Russell Lewis

A new document undercuts Trump admin's denials about $400 million Tesla deal The State Department claimed a plan to buy thousands of armored Teslas was left over from the Biden administration. A document obtained by NPR shows the Biden plan was far smaller.

A new document obtained by NPR undercuts Trump administration's denials about $400 million Tesla deal. www.npr.org/2025/02/24/n...

Everything to know about the MLB's ball-strike challenge system at spring training This spring, MLB players can challenge ball and strike calls. The camera-based system is only an experiment for now — but it has the baseball world wondering where to draw the line with technology.

Spring training is underway with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Chicago Cubs in the Arizona Cactus League. There's already been the first challenge of MLB's new "ball-strike challenge system" -- a pitch that was called a 'ball' and overruled to be a 'strike'. www.npr.org/2025/02/20/n...

Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull died with CTE, researchers say Bobby Hull, an electric left-winger known as the 'Golden Jet', marveled hockey fans for his will to win. Named one of the NHL's greatest players, Hull was found to have had CTE after his death.

Heavy-hitting hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull had CTE when he died, according to his family. The "Golden Jet" was a force on the ice and the CTE diagnosis adds more credence that the degenerating brain disease isn't just limited to football players. www.npr.org/2025/02/19/n...

Altimeter in Black Hawk helicopter may have malfunctioned before DCA mid-air collision The National Transportation Safety Board says altimeter in the Black Hawk helicopter may have malfunctioned before the DCA mid-air collision with an American Airlines jet. All 67 people aboard died.

The NTSB says the altimeter in the Black Hawk helicopter which collided with an American Airlines regional jet may have malfunctioned. Both aircraft plunged into the Potomac River, killing all 67 people aboard. www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...

What happens if Trump starts ignoring court rulings? We break it down A court finding that the Trump administration did not comply with an earlier order and a recent statement by Vice President Vance have some experts warning of a potential constitutional crisis.

What happens if President Trump starts ignoring court rulings? NPR digs in to break it down
www.npr.org/2025/02/12/n...

National Women's Soccer League reaches $5 million settlement over 2021 abuse scandal In 2021, revelations about sexual misconduct and racism roiled the NWSL and sparked investigations. Now, the women's soccer league will set aside $5 million for victims and implement other reforms.

National Women's Soccer League reaches $5 million settlement over 2021 abuse scandal www.npr.org/2025/02/05/n...

Trump asks SpaceX to "go get" two stranded ISS astronauts. They're not stranded. Two NASA astronauts flew to the International Space Station in June on Boeing's Starliner capsule. The test flight was planned for eight days but technical troubles forced the capsule to return empty.

Trump asks SpaceX to "go get" two stranded NASA space station astronauts. They're not stranded.

www.npr.org/2025/01/28/n...

Immigrants drive Nebraska's economy. Trump's mass deportations pledge is a threat Nebraska is one of the top meat producers in the U.S. It also has one of the worst labor shortages. The Trump administration has promised mass deportations on an unprecedented scale. We asked Nebraska...

Immigrants drive Nebraska's economy. Trump's mass deportations pledge is a threat www.npr.org/2025/01/17/g...

Ex-Georgia prosecutor on trial for hindering Ahmaud Arbery's murder investigation Former district attorney Jackie Johnson is accused of interfering with the police investigation into the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, nearly five years after he was murdered while jogging.

The former district attorney in Georgia who hindered Ahmaud Arbery’s murder investigation goes on trial today. Jackie Johnson is charged with violating her oath of office. One of the men involved in Arbery’s death, Greg McMichael, previously worked in her office.

www.npr.org/2025/01/21/n...

Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, threatening app's existence in the U.S. The decision resolves a long-running legal dispute between the Department of Justice and TikTok. But experts say President-elect Donald Trump will now have considerable sway over the platform's future...

Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban, threatening app's existence in the U.S. www.npr.org/2025/01/17/n...

Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president and peace activist, dies at 100 Carter was president from 1977 to 1981, but he was perhaps more famous for the life he led after he left office. He was one of the biggest advocates for peace, democracy and human rights.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president and peace activist, has died at age 100. www.npr.org/2024/12/29/1...

Putin apologizes to Azerbaijani leader for 'tragic incident' involving crashed plane The Kremlin said air defense systems were firing near Grozny due to a Ukrainian drone strike as the airliner attempted to land, but stopped short of saying it was shot down by Russian air defenses.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin apologizes to Azerbaijani leader for 'tragic incident' involving crashed plane www.npr.org/2024/12/28/n...

Oakland A's Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, Baseball's 'Man of Steal,' Dies at Age 65 | KQED In a Hall of Fame career that rewrote the record book, Henderson became the greatest leadoff hitter in Major League Baseball history.

Hall of Famer and baseball icon Rickey Henderson has died. The best base stealer of all-time played with bravado and panache. www.kqed.org/news/1201950...

Latinos are the fastest-growing fanbase in the NFL. What's the league's playbook? The NFL is reaching more Latinos than ever. Here's how they've scored with a Spanish-speaking audience.

