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Episode Date: September 28, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. British Police Sunday arrested five men near an Air Force base being used on a limited basis by the US in its war on Iran. The five are being held on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism. Chief Constable Maggie Blythe says that while dozens of homes near the base remain evacuated, the situation there is now returning to normal. Again, can't go into details, but I can give reassurance that we believe the matter to be contained. And as a set of agencies working together across Gloucestershire, we're gathering and responding to local intelligence all the time.

Explosives teams are now examining three vehicles located near the base. Diesel prices have slipped a little, but the war in Iran continues to strain the nation's fuel supplies, as NPR's Windsor-Johnston reports. The concern now is how long higher costs could be working their way into household bills. Farmers in many parts of the country are still paying much more to run combines, tractors, and trucks during the fall harvest. Higher fuel costs can move through the food supply chain and the pressure may last. Diesel and home heating oil draw on the same tight fuel supply as winter approaches. Some shipping costs are set by contractors, so shoppers may not see the full effect right away.

U.S. fuel inventories are low, leaving little cushion if supplies are disrupted again. That's why a modest drop in diesel prices offers only limited relief. The Trump administration has discussed expanding U.S. refining capacity, but has not announced an immediate measure to lower prices. Windsor Johnston, NPR News. The White House has told Congress it plans to cancel $810 million in health care and educational-related programs. As NPR's Mar-Eliason reports, at least one prominent Republican isn't happy with that announcements. In a statement on X, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins said the move,

known as a pocket rescission, is unlawful. Collins, an incumbent Republican from Maine running for re-election, also said that the recisions were intended to, quote, undermine Congress's constitutional power of the purse. Regardless of how this separation of powers dispute is resolved, there are other cuts to social safety net programs that were in the one big, beautiful bill that are just now kicking in, and they're hurting people who depend on Medicaid and food assistance. That's another reason, along with higher prices at the pump or 7% mortgages, that voters say they are angry and economically stressed,

A bad sign for the incumbent party just weeks away from the election. Mara Liason, NPR News. That powerful nor'easter off the east coast is continuing to cause flooding and low-lying areas of New York and New Jersey at this hour. Power has also been knocked out to thousands of homes in New England and at least one death has been linked to the storm. There's better news out west, though, where Hurricane Nolo is moving away from the Hawaiian Islands after leaving relatively little damage. You're listening to NPR News. There will be music again in Cleveland. Musicians at the Cleveland Orchestra went on strike Friday, demanding better compensation and a voice in auditions.

The musicians union announced a New Deal Sunday afternoon, one they say includes better pay, a role in auditions, and improved safety measures. The orchestra is now expected to go ahead with a planned European tour. An updated version of the Golden Age musical Damn Yankees is coming to Broadway in the spring. The production, which stars Neil Patrick Harris and Julian Huff, was announced Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Jeff London has more. The Yankees game was rained out, but in the press room where manager Aaron Boone normally meets reporters, a bunch of Broadway folk gathered for a different kind of press conference. Neil Patrick Harris will be playing Applegate, the Faustian character who transforms a middle-aged Baltimore fan,

into a young baseball star so his team can beat the Yankees. Playing someone that's devilish is always good. It's always fun to be annoying. Some of the outdated aspects of the show have been rewritten, and Major League Baseball and MLB Studios are co-producers. Dam Yankees begins performances in March, and its opening day is in April. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

Police in Colombia say they've captured the wife and daughter of Ecuador and gang leader Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar. He was extradited to the U.S. last year on drug trafficking charges. Police say the two women are wanted in Ecuador to face money laundering charges. They were arrested in an operation that was backed by the FBI. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.