Black married couples face heavier tax penalties than white couples, a report says The report is part of a growing body of research into whether institutions and policies reinforce preexisting racial disparities. Read more on NPR

People smugglers keep trying to recruit this boat captain. Here’s why he says no By day, Saint-Louis native Pape Dieye is a boat captain-turned-tour guide for a fancy hotel that caters to Westerners. By night, he turns down requests to smuggle human beings across the ocean. Read more on NPR

Dead whales on the east coast fuel misinformation about offshore wind development Experts don’t know what’s behind the years-long trend of whale deaths. But there’s no evidence connecting the deaths to offshore wind development, which is less noisy than fossil fuel exploration. Read more on NPR

After Russian forces occupied Kherson, ordinary citizens fought back from the shadows Residents of the Russian-speaking city became partisans who fought for the independence of Ukraine. The nine-month occupation is over, but Russia continues to shell the city. Read more on NPR

In East Palestine, who ‘shows up’ isn’t necessarily a sign of who’s helping East Palestine, Ohio, has been devastated by a train derailment and chemical burn off that has threatened the health of residents, but it has now also become the center of political controversy. Read more on NPR

Despite high inflation, Americans are spending like crazy – and it’s kind of puzzling Americans began the new year with a spending spree, but businesses are not sure how long it can last. There’s a lot riding on the answer, since consumer spending is the backbone of the U.S. economy. Read more on NPR

Federal authorities are investigating another near runway collision between planes A Mesa Airlines jet was landing on the same runway a SkyWest plane was using to take off. It’s the fourth such runway incursion over the last several weeks. Read more on NPR