--:-- Ryland Barton: Support for NPR and the following message come from Indeed. You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed. Claim your $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com slash NPR. Terms and conditions apply.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.
--:-- Ryland Barton: The Trump administration has begun mass firings of federal workers during the government shutdown. The White House says about 4,200 employees across seven agencies are receiving reduction in force, or RIF notices, as NPR's Stephen Fowler explains.
--:-- Stephen Fowler: An OMB spokesperson not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that the process was starting and that it would be, quote, substantial. But we don't really know what that means.
--:-- Stephen Fowler: Now, NPR's seen screenshots of notifications at places like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Housing and Urban Development, saying there will be rifts.
--:-- Stephen Fowler: Some unions representing employees at agencies like the education department say they've also been told layoffs are coming.
--:-- Stephen Fowler: NPR's Stephen Fowler reporting.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Stocks tumbled after President Trump took to social media today to say he was considering a massive increase of tariffs on Chinese goods.
--:-- Ryland Barton: The S 500 sank 2 percent in its worst day since April.
--:-- Ryland Barton: After markets closed Trump said he would place a 100 percent tax on Chinese imports by November 1st.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Trump is upset at restrictions China placed on exports of its rare earth materials, which are critical to modern electronics.
--:-- Ryland Barton: The Trump administration has made a second deal with a drug maker to lower its prices for Americans.
--:-- Ryland Barton: NPR's Sidney Lupkin reports this time it's British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.
--:-- Sidney Lupkin: AstraZeneca will give lower prices to Medicaid and offer some of its prescription drugs directly to consumers at a discount.
--:-- Sidney Lupkin: The company says those prices would be up to 80% less than its list prices.
--:-- Sidney Lupkin: In return, AstraZeneca will get a three-year exemption from certain tariffs.
--:-- Sidney Lupkin: This is part of the Trump administration's wider initiative to bring American drug prices more in line with those paid in other developed countries.
--:-- Sidney Lupkin: The White House's first deal was with Pfizer and was announced last month.
--:-- Sidney Lupkin: The administration is also setting up a website called TrumpRx to help patients find drug makers selling drugs directly to patients at lower prices, bypassing health insurance.
--:-- Sidney Lupkin: Sydney Lupkin, NPR News.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Unease is mounting ahead of the Chicago Marathon amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the city.
--:-- Ryland Barton: The race on Sunday draws thousands from around the world and is a major tourism draw.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Organizers sent an email to participants referring to a Know Your Rights page on the city website.
--:-- Ryland Barton: An ICE spokesperson said rumors that agents will be at the race are false.
--:-- Ryland Barton: The main road on Gaza Mediterranean coast was clogged with Palestinians hauling their belongings home as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire formally took effect today.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Much of Gaza City was destroyed by the Israeli military.
--:-- Ryland Barton: As NPR's Greg Myrie explains, people are just starting to figure out where they're going to live.
--:-- Greg Myre: Roughly 90 percent of the homes have been damaged or destroyed and entire neighborhoods are just dust-covered piles of broken concrete and twisted rebar.
--:-- Greg Myre: Many residents will likely be living in tents for years to come, but at least for a day, the focus was on just making it home.
--:-- Greg Myre: That's Greg Myre.
--:-- Ryland Barton: This is NPR.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Officials say they're searching for 19 people feared dead after an explosives manufacturer in Tennessee blew up.
--:-- Ryland Barton: The cause of the explosion is unknown.
--:-- Ryland Barton: It took place about 60 miles southwest of Nashville.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Dating today has largely moved to apps, but one small Irish town is attracting those looking for love the old-fashioned way.
--:-- Ryland Barton: NPR's Rebecca Rossman reports on one of the world's largest matchmaking festivals going strong for 150 years.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: The tradition started when farmers would finish the harvest and come here looking for wives.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: These days, thousands still show up.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: There are DJs, live bands, and plenty of Irish jiving, which is kind of like Ireland's version of the Lindy Hop.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: Here's how it works: for about $20, you can fill out a matchmaking questionnaire, your hobbies, your hopes, what you're looking for.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: Willie Daly, the third-generation matchmaker who's been running the show for half a century, listens, takes a few notes, and invites you to place your hands on his famous matchmaking ledger, a book passed down from his great-grandfather.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: He swears that if you touch it and think happy thoughts, you'll be married within six Irish months, which he admits could mean anything from six days to six years.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: Daly says he's matched more than 3,000 couples over the years.
--:-- Rebecca Rossman: NPR's Rebecca Rossman reporting.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Layla's Hair Museum has attracted visitors to the Kansas City suburb of Independence for about 30 years, but now an exhibit featuring wreaths made of human hair and watch bands made from the locks of the dead is headed to museums around the country.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Displays include strands of hair purported to come from past presidents and even Jesus.
--:-- Ryland Barton: I'm Ryland Barton.
--:-- Ryland Barton: This is NPR News from Washington.
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