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Economist Announcer
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Jeanine Herbst
Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Around the country, large crowds of Americans took to the streets to march in the more than 2,500 no Kings rallies permitted protesting the policies of the Trump administration, including the nation's Capitol. And Cameron Sanchez from member station KJZZ reports on a rally that was held in Tempe, Arizona.
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Cameron Sanchez
Many at the protest carried signs with images of frogs, an anti Trump symbol inspired by protesters donning frog costumes in Portland. Jim Cottam says he's protesting for the first time in his life. He he's a registered Republican, but says he considers himself an independent now.
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Jim Cottam
I'm definitely for controlled immigration, but not for pulling people off the street and out of their homes. I thought he was going after criminals, not just the average person.
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Cameron Sanchez
Other protesters voiced frustrations over Trump's effort to cut federal programs and worries about losing free speech protections, as well as more anger over immigration policy. The Tempe protest was one of dozens across the state. For NPR News, I'm Cameron Sanchez in Tempe.
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Jeanine Herbst
In Alaska, a major evacuation continues of people from remote southwestern coastal villages devastated by flooding from a typhoon last week. They're being transferred to Anchorage. Dozens of homes were swept away, some with people inside. Many people left, but others remain and stay with what's left of their homes. Governor Mike Dunleavy is touring the hard hit areas. He says Quigg is in better shape than Kipnock.
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Governor Mike Dunleavy
Kipnock needs a lot of work. We're going to go out and assess which houses can be salvageable, meaning get them back up on their foundation, deal with insulation issues, make sure the electricity is up and running.
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Jeanine Herbst
He says many of the more than 1,000 people displaced won't be able to go home for at least a year and a half. He's asking the White House for a major disaster declaration. Americans are paying a lot more these days for everything, including health care. Most working adults get their health insurance through their employers, and prices for those plans are surging. But as NPR's Maria Aspen reports, some lucky workers don't pay anything up front.
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Maria Aspen
Last year, the average employer paid more than $19,000 in premiums per worker for a family health insurance plan. That's according to the health policy nonprofit kff. Employers don't have a lot of control over these costs, but they do control how much of them they pass on to workers and some aren't passing any on. That can cost employers a lot of money. But companies that do this, like Boston Consulting Group, say it's worth the investment. Alicia Pittman is BCG's chief people officer.
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Alicia Pittman
Healthy employees make for a productive workforce and also a place where our teams want to come to work every day.
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Maria Aspen
And what's good for employees is ultimately also good for their employer. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.
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Jeanine Herbst
And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Disgraced former Republican New York Congressman George Santos was released from prison last night after serving less than three months of his seven year sentence for fraud. President Trump commuted his sentence yesterday. On social media, Trump wrote he thinks Santos sentence was excessive and he contrasted him with Democrats. The 37 year old pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. But while the commutation cuts short his sentence, it doesn't wipe out his conviction, but but he doesn't have to repay the $370,000 in court ordered restitution to his victims. A strike of Broadway actors and stage managers has been averted after a deal has been reached over health care. NPR Chandelyse Duster has more.
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Chandelyse Duster
The Actors Equity association, which represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers, says a tentative agreement has been reached with the Broadway League, representing theater owners and producers, to extend a health equity fund. The union's executive Director, Al Vincent Jun Jr says that the three year agreement saves the health fund. It also makes progress toward, quote, our other priorities, including scheduling and physical therapy access. The Broadway League says the health fund receives millions of dollars each year from Broadway production grosses. That adds to the total benefits contributions of the health fund. The union says it will bring the deal to its members for ratification. Broadway musicians are also in talks over wage increases, work rules and health care. Chandeliese Duster, NPR News.
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Jeanine Herbst
And I'm Jeanine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
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