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Economy
Social Security's finances have improved slightly in the last year. But benefits are still facing an automatic cut in less than a decade unless Congress takes steps to prop up the program. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption
The Shoshone Generating Station, a hydroelectric power plant on the Colorado River east of Glenwood Canyon. (Alex Hager, KUNC) Alex Hager/KUNC hide caption
Iowa recently became the fourth Republican-led state to ban spending public money on basic income programs that do not have a work requirement. olando_o/Getty Images hide caption
After a boom in cash aid to tackle poverty, some states are now banning it
CA Highway Patrol officers walk on the University of California, Los Angeles campus on May 1, 2024 near a pro-Palestinian encampment. Hundreds of protesters have since been arrested on UCLA's campus. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption
Protesters want schools to divest from Israel. How would that work?
Luis Escarraman spent $139 when he picked up some vitamin C and a few items of clothing for himself and his daughter. "I need to work extra to get what I used to have before," he told NPR. Asma Khalid/NPR hide caption
Voters in this 'boomerang' county say they're nostalgic for the Trump economy
A cabinet maker in North Carolina is seeing interest rates slow down home development. His clients in the Outer Banks though, pictured here, are moving ahead as normal. John Greim/LightRocket hide caption
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell and his colleagues voted to hold interest rates steady at a 23-year high on Wednesday. The central bank is trying to curb stubborn inflation. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
Photograph courtesy of Darian Woods Darian Woods/Darian Woods hide caption
Restaurant prices rose 4.2% over the last year. But Americans continue to dine out regularly. Michael Mathes /AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Luxury beach front houses on the Outer Banks in North Carolina John Greim/LightRocket hide caption
The photo that helped the amateur art detectives locate the stolen Bhairav masks on display in the museums. Anil Chandra Shrestha hide caption
HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA: A 'Freedom For All' rally on July 01, 2023 to protest Senate Bill 1718. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislators passed the law to discourage undocumented workers from coming to the state. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
A report from Purdue University found that a majority of consumers expect food prices to keep rising in the coming year, which could sour voter sentiment. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption
Why experts say inflation is relatively low but voters feel differently
The explosive growth of Esports has made it so that elite-level competitive gamers can leverage their ability into a full-time job. But what does the life of a typical Esports pro look like and how do they think about their long-term prospects with Esports growth stagnating? Theresa O'Reilly for NPR hide caption