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Plus, an astronomer thinks alien technology could be on the ocean floor.


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by Suzanne Nuyen


FIRST UP



Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Here's what we're following today:

Life expectancy in the U.S. dropped for the second year in a row, making it the
lowest it's ever been since the 1920s. COVID drove the drop, even though other
countries have seen a rebound in life expectancy since the pandemic began.

States are scrambling to find enough teachers to keep their schools open as kids
begin to head back to the classroom. Many are dealing with a fight over teaching
race history, a shortage of substitute teachers, low pay, lack of respect and
more. And for many, the pandemic can be the last straw.

Teachers aren't the only ones falling victim to politics. In many communities,
libraries have become the latest cultural battleground. Conservative groups are
demanding the removal of books they consider unsuitable for young readers, and
many librarians see it as an attack on civil liberties.

In Jackson, Miss., more than 150,000 people are without clean water. The crisis
follows years of failure to fix an aging system in the majority-black city. 

The Trump-backed charity Conservative Partnership Institute is being scrutinized
for pushing the boundaries of tax law. An NPR investigation has raised questions
about whether the nonprofit is violating a legal ban on participating in
political campaign activities.

A new poll reveals that support for labor unions in the U.S. is at a 57-year
high. The rush of support comes as workers at companies like Starbucks, Amazon
and Chipotle have launched union drives.

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PICTURE SHOW



Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR

In the months since Roe v. Wade was overturned, there's been a sharp uptick in
Americans seeking abortions at a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. Cost, privacy and
convenience are likely behind the rise, but it doesn't come without its
challenges: finding child care, the language barrier and withdrawing Mexican
pesos can be more difficult than the actual procedure.

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TODAY’S LISTEN



Bill Ingalls/NASA

Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb thinks debris from a meteor that fell into the ocean
could be alien technology, and he's planning an expedition to retrieve fragments
of it from the ocean floor. 🎧 Listen to hear what exactly he's looking for, or
read the story.

Last week, we reported on Eva Cardoza, one of the many people released from
prison during the pandemic who were abruptly sent back. Hours after our
report, a federal judge found "extraordinary circumstances" that called for her
release. 🎧  Listen to her family reflect on her return, or read the story.

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BEFORE YOU GO



David Longstreath/AP

 * Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has died at 91. He was awarded the
   Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and played an integral role in ending the Cold War.
 * U.S. Customs and Border Protection found more than 1,500 pounds of
   cocaine totaling more than $11.8 million in street value hidden in a shipment
   of baby wipes.
 * A truck hit the center divider on I-80 between San Francisco and Sacramento,
   Calif., Monday morning, slathering several lanes in quickly crushed tomatoes
   and forcing morning commuters to play ketchup.
 * At least one viewer watching at home thought they spotted Beyoncé watching
   Serena Williams play at the U.S. Open Monday night. It was actually Laverne
   Cox, who "worships" the singer and says she's flattered.
 * John Wall has spent more than a decade in the NBA and has been named an
   All-Star. But he says a series of injuries and personal hardships took a toll
   on his mental health.
 * In 1981, two minor league baseball teams met for an early-season game of no
   real consequence. It would go down in history as one of the most
   extraordinary games ever.

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