NPR News: 03-12-2026 2PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Reports of an active shooting today at a Michigan synagogue outside Detroit, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, updated reporters a short time ago. At least one individual came to the temple, security saw him, engaged him in gunfire. The FBI says its agents are also responding to the shooting at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. There was also a shooting earlier today on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The school says a gunman opened fire inside the business school building. Two people were injured. Authorities say the gunman is dead, though it's unclear how the shooter died. Old Dominion University has suspended operations on its main campus and canceled classes for the rest of the day. The U.S. has launched a formal investigation into the February 28 strike on an Iranian school that killed about 175 people, mostly children. A preliminary assessment by the Pentagon determined the U.S. is at fault, according to a U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly

1:05on the matter. According to NPR reporting, the strike was likely the result of outdated intelligence. NPR's Kat Lonser reports in recent years, Congress mandated an office in the Pentagon to help prevent civilian casualties, but that changed under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Shortly after Hegseth took office, he cut it by about 90%. He also fired a lot of military lawyers. That same U.S. official who told us about the preliminary assessment also told NPR that now all of U.S. Central Command has only one staffer assigned to civilian casualty mitigation operations. We reached out to the Pentagon about this, but didn't get a response. We can't say that this strike was a direct result of these cuts. Civilians are, unfortunately, always the worst and most affected in modern war. NPR's Kat Lonser for reporting, oil prices surged again today, touching $100 a barrel and then dropping back a bit as Iran maintains an effective closure of the vital straight of Hormuz waterway. NPR's Greg Mayer reports that more ships have also come under attack.

2:06The U.S. military says it sunk most of Iran's navy. Yet Iranian threats and attacks are still keeping oil tankers from traveling through the straight of Hormuz off its southwest coast. Gregory Brue is with the Eurasia Group, a political consulting firm. We are currently experiencing what is the largest oil supply disruption in history. The straight is just 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, which means Iran can strike ships from its own territory. Several have been hit over the past two days. President Trump has hinted that the U.S. Navy may start escorting oil tankers, but so far the ships are on their own. Greg Mayer, NPR News, Washington. The Dow Jones industrial average is down 578 points or 1.2 percent. You're listening to NPR News. The Senate has passed a bipartisan housing bill meant to address the country's affordability

3:06crisis. The 21st century road to housing act is meant to lower housing costs by encouraging more home building. NPR's Stephen Basaha reports the bill also bans large investors from buying up single-family houses. This bill is a patchwork of dozens of different ideas, like making it easier for banks to invest in affordable housing and streamlining construction approvals. Republican Senator Tim Scott and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren co-sponsored the bill. The Warren says about two dozen Republican and Democratic lawmakers all added their own solutions. We wanted to build a law that was locally responsive that helped create the tools for communities to build more housing and get those costs down. Large investors can still build houses to rent, but must sell them after seven years. The bill now goes to the house where some Republicans want to make additional changes to the bill. Stephen Basaha, NPR News. There in Congressman Jim Clyburn, one of the top-ranking Democrats in the U.S. House is seeking an 18th term.

4:08He ended speculation today in announcing plans to run for re-election in South Carolina's sixth district. He is an influential figure in politics. Clyburn is credited with helping Joe Biden's presidential campaign with a 2020 endorsement. Lawmaker turns 86 this summer. He is one of the oldest members of Congress or past an age, only by handful of other lawmakers in the House and Senate. The Dow is down 576 points, more than 1%, you're listening to NPR News. On NPR's Wildcard podcast, comedian Chris Fleming on his obsession with public radio zone Terry Groves. I think there are very few mystical beings left in this world, Superion Stevens, Terry Groves, all a Sweden. Watch or listen to that Wildcard conversation on the NPR app or on YouTube at NPR Wildcard.