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The surgeon general’s office has declared gun violence a national public health crisis.

It’s the first time the body has ever issued a public health advisory about firearms, and for Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, it’s a step in reframing the conversation about death by gunfire.

According to the CDC, more than 48,000 Americans were killed by gun violence in 2021, and over half of those deaths were by suicide.

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Going into the first presidential debate, polls show a close race. A good debate performance could mean a chance for a decisive lead. But the debate also comes with risks.

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Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is designed to provide monthly checks for low income, disabled and elderly Americans. But outdated rules trap recipients in poverty.

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For decades, people seeking abortions went to specialty clinics like Planned Parenthood. But since Roe v. Wade was overturned, more general practitioners are stepping in to provide abortions.

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In early June, President Joe Biden severely restricted asylum requests from migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization.

Two weeks later, the President struck a more welcoming tone, saying he’d protect hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens.

Immigration has become a big issue, for both parties. Policy experts say Biden hopes that in a close election year, these executive actions will sway voters to his side.

But will that strategy pay off and how will it affect migrants?

NPR’s Adrian Florido speaks with immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd who is reporting from the San Diego border with Mexico.

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The question of how to reconcile Michael Jackson’s musical genius with his alleged misconduct is still fraught.

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Polls – and NPR’s own reporting – tell a story of many Americans fatigued by the upcoming presidential race. They’re not satisfied with the choice between two men who have both already held the office of President.

But American allies and partners are watching the race intently, including South Korea, Japan, Ukraine and Israel. The fates of those countries are closely tied to whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden ends up sitting in the White House next year.

The NPR correspondents who cover those countries, Anthony Kuhn in South Korea, Joanna Kakissis in Ukraine, and Daniel Estrin in Israel, discuss the stakes each of those countries have in the outcome of America’s presidential election.

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This year’s college application process was supposed to get easier.

That’s because last year, the U.S. Department of Education announced changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

The problems with the FAFSA form began last fall.

And with August and September around the corner, some applicants continue to experience technical issues.

Before this year, students would already know how much aid they’re getting. But in 2024, not knowing, which is the case for many, could mean they can’t go to college.

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We are just weeks away from one of the biggest political events of the election campaign season: the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Former President Donald Trump is, of course, the party’s presumptive nominee, but he’s yet to announce his running mate.

The list is long, but the candidates all have one thing in common — they’re being considered because they could help Trump get elected in November.

NPR’s Franco Ordoñez and Jeongyoon Han break down which candidates are rising to the top and why it matters.

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Vivek Murthy, U.S. surgeon general, has called attention to what he has called the ‘youth mental health crisis’ that is currently happening in the U.S.

This week, he published an op-ed in The New York Times calling for social media warning labels like those put on cigarettes and alcohol. He hopes to warn young people of the danger social media poses to their mental wellbeing and development.

On average, teens in the U.S. are spending nearly 5 hours on social media every single day. And it is negatively impacting their health.

So what options do parents have? And will the government step in?

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