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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. President Trump fired independent watchdogs, or inspectors general, at several federal agencies late last night, this according to multiple media reports. NIG's role is to hold a federal agency accountable for its actions. NPR's Ron Elving has more.
Trump sent firing notices to a dozen of these last night, some of whom are people he himself appointed in his first term. And it's unclear what the legal effect of this will be. As the law says, Congress has to get 30 days notice in advance. And obviously that didn't happen.
Empires Ron Elving reporting. Multiple evangelical Christian organizations are urging the Trump administration to reconsider some of its immigration-related initiatives. Empires Jason DeRose reports the faith groups say the policies disrespect religious freedom.
The group Evangelical Immigration Table describes itself as a coalition of Christian organizations that advocates for immigration reform consistent with biblical values. In a letter sent to the Trump administration, it says two policies in particular are troubling. First is the end of longstanding guidance that prevents immigration officers from entering sensitive locations, such as churches.
The other is the suspension of the refugee admissions program, which limits the U.S. 's ability to offer, according to the letter, protection for people seeking to enter the country in order to practice their faith freely. The letter was signed by, among others, the National Association of Evangelicals and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Jason DeRose, NPR News.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has invited President Trump to address Congress on March 4. The speech would be Trump's first address to a joint session in his second term. In his letter, Johnson thanked Trump for his, quote, strong leadership and bold action in the first days of his second administration, saying America's golden age has begun. The White House hasn't responded yet.
Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers who had been held captive for more than 15 months in Gaza. NPR's Greg Myrie has more.
Hamas presented this highly orchestrated handover. The four Israeli women, dressed in olive military uniforms and oddly wearing lanyards, were paraded onto an outdoor stage in the center of Gaza City. Now, they were surrounded at all times by Hamas fighters dressed head to toe in black, including balaclavas. They also wore their green headbands and carried automatic rifles.
The women waved to the Palestinian crowd, and then they were presented to the Red Cross, which drove them a short distance to the Israeli military.
NPR's Greg Myhre reporting. And as part of the ceasefire deal that went into effect last weekend, Israel then released 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The first phase of the ceasefire lasts six weeks, and then the hard question starts, including the two sides negotiating when Israeli troops leave Gaza. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.
Researchers say flying reptiles known as pterosaurs may have been hunted by ancestors of crocodiles millions of years ago. And Pierce Jonathan Lambert reports, pterosaurs were among the largest flying creatures that ever lived, with wingspans as wide as a fighter jet.
The lives of pterosaurs are still somewhat mysterious. Despite their gargantuan size, pterosaur bones were actually quite fragile, and so fossils are rare. But one fossil that popped up in Alberta, Canada, the neck vertebrae of a juvenile pterosaur, is giving researchers a window into these flying reptiles' ancient lives.
The bone had bite marks that matched the teeth of a crocodilian species that lived at the same time around 76 million years ago. The find, published in the Journal of Paleontology, might be evidence of an ancient fight or that the crocodilian ate the pterosaur after it died. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.
Automaker Kia is recalling more than 80,000 Niro vehicles because of an issue that could prevent the seatbelts and the airbags from working properly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says frequent adjustments to the front passenger seat could damage the wiring that's beneath the seat. that controls critical features including seatbelts and airbags.
The automaker's recall affects Nero vehicles that were made from 2022 to 2024 and that are equipped with a manual front seat. Nissa says so far there have been no reports of crashes, injuries, deaths or fires. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from Bombas. Their slippers are designed with cushioning, so every step feels marshmallow-y soft.
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