NPR News: 02-09-2026 9PM EST
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. A federal court has blocked a new California law aimed at forcing ICE agents to take off their masks. But as NPR's Martin Costi reports, a state mask ban may still be possible.
California passed the No Secret Police Act last fall, and it applied to all police, with the exception of certain state agencies such as Highway Patrol. That was the law's fatal flaw. The administration sued, saying it discriminated between state and federal officers. And the court agreed. The law's sponsor, State Senator Scott Weiner, says he's already introduced a bill to fix it by adding the state police back in. And he draws hope from another part of the ruling. Here we have a federal judge ruling that face masks are not part of law enforcement. Face masks have never been part of law enforcement. The judge also let stand state law that requires federal officers to identify themselves clearly. Martin Koste, NPR News.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs much of the West Bank, used to pay the families of Palestinians killed or injured by Israeli soldiers or imprisoned in Israel. But now, as NPR's Emily Fang reports, it's fully stopped the payment system.
Israel has long criticized this payment system, arguing it incentivizes violence against Israel. And under pressure to reform, the Palestinian Authority, or the PA, stopped the payments. And while countries like the U.S.
What legal challenges has California faced regarding ICE agents' mask policies?
and Israel support this, the move has caused widespread outrage among Palestinians. Jamal al-Khafri's son was held in an Israeli prison for 23 months without charges. He once would have gotten money from the PA, but they told him this time to apply for welfare instead. Al-Khafri said he refused to, calling it an insult to his dignity, he says. Emily Fang, NPR News.
New research suggests a little mental exercise can reduce the risk of dementia for at least 20 years. NPR's John Hamilton reports on a study in the Alzheimer's and Dementia Journal.
The study used Medicare records to track more than 2,800 people who took part in a brain training experiment that started in 1998. Marilyn Albert of Johns Hopkins University says participants who did something called cognitive speed training were about 25% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.
The fact that it's lasted and had an impact over 20 years is astonishing.
The people who got long-term protection completed about 10 hours of speed training, then got booster sessions many months later. Speed training is designed to help people acquire automatic skills, like riding a bike. John Hamilton, NPR News.
U.S. downhill skier Lindsey Vonn says her recently torn ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with the crash yesterday that broke her leg and ended her Olympic run. The 41-year-old says despite the pain, she has no regrets, and that, quote, if you take away anything from my journey, it's that you all have the courage to dare greatly. It's NPR News. Vice President J.D. Vance is in Armenia, a country that no sitting U.S. vice president or president has visited before. He's trying to advance a U.S. broker deal to end a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, where he'll travel tomorrow. Leaders of both countries are part of President Trump's new Board of Peace. That group's expected to convene in Washington later this month.
Academic programs aimed at helping people navigate midlife transitions are on the rise. NPR's Alison Arbery reports on a popular way to get started.
The first step to any transition is a little introspection. Who am I now? Or who do I want to become? Chip Conley, founder of the Modern Elder Academy, says these are common questions as we age.
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