Jefferson Public Radio

The Justice Department released a memo this week that quietly calls into question decades of civil rights protections for Americans with disabilities and stirred fear and anger among advocates and families. The memo, an opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel, argues that states do not have to provide in-home or community-based care to people with disabilities who need support.

Updated June 20, 2026 at 11:37 AM PDT Iran's military said it has closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel's latest strikes in Lebanon, even as Iranian and U.S. negotiators prepare to meet Sunday in Switzerland for talks. The U.S. military, meanwhile, denied the claim that the strait was closed, leaving a key piece of the freshly signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries up in the air.

The much anticipated summer movie Toy Story 5 features a battle between toys and tech — a plot likely to resonate with parents who see the pull of digital devices in their kids' lives, especially during the summer. And that's not just a parental perception: Research clearly shows that screen time goes up dramatically during the summer.

Updated June 20, 2026 at 8:26 AM PDT TYRE, Lebanon — Iran dealt two quick blows to the interim agreement with the United States on Saturday, angered by Israel's continued attacks in Lebanon, saying it had closed the Strait of Hormuz and announcing that while its negotiators were going to Switzerland for talks, not much is likely to happen there.

Just about every Saturday, Ulises Parias drives two hours to visit his father, Carlitos Ricardo "Richard" Parias, at the Adelanto Detention Center in California. They talk on the phone regularly. Parias tells his father about his 16-year-old sister and about his college classes. Occasionally, his dad's health comes up: his left arm hurts and he gets headaches, fevers and blurry vision.

Judy Blume is the legendary writer of books for young adults including Are You There God It's Me Margaret, Deenie, Tiger Eyes, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Blubber. Her last book, 2015's In The Unlikely Event, was published more than a decade ago. Blume now spends her time reading children's books behind the counter at her bookstore in Key West, Florida. Though she says she is done writing, her books remain beloved; her readers numerous and devoted.

Summer has traditionally been the time that wildfires come into focus in California, but that risk has now grown into a year-round threat. This reality is fueling an alarmingly-strained insurance market, with companies declining to provide new fire coverage or renew existing policies.

To improve school attendance in a state with one of the nation’s highest absenteeism rates, Oregon education officials on Tuesday presented lawmakers with a plan to repeal existing attendance laws.

Nkokonjeru, Central Uganda — Sister Jane Frances Nakafeero walks purposefully between rows of white crosses adorned with pink and yellow flowers in a cemetery at the Little Sisters of St. Francis convent in Nkokonjeru, Uganda. She pauses, pointing at one of the simple graves. "This one was a nurse," says Nakafeero. A few steps later. "This one was a teacher. This one was a social worker. This one was a doctor." A breeze blows softly between the headstones.

PATERSON, NJ– It was a sweltering Saturday evening in Passaic County, in Northern New Jersey, when a team of about 60 kids took to the soccer field, flushed and dripping sweat. For these young athletes training just a short commute from the FIFA NY/NJ Stadium, the sport is an outlet for big dreams and big emotions. "I'm telling you, without soccer the world has no meaning," said Taim Nadin, during a quick water break. "Without soccer in life there's nothing.