
Marlin Briscoe, the 1st Black starting quarterback in the AFL, dies at 76
Marlin Briscoe, who became the first Black starting quarterback in the American Football League more than 50 years ago, died Monday. He was 76.
His daughter, Angela Marriott, told The Associated Press that Briscoe died of pneumonia at a hospital in Norwalk, California. He had been hospitalized with circulation issues in his legs.

Pelosi receives Communion in the Vatican, despite her home archbishop refusing it
ROME — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Pope Francis on Wednesday and received Communion during a papal Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, witnesses said, despite her position in support of abortion rights.
Pelosi attended the morning Mass marking the feasts of St. Peter and St. Paul, during which Francis bestowed the woolen pallium stole on newly consecrated archbishops. She was seated in a VIP diplomatic section of the basilica and received Communion along with the rest of the congregants, according to two people who witnessed the moment.

Biden is boosting U.S. troops in Europe because of Russia's war in Ukraine
MADRID — President Biden announced on Tuesday that the U.S. would enhance its military presence in Europe, including more naval destroyers stationed in Spain, two F-35 fighter jet squadrons positioned in the United Kingdom and a permanent headquarters in Poland for the U.S. 5th Army Corps.
This increased force posture comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine drags on and countries in Europe grow increasingly nervous about the war on their continent.

We asked 5 students: What inspired you to become a gun control activist?
President Joe Biden signed the first major gun reform legislation in decades on Saturday. The move came one month after a gunman in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers.

A journalist says the Philippines is shutting down her critical news site
HONOLULU — Filipino journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa announced in a speech in Hawaii Tuesday that the Philippine government is affirming a previous order to shut down Rappler, the news website she co-founded, which has gained notoriety for its reporting of President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody crackdown on illegal drugs.
The Philippines' Securities and Exchange Commission affirmed its earlier decision to revoke the certificates of incorporation of Rappler, Ressa said while speaking at the East-West Center in Honolulu.

Job cuts are rolling in. Here's who is feeling the most pain so far
The dominos are starting to fall in the U.S. economy.
As the Federal Reserve pumps the brakes on the economy, many American companies are retrenching. There is a growing fear that as the central bank aggressively hikes interest rates to fight high inflation, it could tip the U.S. economy into a recession, and executives are cutting back.

This Texas district attorney is one of dozens who have vowed not to prosecute abortion
The U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade leaves decisions about abortion access up to states, many of which have moved swiftly to limit it.

The end of Roe has implications for abortion rights around the globe
Some countries have taken unprecedented steps to expand access to abortion in recent years, but international rights groups have long warned that overturning Roe v. Wade could weaken abortion rights around the world, potentially leading some nations to adopt new restrictive laws.

What's causing inflation? One expert walks through some of the factors
Lately, it feels like every basic cost has gone up. With paychecks covering less food, gas, and housing than they used to, many Americans are getting frustrated with inflation and wondering what is going on.
Josh Bivens is the director of research for the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, and joined All Things Considered to walk through some of the issues.
Gas prices
In a recent speech that addressed record gas prices, President Joe Biden said that Exxon had, "Made more money than God this year."

Dogs are sniffing out disease in animals vital to traditions of the Blackfeet tribe
Kenneth Cook used a mallet and a chisel to crack into a pig's skull in the gravel driveway outside his home on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwestern Montana.
Cook planned to use the pig's brains in brain tanning, practiced by Indigenous people for thousands of years.