From the Top

The Philadelphian's forthcoming debut album shows off his soulful falsetto and subtle songwriting. Hear two songs.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

In an unannounced visit, Defense Secretary James Mattis traveled to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders. He arrived during a fight to retake western Mosul, with allies' faith in the U.S. at a low.

(Image credit: Susan Walsh/AP)

The idea of plumes of moisture curling above our heads might seem beautiful, but new research shows atmospheric rivers to be among the most damaging of weather systems.

(Image credit: NOAA)

China produces 520,000 tons of garbage a day. To get rid of it, the government favors burning it, which harms the environment. One answer: sorting garbage and recycling. But that's proved challenging.

(Image credit: Rob Schmitz/NPR)

East Coast brewers have been making unfiltered, unpasteurized, hazy IPAs for about a decade. Their customers love the aromas and murky look of the beers. Now, the hazy beer craze has gone national.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Trillium Brewing Co. )

The man told police he inherited the money after his parents died and put it in the television for safe keeping, time passed. He forgot all about the money and gave the TV to a friend.

A cafe in Bourges, France, thought it won a top rating for its food. Great news — except the star was meant for a restaurant with the same name 100 miles away.

President Trump on Sunday interviewed four finalists for the job of national security adviser. A White House spokesman says more names may be added to the list on Monday.

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

While a new mattress was often a purchase put off as long as possible, consumers today are replacing their mattresses more often.

(Image credit: Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In Iraq, security forces have begun an operation to retake the western half of the city of Mosul from ISIS. Americans and other international troops are also there advising and assisting them, including with airstrikes.

A team of scientists is flying the globe to track greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We join a crew over the Arctic as they measure things they say computer models could never pick up.

China is debating how to react to the death of Kim Jong Nam, half-brother of North Korea's leader. Some think that the dead man could potentially have headed a more China-friendly North Korean regime.

The Mexican government does little to welcome home deportees from the U.S., but will now pay U.S. lawyers millions to help its citizens fight deportation. Mass repatriation would cost much more.

Kenya wants to run a rail line across Nairobi National Park. Environmentalists say this is an existential crisis for one of East Africa's oldest national parks.

The president is in Florida at Mar-a-Largo and the vice president is in Europe meeting with European and NATO officials. Rachel Martin talks to Robert Costa, correspondent for The Washington Post.

Rachel Martin talks to Jeffrey Gettleman — East Africa correspondent for "The New York Times" — about South Sudan's spreading civil war and refugee crisis.

Denver's innovative approach to school choice gets high marks from many parents and pundits. The program also raises questions about the limitations of choice in narrowing access and equity gaps.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Tanya Streicher)

Scientific evidence showing health benefits from engaging in the arts is still weak. But Los Angeles students in their 80s say their poetry class gives them joy, solace, community and a voice.

(Image credit: Maria Fabrizio for NPR)

New guidelines encourage doctors to tell patients to try non-drug therapies for acute lower back pain first.

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Krauss' new album is her first solo effort in 18 years, but she and Cannon — who produced Windy City — go back much further than that.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)