Trump team plans to pare down Republican Party platform ahead of convention A memo obtained by NPR says the campaign wants a streamlined platform to keep a focused message. In an attempt to tamp down controversy, they also plan to sort the language behind closed doors. Read more on NPR

A ‘honey bear’ was spotted in Washington state, 2000 miles north of its habitat A wandering kinkajou, a small mammal that lives in the rainforests of Mexico and Central and South America, was spotted outside of Yakima, Washington. Read more on NPR

Tips to deal with cicada song, for those with sensory issues Cicadas make noise — and it can be difficult for children with autism and others with sensory issues to deal with. Educators, parents and scientists give some ideas for coping with the cacophony. Read more on NPR

Supreme Court blocks opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma that shielded Sacklers We look at the Supreme Court decision to throw out a multi-billion dollar bankruptcy deal involving the makers of Oxycontin, that would’ve shielded the owners of Purdue Pharma from civil lawsuits. Read more on NPR

The Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail offers an immersive nature experience Snorkeling is not just for coral reefs. There’s a lot of beauty in Appalachian mountain streams, along the Blue Ridge Snorkel trail. (This story first aired on Morning Edition on June 27, 2024.) Read more on NPR

Sudan is on the brink of famine after a year of civil war International aid organizations say Sudan is at risk of famine. NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Alan Boswell from the International Crisis Group about the impact of the country’s civil war. Read more on NPR

Why local governments across the U.S. are racing to announce new sports stadiums NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe talks with AP reporter David Lieb about why local governments are so eager to spend public money on pricey sports stadiums. Read more on NPR

Geothermal energy, a lesser known form of clean energy scored a big win this week NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Jesse Jenkins of Princeton University about enhanced geothermal energy, a clean, renewable power source that is being tested on a large scale. Read more on NPR

The lab grown diamond market is taking over wedding season It’s wedding season, and for some people that means diamonds, and increasingly, lab grown diamonds. NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe speaks with diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky about the diamond market. Read more on NPR