NPR Top Stories

Why catching insider trading is so tricky nowadays, and just how helpful is it for kids to sleep in?
Millions of dollars have been made through eerily well-timed bets on prediction markets like Polymarket. We look at why they're so hard to police. And, a new study that supports kids sleeping in.
Cooper Katz McKim | May 18, 2026, 10:48 AM UTC

Pop star Shakira is acquitted in a Spanish tax fraud case
The decision follows years of tax troubles in Spain for the Colombian superstar. Spanish tax authorities did not prove that the singer was a resident of Spain, the court said in its decision.
The Associated Press | May 18, 2026, 10:25 AM UTC
Thousands of U.S. countertop workers could have damaged lungs, safety expert says
Over 550 men in California have fallen ill after cutting natural or factory-made stone countertops. But epidemiologists say this isn't just a California problem.
Nell Greenfieldboyce | May 18, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

Why the Supreme Court's voting rights ruling could play a big role at the local level
The Supreme Court's recent ruling threatens the power of racial-minority voters in Voting Rights Act cases about not just Congress, but also at least 17 state and local governments, NPR finds.
Hansi Lo Wang | May 18, 2026, 9:05 AM UTC

In Georgia primary, Republicans dominate spending and Democrats drive record turnout
Tuesday's primary in Georgia features contentious Republican contests for governor and U.S. Senate while Democrats hope an enthusiasm advantage is enough to flip two state supreme court seats.
Stephen Fowler | May 18, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC

The 'fibermaxxing' trend has health benefits worth the hype
There are a lot of wellness trends that make health experts roll their eyes in skepticism. But there is one big trend that many experts can get behind – with a few caveats: fibermaxxing.
Maria Godoy | May 18, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC

For 20 years, Stephen Colbert distinguished truth from truthiness
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ends on Thursday. Here's how he has evolved to meet the moment.
Eric Deggans | May 18, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC

When times are hard, we eat more beans. And it's happening again now
The fiber craze is pushing more people into the broad world of beans, as the U.S. bean industry looks to double American consumption of pulses by 2030.
Joe Hernandez | May 18, 2026, 9:00 AM UTC

Peru's electoral board confirms June 7 presidential runoff
Authorities confirmed on Sunday the official results of the first round of the presidential elections in early April, with Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez advancing to the runoff on June 7.
The Associated Press | May 18, 2026, 5:50 AM UTC

Drone strikes UAE nuclear plant highlighting risk of renewed war
A drone strike sparked a fire on the edge of the United Arab Emirates' sole nuclear power plant on Sunday in what authorities called an "unprovoked terrorist attack."
The Associated Press | May 18, 2026, 5:37 AM UTC
