John Burnett

The nation's capital may be the focal point of the 250th Independence Day celebration, but people all across America have plans to mark the occasion, from boisterous public parades to quiet personal reflections on history.

Susan Bence, John Burnett, Sofi Gratas, Deena Prichep, Maayan Silver, Ryan Warner, David Wright

NPR member station reporters across the U.S. asked people how they are thinking about their country on its semiquincentennial.

Longtime public servant 'guardedly patriotic' as America turns 250

John Burnett

At age 72, Houston-area county commissioner Rodney Ellis has seen a lot of both progress and setbacks for America. He's celebrating America's birthday but has concerns about her future.

The building site for the Project Jupiter data center in Doña Ana County, New Mexico

NPR Headlines

Worries over water as a giant data center moves into the New Mexico desert

John Burnett

Developers say there's plenty of water for a giant data center in southern New Mexico. Some locals are skeptical.

Monster truck rallies are multi-million-dollar businesses

John Burnett

The spectacle of a balloon-tired pickup truck hurtling through the air in front of thousands of screaming fans has turned into a multi-million-dollar business.

Shark Attack drives on the dirt course during Monster Truck Wars on Feb. 14, 2026, in Levelland, Texas.

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Monster trucks find a big audience with little kids

John Burnett

Monster trucks are one of the fastest growing segments in family entertainment. And unlike other American motorsports, the shows are geared to small children.

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Reframing Georgia O'Keeffe's legacy and protecting the land she loved

John Burnett

Georgia O'Keeffe called the New Mexico high desert "my country," but Pueblo peoples predated her. A more complex view is emerging amid efforts to preserve the land.

Questioning Georgia O'Keefe's legacy and protecting the land in northern New Mexico

John Burnett

Georgia O'Keeffe claimed New Mexico's desert "my country." But Pueblo peoples lived on the land long before the artist arrived. There's a push for a more complex view of O'Keeffe and her time there.