NPR News: 03-12-2026 10PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. In Michigan, the FBI is investigating after a man armed with a rifle rammed his truck into a synagogue in suburban Detroit. As Russ McNamara from Detroit Public Radio reports, the attacker is dead. Police say shots were exchanged by the attacker and security at Temple Israel and West Bloomfield Township. A member of the synagogue security team was hit by the vehicle driven into the building by the attacker, but no one else apart from the attacker was seriously hurt. Jennifer Runyon is special agent and charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. The FBI is here working with our state, local and federal partners to investigate this incident. And I can confirm that we are leading the investigation right now as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community. A small fire started after the attack and several first responders were taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation. For NPR News, I'm Russ McNamara in Detroit. Iranian state media aired a statement today attributed to the country's new supreme leader,

1:01his first since succeeding his late father, Mustafa Kaminay called on people in Gulf countries to shut down U.S. bases, saying promised U.S. protection is nothing more than a lie. The relations of the Islamic Republic with the 15 countries of the country, neighboring countries will be warm and close. The statement was read by a news anchor, Kaminay's absence from public appearances and video has raised questions about his health. Israel suspects the 56-year-old was wounded in the opening salvo of the war. President Trump says it's not appropriate for the Iranian national soccer team to travel to the U.S. this summer to compete in the FIFA World Cup. Iran's participation in the tournament co-hosted in the U.S. has been in question since the American and Israeli military campaign began last month, and Pierre's Becky Sullivan has more. Just on truth social, President Trump said Iran would be welcome at the World Cup, but he added, quote, I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there for their own life and safety.

2:01Iran qualified last year for the tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Iran is currently set to play all three of their group stage games in the U.S., two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Then on Wednesday, the Iranian sports minister said the team safety was in question and they would not be able to participate. This situation is unprecedented in the modern era of the World Cup. FIFA hasn't yet commented. Becky Sullivan in Pierre News. NASA has cleared its moon rocket for a launch with four astronauts as early as April 1st after completing the latest round of repairs. The Artemis II crew should have blasted off on a lunar fly around earlier this year, but fuel leaks and other rocket problems interfered. It'll mark humanity's first trip to the moon in more than 50 years. NASA says the rocket will roll out of the hangar and back onto the pad next week. Worries about the war with Iran have sent oil prices back over $100 per barrel and stocks sinking worldwide. This is NPR News from Washington. States are setting new rules for cash purchases after the U.S. meant stopped making pennies

3:06and the one-cent coins got scarcer. Some states are considering legislation to allow or require businesses to round those purchase totals to the nearest nickel. Indiana already requires rounding for cash sales that do not end in zero or five cents. Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina has announced that he will run for re-election. South Carolina Public Radio's Luis Alfredo Garcia reports the Democrat was first elected in 1992. Representative James Clyburn is among the oldest Democrats in Congress. The 85-year-old is serving his 17th house term. He announced plans to run again despite calls for generational change within the Democratic Party. But Clyburn says he still feels fit for the task and that this next campaign will be vigorous. I do believe that I'm very woolly cropped and healthy enough to move into the next term. South Carolina's sixth district is heavily democratic. Clyburn says he has the support of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

4:10For MPR News, I'm Los Alfredo Garcia in Columbia, South Carolina. A vertical underground pipe has somehow pushed straight up more than 32 feet out of a busy street in Osaka, Japan, nearly reaching an elevated road above it. The 11-foot diameter steel pipe mysteriously rose overnight, unseen by any witnesses. Today it was lowered after firefighters cut a hole in it and officials say the road will be closed for several more days. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. This week on Consider this, Warren Ron and a new front in Lebanon. What is the cost in lives and to Americans at home? And in Ukraine, after four years, the war there grinds on. Is that what Russians want? Our reporters are on the ground with firsthand reporting from Beirut, Moscow. Listen for their stories on Consider this on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.