political changes have created a challenging environment for independent bookstores.
Weird Nightmare

Weird Nightmare Colin Medley/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Colin Medley/Courtesy of the artist
Weird Nightmare

Weird Nightmare Colin Medley/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Colin Medley/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Tune in to a mini-concert with Weird Nightmare

 XPN

Alex Edkins, frontman of the hardcore band Metz, goes full power pop on his new solo album.

World Cafe: Weird Nightmare

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A health worker stands at the Evangelical Medical Center, in Bunia, eastern Congo, Friday, July 3, 2026, where Ebola clinical trials are scheduled to take place.

A health worker stands at the Evangelical Medical Center, in Bunia, eastern Congo, Friday, July 3, 2026, where Ebola clinical trials are scheduled to take place. Dirole Lotsima Dieudonne/AP hide caption

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Dirole Lotsima Dieudonne/AP
A health worker stands at the Evangelical Medical Center, in Bunia, eastern Congo, Friday, July 3, 2026, where Ebola clinical trials are scheduled to take place.

A health worker stands at the Evangelical Medical Center, in Bunia, eastern Congo, Friday, July 3, 2026, where Ebola clinical trials are scheduled to take place. Dirole Lotsima Dieudonne/AP hide caption

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Dirole Lotsima Dieudonne/AP

Global Health

Ebola is spreading faster in eastern Congo than it can be tracked, as deaths pass 700

Eighty percent of new Ebola cases in eastern Congo are emerging from unknown chains of transmission, according to WHO, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offices in Atlanta are seen in 2022. The agency is investigating a rise in cyclosporiasis cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offices in Atlanta are seen in 2022. The agency is investigating a rise in cyclosporiasis cases. Ron Harris/AP hide caption

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Ron Harris/AP
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offices in Atlanta are seen in 2022. The agency is investigating a rise in cyclosporiasis cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offices in Atlanta are seen in 2022. The agency is investigating a rise in cyclosporiasis cases. Ron Harris/AP hide caption

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Ron Harris/AP

Health

What to know about cyclosporiasis, the intestinal illness hitting the U.S.

A surge of cases of the intestinal illness that causes diarrhea and fatigue has been detected in 34 states. Here's how what to do if you suspect you have it and how to avoid infection.

My Unsung Hero

Too weak to advocate for herself, a young woman is saved by a nun

When Solitaire Miles was 18, she had a stroke. When she got to the hospital, doctors and nurses accused her of being on drugs. Then, her unsung hero arrived and ensured she got the care she needed.

Too weak to advocate for herself, a young woman is saved by a nun

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Close up view of a smartphone displaying the words AI Artificial Intelligence in front of blurred flags of the United States and China illustrating technological competition between the two countries in Tunis,Tunisia on June 24, 2026. The conceptual image symbolizes artificial intelligence innovation digital sovereignty semiconductor competition and the global race for advanced technologies. (Photo by Imen Ben Youssef / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)

Close up view of a smartphone displaying the words AI Artificial Intelligence in front of blurred flags of the United States and China illustrating technological competition between the two countries in Tunis,Tunisia on June 24, 2026. The conceptual image symbolizes artificial intelligence innovation digital sovereignty semiconductor competition and the global race for advanced technologies. (Photo by Imen Ben Youssef / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images) IMEN BEN YOUSSEF/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption

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IMEN BEN YOUSSEF/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images/AFP

Business

American AI is expensive. Some startups are turning to cheap Chinese models

AI is a fast-growing business expense. Some companies are cutting costs by switching to cheaper Chinese AI models.

American AI is expensive. Some startups are turning to cheap Chinese models

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Search and rescue vessels look for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Search and rescue vessels look for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Noah Berger/AP hide caption

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Noah Berger/AP
Search and rescue vessels look for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Search and rescue vessels look for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Noah Berger/AP hide caption

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Noah Berger/AP

Search continues for 3 missing people after boat sinks near Alcatraz; 1 dead

 KQED

One person is dead after a boat carrying 20 individuals sank off the coast of Alcatraz Island.
E. Jean Carroll has been paid more than $5 million in damages, three years after a jury found President Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation of the writer. Here, Carroll departs Manhattan federal appeals court following arguments in a judgement appeal brought by Trump in New York City in September 2024.

E. Jean Carroll has been paid more than $5 million in damages, three years after a jury found President Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation of the writer. Here, Carroll departs Manhattan federal appeals court following arguments in a judgement appeal brought by Trump in New York City in September 2024. Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images
E. Jean Carroll has been paid more than $5 million in damages, three years after a jury found President Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation of the writer. Here, Carroll departs Manhattan federal appeals court following arguments in a judgement appeal brought by Trump in New York City in September 2024.

