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Nature Conservancy
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Korva Coleman
In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The Vatican says that Roman Catholic cardinals have now set the date for this weekend for Pope Francis funeral. The pontiff died yesterday of a stroke and cardiac problems. And NPR's Ruth Sherlock says there will be several days of mourning for Pope Francis.
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Ruth Sherlock
His body will be moved to St. Peter's Basilica where people could come to see him from Wednesday. Previous popes were placed in these three nested coffins standing on an elevated bier for the public viewing. But Francis has ordered that he'll be put in a single wooden coffin, and it's going to be positioned facing the church pews. His funeral will be Saturday. Of course, many people will come from all around the world, including President Trump.
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Korva Coleman
NPR's Ruth Sherlock reporting from Rome. The Roman Catholic cardinals will hold a conclave within 15 to 20 days of the pope's death. They will select the next pontiff. The cardinals often vote in several rounds over several days before making the selection. The US Supreme Court returns to a controversial cultural issue. Today the justices will hear a case involving parents of school children. At issue is whether school systems must allow parents to opt out their children from certain classes because the curriculum is offensive to the parents religious views NPR's Nina Totenberg has.
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Nina Totenberg
At issue is how much opting out is permissible, required or desirable in public schools. Until now, the course curriculum in public schools at all levels has largely been determined by school boards, and the lower courts, for the most part, have deferred to those judgments. But parents in today's case from Montgomery County, Maryland, contend that they're entitled to opt their children out of classes because some of the subject matter, namely storybooks about LGBTQ kids and parents, violate their religious rights. The county school board initially allowed such opt outs, but found that the system proved too disruptive and difficult to be workable. A group of parents are now asking the Supreme Court to require the opt outs. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.
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Korva Coleman
The U.S. department of Education says that it will again start collecting payments from student borrowers who have loans that are in default. NPR Snacky Mehta reports. Collections will resume on May 5th.
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Janaki Mehta
During the pandemic, the Biden administration introduced a series of measures that gave students wiggle room on federal student loan payments. The reprieve was never permanent. Now the Trump administration says the Education Department will begin collections. Next month, it could also begin garnishing wages from borrowers, meaning a portion of their paycheck would automatically be sent to the federal government. Linda McMahon, the education secretary, says, quote, american taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies. Policies about 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.
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Korva Coleman
On Wall street, in premarket trading, Dow futures are up 300 points. It's NPR. Officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement refused an urgent request from a former Columbia University graduate student to be with his wife in labor. ICE denied the request by Mahmoud Khalil. His wife delivered their son yesterday in New York. The Trump administration is trying to deport Khalil. His lawyers say his arrest and detention in Louisiana is unconstitutional. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's open to direct bilateral talks with Ukraine. This is the first time this has happened since the early days of the war. The statement came as Putin faces growing pressure from the Trump administration to make progress on peace efforts in Ukraine. NPR's Charles Mainz reports from Moscow.
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Charles Maynes
Speaking on state television, Putin said Russia had always looked positively on any peace initiatives and hoped representatives in Kyiv felt the same. The Kremlin later clarified Putin was expressing willingness to engage in direct talks with Ukraine about halting attacks on civilian targets. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, later responded Kyiv was open to any discussions that saves the lives of civilians. Putin's offer follows a unilateral Easter Day ceasefire proposal both sides accused the other of violating. It also comes amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration has threatened to walk away from efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict if there's no progress towards a peace settlement. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.
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Korva Coleman
The Department of Homeland Security says a thief stole the purse of Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday night. She was at a Washington restaurant having dinner with her family. Noem has lost her passport, agency badge and about $3,000 in cash. This is NPR.
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Nature Conservancy
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