L. Carol Ritchie

Farewell, fair penny. You are finished, but never forgotten

L. Carol Ritchie

This tiny disc of zinc with just a smidge of copper has played an outsized role in our national (and international) discourse. The U.S. Mint ended production of the one-cent coin last week.

NPR Headlines

If we're being truthful, people are saying 'honestly' all the time

L. Carol Ritchie

The popularity of the word honestly online and in conversation has soared in recent years. TBH, we'd like to know what's going on.

Workers on the street Tuesday examine a home that exploded in Arlington, Va., on Monday night.

NPR Headlines

Police ID suspect in Arlington, Va., house explosion: Here's what to know

Emily Olson, L. Carol Ritchie, Vanessa Romo

Arlington officials identified James Yoo as the suspect involved in the massive Monday night explosion. Police say he is presumed dead as they investigate what caused the home to go up in flames.

A screenshot of the AirNow database shows the impact of smoke from Canadian wildfires on Wednesday.

NPR Headlines

Detroit, Chicago and the Midwest blanketed by wildfire haze from Canada

Joe Hernandez, Rachel Treisman, L. Carol Ritchie, Emily Olson

Smoke from Canadian wildfires is smothering U.S. cities like Detroit, Chicago and Pittsburgh. Air quality warnings are in effect across the Midwest as officials warn of hazardous conditions.

Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves bats against the Houston Astros during Game Five of the World Series in October.

NPR Headlines

Baseball owners lock players out after their bargaining agreement expires

L. Carol Ritchie

Major League Baseball owners and players failed to reach a deal on a new work agreement, triggering a lockout — the owners' version of a strike.

NPR Headlines

On International Tongue Twister Day, test out these tried, true and tricky ones

L. Carol Ritchie, Tien Le

We challenge you to say what the Guinness World Records once called the most difficult English-language tongue twister: "The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick."

Passengers sleep on the upper deck of a double-decker bus in Hong Kong on Saturday.

New Hong Kong bus tour is meant to put people to sleep

L. Carol Ritchie

The Sleeping Bus Tour is a 5-hour, 47-mile ride to nowhere on a double-decker bus. It's designed for people who are easily put to sleep on moving vehicles. Passengers can bring pillows and blankets.