E. Jean Carroll has been paid more than $5 million in damages, three years after a jury found President Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation of the writer. Here, Carroll departs Manhattan federal appeals court following arguments in a judgement appeal brought by Trump in New York City in September 2024. Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images

National

E. Jean Carroll receives $5.6 million from Trump in sexual abuse and defamation case

The payment comes three years after a jury found President Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore debates a participant on a recent episode of the YouTube show "Surrounded."

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore debates a participant on a recent episode of the YouTube show "Surrounded." Jubilee Media hide caption

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Jubilee Media
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore debates a participant on a recent episode of the YouTube show "Surrounded."

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore debates a participant on a recent episode of the YouTube show "Surrounded." Jubilee Media hide caption

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Jubilee Media

Politics

To win over young voters, some politicians are trying a new approach: debating them

The YouTube show "Surrounded" gives politicians a venue to debate people who disagree with them in hopes of winning them over. Those who've gone include Wes Moore, Pete Buttigieg and James Talarico.

Jubilee Media helps politicians connect with young people through viral debate videos

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A Red-cockaded Woodpecker hovers momentarily before landing at its nesting cavity inside the trunk of a longleaf pine. This species makes its home in living trees rather than dead ones, a process that can take years to complete. If a timber company were to cut down these trees without directly injuring a bird, it would still constitute "harm" under the previous definition used by the Endangered Species Act. A new rule change by the Trump administration would change that.

A Red-cockaded Woodpecker hovers momentarily before landing at its nesting cavity inside the trunk of a longleaf pine. This species makes its home in living trees rather than dead ones, a process that can take years to complete. If a timber company were to cut down these trees without directly injuring a bird, it would still constitute "harm" under the previous definition used by the Endangered Species Act. A new rule change by the Trump administration would change that. Jared Lloyd/Getty Images hide caption

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Jared Lloyd/Getty Images
A Red-cockaded Woodpecker hovers momentarily before landing at its nesting cavity inside the trunk of a longleaf pine. This species makes its home in living trees rather than dead ones, a process that can take years to complete. If a timber company were to cut down these trees without directly injuring a bird, it would still constitute "harm" under the previous definition used by the Endangered Species Act. A new rule change by the Trump administration would change that.

A Red-cockaded Woodpecker hovers momentarily before landing at its nesting cavity inside the trunk of a longleaf pine. This species makes its home in living trees rather than dead ones, a process that can take years to complete. If a timber company were to cut down these trees without directly injuring a bird, it would still constitute "harm" under the previous definition used by the Endangered Species Act. A new rule change by the Trump administration would change that. Jared Lloyd/Getty Images hide caption

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Jared Lloyd/Getty Images

Exclusive

Science

Environmental groups sue government to stop a big change to the Endangered Species Act

By altering the definition of the word "harm" as used by the Endangered Species Act, the Trump administration may limit how wildlife is protected in the United States. Environmental groups are suing.

Environmental groups sue government to stop a big change to the Endangered Species Act

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A worker at Monchy's prepares a taco order for a customer at the restaurant in Houston, Texas, on July 11, 2026.

A worker at Monchy's prepares a taco order for a customer at the restaurant in Houston, Texas, on July 11, 2026. Danielle Villasana for NPR hide caption

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Danielle Villasana for NPR
A worker at Monchy's prepares a taco order for a customer at the restaurant in Houston, Texas, on July 11, 2026.

A worker at Monchy's prepares a taco order for a customer at the restaurant in Houston, Texas, on July 11, 2026. Danielle Villasana for NPR hide caption

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Danielle Villasana for NPR

Economy

Even Taco Tuesday could be more expensive as beef prices continue to rise

 Houston Public Media News 88.7

Beef prices are continuing to rise due to drought, low herd sizes and concerns about the new world screwworm in the United States, but business owners in Texas say that raising prices could drive away customers.

Tacos are getting more expensive in Texas as beef prices continue to rise

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Group of Gen Z friends in a circle holding their phones - digital native concepts

Group of Gen Z friends in a circle holding their phones - digital native concepts Hispanolistic/Getty Images hide caption

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Hispanolistic/Getty Images

Perspective

Learning in the age of AI

How do young people feel about AI? 7 teens weigh in

What's it like to grow up and learn in the age of AI? NPR put that question to seven teenagers across the country.

Gaines - How teens feel about AI

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