National News
National News
He Risked His Life For His Platoon In Korea. At 94, He Will Get A Medal Of Honor
Col. Ralph Puckett, Jr. will be honored at the White House on Friday and awarded the Medal of Honor for his acts of “conspicuous gallantry” during the Korean War. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who will be in town to conduct diplomacy talks with President Biden, will attend the ceremony.
Half Of The World’s Single-Use Plastic Waste Is From Just 20 Companies, Says A Study
In 2019, more than 130 million metric tons of single-use plastics were thrown away, with most of that waste burned, buried in a landfill or dumped directly into the ocean or onto land. Now, a new report finds that just 20 companies account for more than half of all single-use plastic waste generated worldwide.
WNYC Fires ‘On The Media’ Co-Host Bob Garfield For Alleged Bullying
Bob Garfield, host of the public radio show and podcast On The Media, has been fired. According to a statement from New York Public Radio, an outside investigation found that Garfield violated the company’s anti-bullying policy. Garfield was the subject of a similar investigation in 2020 that resulted in, “disciplinary action and a warning about consequences if the behavior continued.”
A Dangerous Fire Season Is Looming As The Drought-Stricken West Heads Toward Water Crisis
Just about every indicator of drought is flashing red across the western U.S. after a dry winter and warm early spring. The snowpack is at less than half of normal in much of the region. Reservoirs are being drawn down, river levels are dropping and soils are drying out.
Kevin McCarthy, Top House Republican, Opposes Bipartisan Commission To Probe U.S. Capitol Attack
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy came out Tuesday against a bipartisan proposal to establish a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The announcement comes a day before the House of Representatives is slated to vote on the legislation.
In Challenge To Roe, Supreme Court To Review Mississippi Abortion Law
It is the second time in weeks that the court’s new conservative majority has signaled a willingness to reconsider long-established legal doctrine, this time on abortion, and just weeks ago, on guns.
80% Of Asian Americans Say They Are Discriminated Against
A recent survey found that nearly 80% of Asian Americans don’t feel respected and say they are discriminated against by their fellow Americans. Additionally, a significant portion of respondents of multiple races said they were unaware of an increase in hate crimes and racism against Asian Americans over the past year.
Microsoft Board Investigated Bill Gates’ Relationship With Employee, Deemed It ‘Inappropriate’
Microsoft’s board of directors hired a private law firm to investigate a decades-old “intimate relationship” Bill Gates had with a company employee. The investigation, according to a company spokesman, took place in the months before the billionaire resigned from the board last year.
Modern Pipeline Panic Recalls Perils Of Gas Lines For Past Presidents
Federal safety officials found it necessary this past week to remind Americans not to put gasoline in plastic bags. Hey folks, that’s dangerous. Remember?
President Biden Dissolves Controversial Trump Orders On Race And Culture
President Biden has revoked a number of executive actions taken by former President Donald Trump in the last year of his administration, mostly in response to the protests over systemic racism and police violence.
Scientists Urge Federal Government To Restore Protections For Gray Wolves
A group of scientists urged the Biden administration Thursday to restore legal protections for gray wolves, saying their removal earlier this year was premature and that states are allowing too many of the animals to be killed.
Confused By CDC’s Latest Mask Guidance? Here’s What We’ve Learned
The shift in guidance was a dramatic reversal from the country’s top public health agency, which has been criticized for being too conservative (and convoluted) in its earlier guidelines for those who are vaccinated. The latest changes have left a lot of people with a lot of questions, which NPR’s science, health and education reporters are here to answer.