Latinos are the fastest-growing fanbase in the NFL. What's the league's playbook?

www.npr.org/2024/12/21/g...

Will The FDA finally ban Red No. 3? A decision could come soon The food colorant has been linked to behavioral problems in children, including inattention and hyperactivity. California passed a law to ban it last year.

Will the FDA finally ban Red dye No. 3? A decision could come soon www.npr.org/sections/sho...

A company that turned homeowners into renters abruptly shuts down EasyKnock, which pioneered 'sale-leaseback' deals for struggling homeowners, abruptly closes its doors

A company that turned homeowners into renters abruptly shuts down.

EasyKnock, which faces dozens of lawsuits, has said its deals have helped hundreds of people improve their finances.

www.npr.org/2024/12/06/n...

At the airport… hearing a gate agent mumbling to herself as she’s searching for the proper boarding gate: “Where is Miami?”

Me: “It’s in Florida.”

Her, stares at me for a moment and debates what to say and then laughs out loud. “Thank you. I needed that.”

Sometimes we need to laugh at bad jokes.

Researchers have long known football players are at-risk of developing the degenerative brain disease known as CTE. Now, a new study quantifies the risk for ice hockey players.

www.npr.org/2024/12/04/n...

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot, killed in Midtown, NYPD says The 50-year-old was pronounced deceased later Wednesday morning. Police were still seeking the gunman.

Police in New York City are searching for the person who shot and killed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian Thompson was gunned down outside a Manhattan hotel. gothamist.com/news/man-sho...

Nearly all new cars now come with automatic emergency braking and other safety features. Researchers say these systems are saving lives, but there’s still debate about how to make them better (by @joelrose.bsky.social via @npr.org).

www.npr.org/2024/12/02/n...

How to watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a tradition 100 years in the making Macy's is promising its largest Thanksgiving Day parade yet, exactly 100 years after the tradition first started. Here's a look at what to expect and how to watch.

In case this comes up in your household... here's what you need to know about Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

www.npr.org/2024/11/27/n...

Books We Love Here are 350+ great reads from 2024 hand-picked just for you by NPR staff and trusted critics.

Here are the books that NPR staff — and critics — loved in 2024 (bonus: our selections from previous years are listed too).

apps.npr.org/best-books/#...

Gospel-focused racial reconciliation in the Deep South Two former leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, one Black and one white, want to bridge the Deep South's racial divide with faith-based discussions in cities once active in the slave trade.

NPR has fanned out across the country looking for examples of people working through their differences. In the Deep South, gospel and religion are helping to bridge the race divide.

www.npr.org/2024/11/25/g...

i stopped by the parking garage at the Birmingham, Ala. airport today. Already “full”. Anyone who is traveling this holiday week needs to prepare for lines, traffic and headaches. www.npr.org/2024/11/18/n...

This year's FAFSA is officially open. Early review says it's 'a piece of cake' The FAFSA form is now open to students hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 academic year. Students can expect a much smoother process compared to the last cycle.

This year's FAFSA is officially open. The "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" is for students and families hoping to get help paying for college in the 2025-26 school year. Early review says it's 'a piece of cake'

www.npr.org/2024/11/21/n...

NFL kickers are better than ever from long distance, and that's changing football Field goals of 50 yards or longer used to be a rare thing in the NFL. But this season, kickers are hitting them at a record 72% clip — and head coaches are trying them far more often than ever before.

NFL kickers are booming kicks greater than 50-yards. It's off the charts, really. NPR digs in to why.

www.npr.org/2024/11/20/n...

Development of Elon Musk's rocket to Mars will likely take off under Trump Regulators have slowed the pace of Starship launches over environmental concerns, but that may be about to change.

SpaceX is set to launch its mammoth rocket Starship for the sixth time later today from Texas. Development of Elon Musk's rocket to Mars will likely take off under Trump (by @gbrumfiel.bsky.social via @npr.org) www.npr.org/2024/11/19/n...

Trump taps Sean Duffy, Fox host and former Congressman, for Transportation Secretary President-elect Trump has picked Sean Duffy, a Fox Business host and former Republican Congressman from Wisconsin, to head the Department of Transportation.

Trump taps Sean Duffy, a Fox host and former Congressman, to lead the U.S. Transportation Department. www.npr.org/2024/11/18/n...

Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy protection but plans to keep flying Spirit Airlines says it will continue flying as it files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Monday's announcement follows years of losses and a failed merger attempt for the low-cost carrier.

The seventh-largest airline in the U.S., Spirit Airlines, has filed for bankruptcy. The company hasn’t posted a full-year profit since 2019. www.npr.org/2024/11/18/n...

The NWSL rides a 'rocket ship' of interest in women's sports to a record-setting year Across the board, 2024 was a record year for women's sports. The WNBA saw record audiences. In college basketball, the women's March Madness tournament outdrew the men's. The NWSL was no exception.

The National Women’s Soccer League semifinals begin later with a match between the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC. The NWSL has had a breakout season. We explain why.

www.npr.org/2024/11/16/g...