The Latest

Wednesday Evening Headlines

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has plans to backfill funding to Planned Parenthood cut by the new federal budget bill, Microsoft is putting billions into funding AI training programs, and the King County Council wants to protect the region from flooding on the heels of fatal weather events in Texas. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Patricia Murphy.

National

Philadelphia city workers reach tentative agreement to end strike

Nine thousand city workers in Philadelphia have been on strike for higher pay. Sanitation workers, 911 dispatchers and other municipal employees have been on strike for days.

Health

Why a decline in scavenger populations could impact human health

A recent study shows that top scavengers, like hyenas, can be beneficial for human health. But the same study reveals that scavenger populations are declining and could mean more disease for humans.

Remembering Tony-winning playwright Richard Greenberg, dead at 67

Richard Greenberg, the Tony Award-winning playwright behind Take Me Out, has died at a nursing home in Manhattan. He was 67.

Music

The best R&B Tiny Desk Contest entries

NPR Music received a record number of entries to this year's Tiny Desk Contest: 7,500. The judges discovered so many amazing entries, and now we're sharing some of those standouts here.

Health

A new painkiller is providing an alternative to opioids, but many people can't get it

The first new non-opioid for severe acute pain has been on the market for a few months. But it's a lot more expensive than opioids, and many people can't get it because of spotty insurance coverage.

Technology

Microsoft launches $4 billion AI reskilling institute

Microsoft unveiled a new initiative Wednesday that's intended to bring artificial intelligence skills to millions of people around the world.

Business

Texas legislature hands Elon Musk's companies some big wins

The most recent Texas Legislature handed Elon Musk or his companies' representatives and lobbyists some big political wins, including 10 new laws that could benefit his growing business footprint.