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Here are some of the NPR stories that had a big impact in 2025

A sampling of the stories NPR staff believe made some of the deepest ripples this year — reminders of what rigorous, compassionate journalism can do, and why the work remains as urgent as ever.

A sign advertises COVID-19 antibody tests for first responders at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y. There and across the country, individuals are urged to practice proper hygiene and social distancing.

Northeast: Coronavirus-Related Restrictions By State

Get the latest on coronavirus-related restrictions in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Who's Bill This Time?

Bill Kurtis reads three quotes from the week's news: Leave the gun, take the baklava; Extreme Makeover: GOP; Who's the Dodo now?

President Trump meets with congressional leaders in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 6. The deadline to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling is coming up on Dec. 8.

Week Ahead: The Stakes Are About To Get Really High For Republicans

Shutdown and debt ceiling deadlines are fast approaching four days before the Alabama Senate election, and Republicans are trying to pass a tax plan by Christmas.

A house is surrounded by flood water in Lumberton, N.C., on Monday.

Florence Death Toll Rises To 32 As Rivers Continue To Flood In N.C. And S.C.

A toddler's body was recovered on Monday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said. Moody's Analytics estimates the cost of now-Post-Tropical Cyclone Florence's damage at $17 billion to $22 billion.

Coal miners return to work near St. Clairsville, Ohio, after a month's shutdown during union contract negotiations in May 1941. For decades, coal has fueled the economy in Belmont County, where St. Clairsville is located, and beyond.

In Ohio Coal Country, Job Prospects Lie With Neither Coal Nor Trump's Promises

Donald Trump has made huge promises for creating coal jobs. Not many really think he can deliver. Instead, hopes are high for a new plant in Ohio that converts natural gas into plastic pellets.

In rugged, rural areas, patients often have little choice about how they'll get to the hospital in an emergency. "The presence of private equity in the air ambulance industry indicates that investors see profit opportunities," a 2017 report from the federal Government Accountability Office notes.

Wyoming Wants To Use Medicaid To Reduce Air Ambulance Bills For All Patients

Frustrated with sky-high bills from air ambulance companies, Wyoming hopes to hammer down those charges with more regulation. The companies say such a proposal undermines free enterprise.

COVID-19 Morning Report

State health officials reported 3,924 new COVID-19 cases, Monday, for a total of 847,821 cases. The Florida Department of Health also reported 58 new coronavirus-related deaths, Nov. 9, increasing the statewide death toll to 17,391 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.

Susie Christoff tried several drugs to cope with her painful psoriatic arthritis before finding Cosentyx worked the best. The problem was the cost.

Why The U.S. Remains The Most Expensive Market For 'Biologic' Drugs In The World

Biologic drugs, often made with the help of living organisms, are especially lucrative because they have scant competition from biosimilars, drugs akin to generics. It's a different story in Europe.

Sharlene Adams rode three buses to get to an East Baltimore medical supply store.

When Getting A Blood Pressure Cuff Takes All Day

Sharlene Adams has hypertension but no car, computer or credit card. Insurance will pay for a blood pressure cuff, but the many small hurdles in her life make getting one a time-consuming ordeal.

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