Audrey Carlsen

The U.S. is engaged in a massive effort to vaccinate the bulk of its population against COVID-19. But some states are working faster than others. See how yours is faring.

The chamber voted to encourage Vice President Pence to take steps to immediately become acting president, arguing that President Trump is unfit to lead the country. Here's a record of the vote.

COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to strain U.S. hospitals. NPR built a tool to explore trends around the country. Look up your local hospital to see how it's faring.

The U.S. Senate continues to take up President Biden's nominees for key roles.

Parts of the West Coast experienced very unhealthy or hazardous air from wildfires for the first time ever recorded. Millions endured that smoke for twice as long as the recent average.

An NPR investigation shows that black and Latino neighborhoods in four large Texas cities have fewer coronavirus testing sites, leaving communities blind to potential COVID-19 outbreaks.

Breakthrough infections continue to hit Capitol Hill, with vaccinated members announcing positive coronavirus cases amid a surge caused by the delta variant.

Photographer Ajay Malghan takes familiar foods and makes them look foreign. He says it's a statement on genetically modified food, but if you want to just appreciate it as abstract art, that's OK too.

A push to make narcotic painkillers harder to abuse means that generic versions of OxyContin won't be allowed. But drugs that are more resistant to abuse are expensive and can still be addictive.

Ricin is a naturally occurring toxin found in castor beans. You can get sick by eating beans. But purified ricin can be made pretty easily and used for no-good.