Energy got a lot more expensive in 2021 Compared to this time last year, we're all paying a lot more to use many kinds energy — whether it's gasoline for our cars or heating fuel for our homes. Mary Louise Kelly
Tesla recalls nearly half a million cars over possible safety issues Defects in some models leading to problems with the rearview camera and front hood, which could lead to serious accidents, triggered two separate recalls of the electric cars. Vanessa Romo
Millions of workers left jobs this year, shifting the balance of power with employers 2021 saw continuing disruption to the labor market and a shift in the balance of power between workers and their bosses. Employers desperate to hire have to pay more to get the workforce they need. Andrea Hsu
How Dan Bongino is building a right-wing media empire on his own terms NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Evan Osnos of The New Yorker about radio host Dan Bongino, who calls masks "face diapers," opposes vaccine mandates and says the 2016 and 2020 elections were rigged. Mano Sundaresan
Rural hospitals received pandemic aid. What happens when the funds run out? Rural health leaders warn that more hospital closures loom as federal pandemic relief money dries up. At the same time, there are concerns of a surge in hospitalizations due to the omicron variant. Kirk Siegler
Regulators say Amazon obstructed investigations into warehouse safety violations Washington state officials say Amazon has stonewalled workplace safety inspectors by attempting to prevent them from entering Amazon warehouse facilities. Paige Browning
How are unionized flight attendants responding to the new COVID rules? The CDC's new isolation guidelines could have big impacts on essential workers. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants about the rule change.
Companies are working on technology to get cars to detect and prevent drunk driving The new infrastructure law includes a requirement for a new safety feature in vehicles: Some sort of technology to detect and prevent drunk driving. But how would that actually work? Camila Domonoske
Due to COVID and weather, more than 1,000 U.S. flights have been cancelled today A mixture of staffing shortages because of the coronavirus and some bad weather has been causing delays for many airlines. Wade Goodwyn
U.S. regulators step up probe into Hyundai-Kia engine failures and fires The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it's opening an engineering analysis to evaluate whether previous recalls of some Hyandai and Kia models covered enough vehicles. The Associated Press