U.S. News and National Top Stories NPR coverage of national news, U.S. politics, elections, business, arts, culture, health and science, and technology. Subscribe to the NPR Nation RSS feed.

Thursday

Beachgoers flocked to Orange County seashores on Sunday, as pictured here in Huntington Beach. An order announced Thursday, by California Gov. Gavin Newsom will prohibit people from visiting any beaches or state parks in Orange County. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Andom Yosef, 38, works at Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in South Dakota, one of the countrys largest known coronavirus clusters. Yosef tested positive for COVID-19. Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

Federal Stay-At-Home Guidance Ends; A Potential New Test For COVID-19

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/848279255/1200113139" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

An empty New York Subway car is seen on March 23, 2020 in New York City. The city will soon be halting subway service each night to disinfect for the coronavirus. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah has been closed to visitors since early April. Peter Densmore/National Park Service hide caption

toggle caption
Peter Densmore/National Park Service

Though Closed To The Public, Bryce Canyon Still Teems With Life

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/848009686/848551894" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Mayor Nan Whaley says Dayton, Ohio, hasn't seen any federal coronavirus relief funding, and the city has been forced to make critical cuts to public services. Daniel Sewell/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Daniel Sewell/AP

Without Federal Funding, Ohio Mayor Faces 'Very Painful' Cuts To Services

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/848664259/848666658" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a news conference at the White House on April 16. Chris Kleponis/Polaris/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Chris Kleponis/Polaris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Hurricane Dorian hit Marsh Harbour on Abaco in the Bahamas particularly hard. This October 2019 photo shows how the storm's powerful winds and storm surge obliterated the island's largest city. Russell Lewis/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Russell Lewis/NPR

Navy medical and support personnel staff the USNS Mercy, but the hospital ship belongs to the Navy's Military Sealift Command and is run by a crew of civilian mariners. The ship headed to the Port of Los Angeles on March 23 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mike Blake/Reuters hide caption

toggle caption
Mike Blake/Reuters

Civilian Mariners Say Strict Navy Coronavirus Restrictions Are Unfair

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/847878423/848205832" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

A sign alerting customers about SNAP food stamps benefits is displayed at a Brooklyn grocery store in December 2019. Scott Heins/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Scott Heins/Getty Images

Coronavirus Pandemic Complicates Getting Groceries With SNAP

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/844361467/849927791" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., at a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Charlotte, N.C in March, shortly before the coronavirus led to a suspension of in-person campaigning. Mike McCarn/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Mike McCarn/AP

Virus Outbreak Poses Political Challenge For Republican In Key Senate Race

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/847906325/848666676" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

A woman gets a novel coronavirus test in Los Angeles earlier this month. The City of Los Angeles, in partnership with Los Angeles County, will offer free coronavirus testing to all residents regardless of whether they have symptoms. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP