NPR News

The decades-old radical troupe Bread and Puppet, famed for its protest art including giant puppets, is touring again — mixing circus, politics and bread in a sharply polarized moment.

Much of the federal government is now shut down after Republicans and Democrats in the Senate failed to agree on a funding plan to keep the government open.

The federal shutdown will affect people across the United States. NPR's network of member stations explains what will be impacted and where.

As daylight diminishes, people can feel their mood dimming. In fact, millions of U.S. adults experience seasonal affective disorder. Light therapy can help fend off winter depression, starting in fall.

In 2024, 7,100 pedestrians were killed on the road, and in recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. Safety experts explain how bikers and walkers can stay safe.

Leaves typically start to peak in northern states by early October, but projecting peak foliage isn't an exact science. Here are some things you can do to get the most out of fall's colors.

Water treatment workers in Vermont and beyond are grappling with how to protect against a new threat: hackers burrowing into the system and wreaking havoc.

More intense future wildfires, fueled by further climate change, could lead to 70,000 deaths from smoke exposure a year, according to a new study.

A new Pynchon! A Tim Curry memoir! A 600-page doorstopper from a reclusive writer (not named Thomas Pynchon)! The fall is stacked with big book releases. Here's what we're particularly excited for.

NPR plans to make trims totaling more than $5 million over the course of the coming fiscal year to bring its annual budget into balance. Meanwhile, local stations are asking for more help.