The second installment in the Lord of the Rings story opens in movie theaters Wednesday. Frodo and Gandalf are back in The Two Towers, and NPR's Bob Mondello has a review.
Bob Mondello, who jokes that he was a jinx at the beginning of his critical career — hired to write for every small paper that ever folded in Washington, just as it was about to collapse — saw that jinx broken in 1984 when he came to NPR.
Arizona lawmakers voted to repeal the Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions — leaving the state with a 15-week ban and highlighting the fierce debates taking place state by state.
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, and investors now think borrowing costs could stay higher for months to come. Inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed's 2% target.
Israeli settlers tried to block a new aid route into Gaza. The incident was a setback for Blinken, who was trying to highlight progress in getting Palestinians food and supplies to stave off famine.