On tonight’s program: A bill to help grow rural communities is heading to the Senate Floor; A panel of Florida lawmakers agreed today (Thursday) officials should consider whether a child’s injuries are really the result of abuse, or if they could stem from a rare medical condition; An effort to impose stricter penalties on reckless boaters keeps moving ahead in the Florida Legislature; And Republican Florida lawmakers want to fast track President Donald Trump’s Presidential Library in the state as soon as he terms out.

On Tonight's program: Second Amendment supporters are rooting for a bill now heading through the Florida Legislature that would repeal an existing law that bans the sale of guns and ammo during locally declared emergencies; There are now 5 members on the Florida Public Service Commission. A proposal advancing in Tallahassee would expand that number to 7; And some libel protections for media outlets would vanish under a new defamation bill under consideration.

On tonight’s program: The office of Florida Lieutenant Governor may be replaced by a newly created “commissioner of government efficiency” under a constitutional amendment that lawmakers could place on the 2026 ballot; Victims of dating violence could receive the same protections as victims of domestic violence under a bill now moving through the Florida Legislature; State lawmakers seem poised to repeal the later school start times for high school kids that the legislature passed just 2 years ago; And today was National Guard Appreciation Day at the Capitol and members of the State and National Guard may get more benefits under a bill now receiving significant legislative support.

On tonight’s program: A carve out for some lower-level workers to be exempt from Florida’s minimum wage is still moving in the legislature, although there are worries the measure could be unconstitutional; A railroad revival could be coming to a portion of Polk County as the governor signs a million-dollar award for increased train access; Although it was delayed in a key Senate committee, a proposed constitutional amendment limiting school board and country commission members to 8 years in office is still alive; And lawmakers are naming a bill against dog abandonment after the plucky bull terrier who was rescued by a Highway Patrol Trooper during Hurricane Milton.

On tonight’s program: The Florida Legislature is moving to make it a lot tougher for citizens to put proposed changes to the state constitution on the ballot. Even though opponents say such proposals are often very popular; Lawmakers struggle to craft a plan that saves the state’s condominium owners in the midst of a multi-faceted crisis; It appears things haven’t been quite as bad for Florida property insurers as first thought; Online scammers consider Florida’s older residents a prime target. But a bill working its way through the state senate could nab more of the bad actors; It seems there’s a good reason the Florida National Guard has been doing double-duty as corrections officers during the past few years; Governor DeSantis has turned thumbs down on a new management plan for a critical marine sanctuary, even though many experts say it’s the best they could come up with; And despite all the focus on private space firms like Elon Musk’s, NASA is still the prime driver of America’s space program.

On tonight’s program: It seems some lawmakers, as well as the governor, would not only like to do away with property taxes on primary residences, but some other kinds of properties, too; After Governor DeSantis voiced approval for looser gun laws during his State of the State address this week, some bills to that effect seem to be picking up steam in the legislature; More restrictions on citizen-driven constitutional amendment votes may be in the offing this legislative session; And Florida has long had many deficiencies in its child welfare system, but the current Senate president seems determined to address them this year.

The president's contention that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional is considered a fringe view because the Supreme Court ruled to the contrary 127 years ago.

Senate to vote on GOP spending bill as government shutdown deadline looms, Trump to give speech at DOJ about law and order, judges order federal agencies to reinstate thousands of fired workers.

In a pair of rulings Thursday, judges ordered federal agencies to reinstate thousands of workers who were recently fired. In both cases, the judges said the mass firings appear illegal.

NPR asks Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, about uncertainty for federal workers amid Trump administration cuts and a looming government shutdown.

Joe Maslanka moved to Collegeville, Penn., in 1971, bought a local bar, kicked out the biker gang that hung out there and moved in upstairs. His family visited StoryCorps for a remembrance.

A storm system crossing the U.S. threatens to unleash tornadoes Friday in the Mississippi Valley, blizzards in the northern Plains and dry conditions in Texas and Oklahoma that pose a wildfire risk.

Are we more prepared to detect the start of a possible pandemic than we were in 2020? Some things have gotten better, and some worse.

President Trump revoked a 1965 executive order that required federal contractors to take steps to comply with nondiscrimination laws. Some fear women and people of color will lose opportunities.

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with the co-authors of "You Must Take Part in Revolution," a new dystopian graphic novel set in the year 2035 with the U.S. and China at war.

The U.S. resumed Ukraine military aid and intelligence sharing after Kyiv agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. Now, a U.S. delegation is heading to Moscow for talks, hoping they accept terms of the proposal.

How might layoffs at the Department of Education affect its core functions? NPR speaks with education scholar Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

NPR's Michel Martin talks about the consequences of deep cuts to foreign aid programs with three aid workers in Africa, where about a quarter of USAID funds were allocated.

For believers, the holy month is about much more than fasting. It's a time for reflection and compassion — to give to the less fortunate, gather with community to break the daily fasts, and pray.

Amid the devastation and fear in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mother reflects on one way she and her family found some joy and connection along some train tracks.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Amanda Seyfried, star of the new series Long Bright River. She plays a police officer investigating the murders of women from Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church about leading a movement to swear off shopping at Target for Lent.

Impeachment threats against judges — and sometimes physical threats to their safety — compromise the independence of the judiciary, experts warn.

A White House envoy is in Moscow Thursday to discuss the 30-day of proposed ceasefire with top Kremlin officials. President Vladimir Putin says Russia is open to the idea, but "questions" remain.

Nearly every economic sector relies on secure technology networks: retailers, airlines, hospitals and more. After a faulty software update by cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike, businesses across the globe came screeching to a halt, dragging customers with them. In this episode, the tech firm behind today’s maddening “blue screen of death.” Plus: why the Federal Reserve plans communication blackouts, a former delivery driver remembers using chickens to mark her routes, and industry upheaval threatens an Alaskan fishing community.

The number of people filing for jobless benefits in each of the last two weeks rose. That means it’s taking job seekers longer to find employment. It’s also offers mild support to those who want to see lower interest rates. Also: Who’s spending and who isn’t? And what AI means for authors and publishers.

Now’s the time of year when many families look for a new home. But it’s a seemingly impossible market for first-time buyers: high prices, high mortgage rates, high insurance, low inventory. We’ll explain how some are pulling it off and why some experts believe lower home prices and rents are in sight. Also: State and local governments have been on a hiring spree, and business inventories are up.

Retail sales numbers released today show spending was flat last month. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll see Americans spent more in June than May. What does this mean for the Federal Reserve as it considers lowering interest rates? Also: Homebuilders are feeling a little less confident, and AI is trying to read emotions. Plus, the nocturnal sprint at UPS’ one-day-shipping hub.

The economy seems to be coming in for a soft landing, and that’s a big reason banks are doing so well. Markets are up, emboldening companies to make merger deals, which they pay investment banks to execute. JPMorgan Chase just posted the highest quarterly net income for a bank in U.S. history — $18.1 billion. Also: On the eve of Amazon Prime Day, how a shipping hub handles quick turnarounds. Plus, another decline in China’s GDP, and a DJ looks back at her analog life spinning vinyl.