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--:-- Host: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Local authorities in Chicago say they arrested 21 people this morning during a protest outside an ICE facility. As NPR's Martin Costi reports, it's been the scene of frequent protests as the administration ramped up immigration enforcement in the area.
--:-- Martin Costi: Since the start of Operation Midway Blitz in September, protesters have gathered outside an ICE holding facility near Chicago. On this particular morning, a group of those protesters, some identifying as clergy, reportedly surged past a security barrier, triggering a shoving match with Cook County Sheriff's deputies and state police, as well as arrests.
--:-- Martin Costi: The holding facility is the target of a lawsuit alleging inhumane conditions. People held on immigration violations describe overcrowding and insufficient food and medical care. Earlier this week, a federal judge ordered hundreds of immigration detainees let go on bond and monitored release, but the federal government still has a week to comply.
--:-- Martin Costi: NPR News.
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--:-- Host: From member station WFYI, Ben Thorpe reports.
--:-- Ben Thorpe: In Indiana lawmakers have rejected calls to redraw congressional maps that would favor Republicans in next year's midterm elections. They say there were not enough votes to address the issue.
--:-- Ben Thorpe: The announcement comes after months of pressure from President Donald Trump to draw maps that could eliminate the two Democratic congressional seats in Indiana.
--:-- Ben Thorpe: State lawmakers had initially planned to address redistricting during the first two weeks of December. But a growing number of Republican state senators have voiced opposition in the last week.
--:-- Ben Thorpe: Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Roderick Bray said there were not enough votes to move the idea forward.
--:-- Ben Thorpe: Indiana Governor Mike Braun responded to the Senate's decision by urging lawmakers to convene.
--:-- Ben Thorpe: Braun said in a statement, "Our state senators need to do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps."
--:-- Ben Thorpe: For NPR News, I'm Ben Thorpe in Indianapolis.
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--:-- Host: President Trump is dropping tariffs on several commodities, including beef, coffee, and tropical fruits.
--:-- Host: It comes after voters cited economic concerns as their top issue during elections earlier this month, resulting in big wins for Democrats.
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--:-- Host: Disruptions to federal research funding are causing many young American scientists to reconsider their career choices.
--:-- Host: NPR John Hamilton has more from the Society for Neuroscience gathering in San Diego.
--:-- John Hamilton: About 20 brain scientists are expected to attend this year's meeting. Usually, they discuss topics like the brain circuitry involved in Alzheimer's disease.
--:-- John Hamilton: But a prominent topic at this year's meeting is cuts and disruptions at agencies, including the National Institutes of Health.
--:-- John Hamilton: John Morrison of the University of California, Davis, is the society's president.
--:-- John Morrison: The U.S. has been a world leader in research for decades, and that leadership position is now at risk.
--:-- John Morrison: Morrison says many young scientists no longer see a path to a career in research.
--:-- John Morrison: If they choose other fields, he says, it will slow efforts to treat diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and schizophrenia.
--:-- John Hamilton: For NPR News, I'm John Hamilton.
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--:-- Host: It's NPR. Three Chinese astronauts have returned from their nation's space station after a nine-day delay.
--:-- Host: It was caused by tiny cracks in their return capsule, likely caused by space debris.
--:-- Host: Their 204-day stay was the longest for any astronaut at China's space station.
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--:-- Host: Ukrainian forces say they are holding on to a key city in eastern Ukraine, even as Russian forces say they're closing in nearly two years after they first launched their fight to occupy it.
--:-- Host: NPR Joanna Kakissis reports that both Ukraine and Russia see the battle as key to shaping narratives about who's winning the war.
--:-- Joanna Kakissis: NPR spoke to four Ukrainian brigades whose soldiers are defending the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a city which Russian attacks have largely destroyed.
--:-- Joanna Kakissis: Small groups of Russian troops have infiltrated the city, leading to intense street battles.
--:-- Joanna Kakissis: Volodymyr Polovyi is with Ukraine's 7th Rapid Response Corps.
--:-- Volodymyr Polovyi: The brigades are really exhausted. The enemy has changed its tactic. We have the infiltration of infantry groups and they are covered by swarms of drones.
--:-- Joanna Kakissis: Russia is also using an elite drone unit called Rubicon, which hunts down Ukrainian drone operators.
--:-- Joanna Kakissis: For NPR News, I'm Joanna Kakissis in Kiev.
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--:-- Host: What is thought to be the world's largest known spider's web has been discovered in a cave on the Albanian-Greek border.
--:-- Host: Researchers published their findings in the journal Subterranean Biology of two different spider species peacefully cohabitating in the giant colony nestled in the pitch-black cave.
--:-- Host: I'm Ryland Barton. This is NPR News.
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--:-- Host: Support for NPR and the following message come from Indeed. Hiring? Do it the right way with Indeed's Sponsored Jobs. Claim a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com slash NPR. Terms and conditions apply.
