NPR News: 03-18-2026 7AM EDT

0:00Line from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kurova Coleman, Iran has retaliated for the killing of a top leader firing missiles at Gulf countries and at Israel. The missile fired killed two people in Central Israel, as NPR's Daniel Eston reports from Tel Aviv. After Israel's killing of top Iranian leader Al-Li-la-Rijani, Iran says it targeted the Tel Aviv area with multiple warhead missiles, also known as cluster munitions. A man and woman were killed in their apartment in Ramat-Ghan, a suburb of Tel Aviv. The Iranian missile attack also caused damage in other parts of Central Israel, including a train station in Tel Aviv. Iran's missile attacks across the region have been the most lethal in Israel, where at least 14 people have been killed since the war started. Israel's military says it struck air defense systems in Tehran and has Bala rocket launchers in Lebanon Tuesday and has Bala fired more rockets into northern Israel Tuesday. Daniel Eston, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Meanwhile Israel's defense minister says the Israeli military has killed Iran's intelligence

1:02minister Ismail Khantib today. Israeli defense minister says quote significant surprises are expected throughout this day on all fronts. He did not explain. On Capitol Hill, the Senate is beginning a marathon debate on what the administration calls the Save America Act. The Senate voted to begin to debate an exercise that may take several days or even longer. The legislation would require proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote. President Trump has said he won't sign most other bills until Congress passes this legislation. Republicans need support from Democrats in order to reach the 60 vote threshold to get the bill over the finish line. Democrats do not support this bill. Non-citizens cannot legally vote in federal elections and officials and other experts say instances of them doing so anyway are rare. Barbara Sprent and Pierneuse, the Capitol.

2:03A Senate committee will open confirmation hearings for Homeland Security Secretary nominee Mark Wayne Mullen today. The Oklahoma Republican senator was tapped as his agency is partially shut down in a congressional dispute. Democrats are in for closely watched primary races in Illinois. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton has won a competitive Democratic primary for the Senate nomination from that state. Candidates are seeking to fill the seat of retiring Illinois senator Dick Durbin. At her victory party, Stratton thanked her competitors. I'd also like to thank Congressman Roger Krishnamorthy, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, and all of my other opponents in this race. And Murphy had spent $29 million on campaign ads. But Stratton got millions in support from Democratic Governor JB Pritzker. You're listening to NPR News. The final death toll isn't clear from an air strike in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, Afghan

3:05officials blamed Pakistan for striking a drug rehabilitation facility killing at least 75 people. The United Nations says the toll could be higher. And as it targeted the facility, but Pakistan officials say the target was an ammunition depot. Tennessee could become the first state to require proof of immigration status to enroll in public schools. As NPR's Janaki Mehta reports, this potential legislation could challenge federal law. Plylar Vido was a landmark 1982 Supreme Court decision that confirmed the right for all students, regardless of immigration status, to get a free K-12 public education. I mean, schools do not collect the immigration status of their students. But now the Tennessee House has approved a bill that would require schools to track and report the legal status of students. Last year, the State Senate passed a partner bill that would allow schools to deny students who don't have legal status. The two chambers will meet again to reconcile the bills.

4:07Immigrant advocates have been expressing concern that if Tennessee does pass such a law, their constitutional right to an education could be in question for nearly two million children. Janaki Mehta and PR News. The National Weather Service says an unusually early heat wave is getting stronger and spreading across the West and Southwest. Forecasters say there could be new daily and even monthly highs for March in many locations. Temperatures could soar into the triple digits in the desert Southwest. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a Prime Membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.