Ryland Barton

New population estimates show that U.S.

growth in metro areas slowed sharply as immigration dropped and hurricanes pushed people out of some Gulf Coast counties.

The Census Bureau reports that the average metro growth rate fell from 1.1 percent in 2024 to 0.6 percent in 2025.

Metro areas along the U.S.-Mexico border saw the steepest declines as the number of immigrants fell.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Louisiana officials warn that the state's $300 million crawfish industry is facing dire straits because of a shortage of seasonal workers.

The state ag department says at least 15 of the state's 20 processors received none of the H-2B workers they applied for.

The Department of Homeland Security released the visas so late that crawfish season had already begun.

Louisiana congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle are pressing the Trump administration for a solution.

Scientists have gotten an unprecedented look at the birth of a sperm whale.

And as NPR's Nate Rott reports, they found it involves a surprising amount of teamwork.

Cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom here in Washington, D.C.

The National Park Service says 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossoms are open, but it only lasts for a few days.

Most of the trees are located in the tidal basin, but parts of it are fenced off for seawall repairs.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.

President Trump says he's declaring a national emergency to pay TSA agents who've been working without pay during the 41-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

Congress has been deadlocked in a funding fight as wait times drag on at airports.

Up to 40 to 50 percent of TSA employees at some airports have called out of work.

More than 480 TSA agents have quit.