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President Trump signed an executive action yesterday to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The administration has promised that certain federal education grants, including for low-income and rural schools, would be preserved. However, today, nearly all the statisticians and data experts who help get that money to schools could be out of a job.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg will try to get answers from the Department of Justice today in a hearing about the Venezuelan migrants who were deported to El Salvador. Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act last weekend to target alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang he claims is invading the U.S. Planes with over 250 people were sent to El Salvador. The flights happened even though Boasberg ordered the government to turn around any planes already in the air.
Maryland officials failed to conduct crucial assessments that could have prevented the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after a cargo ship struck it last year, according to a new report by the National Transportation Safety Board. The board says there are other bridges at risk.
Screen time isn’t only enjoyable for us humans. Dogs also like laying back with a treat and watching TV. But are they truly as engaged as we are? Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are tackling that very question. After surveying over 1,200 dog owners, they found that furry companions respond most to on-screen images of animals, especially other dogs. That’s why pets’ reactions to Flow, an animated film featuring a cat, capybara, dog, lemur and a bird, have been making waves over social media. Veterinary ophthalmologist Freya Mowat joins Morning Edition to explain why movies like this are so enjoyable for pets.
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Knowing a new Disney movie is heading to theaters this weekend is enough for me to make plans. But that’s not the only movie hitting theaters today. Here are five buzzy films to look out for.
📺 TV: Seth Rogen stars as a flustered Hollywood executive who gets promoted to the head of a movie studio after his boss was fired in the new comedy series The Studio.
📚 Books: This week, a number of new offerings, including the highly anticipated Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, hit library shelves. Check out what these five reads are all about here.
🎵 Music: Indie rock band Japanese Breakfast’s new album For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) tells stories of figures who yearn. This album is one of many released today. Check out the long list here.
🎮 Gaming: Assassin’s Creed Shadows was released yesterday. NPR’s James Perkins Mastromarino shares his thoughts on the game, which he says grew on him.
❓ Quiz: I got all but two right today. Somehow, I messed up on a question about Ben & Jerry’s, and, as an ice cream connoisseur, that hurts. Hopefully, with this scoop, you will have what you need for a perfect score.
Source: www.npr.org