NPR News: 03-28-2026 6PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have entered the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, firing a missile at Israel, which Israel says was intercepted. It's the first time Israel faced fire from that country since the war began, and it opens a new front in the two-month-old conflict. Meanwhile, the Pentagon says around 3,500 sailors and Marines have arrived in the Middle East. U.S. Central Command said Saturday in a social media post that about 3,500 sailors and Marines arrived in the Middle East aboard the USS Tripoli. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Okinawa, Japan, arrived in the Middle East on Friday, the post said. The unit also has transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets. U.S. Central Command did not say would mission the unit will be carrying out. At least 2,000 additional soldiers have been ordered to deploy to the Middle East, where the U.S. already has 40,000 to 50,000 troops.

1:02Shandali's Duster and PR News. The Department of Homeland Security is on track to mark the longest partial government shutdown in history amid a budget standoff. Enfier's Claudette Grisallis reports. The DHS budget measure stalled in the Senate for weeks as Democrats demanded immigration enforcement reforms in exchange for their votes to approve funding. The chamber finally broke the impasse after Republicans agreed to approve funding for most of the agency aside from some component that included ICE and Border Patrol. House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the Senate measure as a quote, joke. Instead, the House passed a measure to temporarily extend funding in full for the Department of Homeland Security through late May. The vote effectively ensured that the ongoing shutdown at DHS continues with no clear end in sight. Lawmakers have already left Washington for a planned two-week recess. Claudette Grisallis and PR News. No Kings protests against President Trump and his policies, including the war on Iran,

2:05immigration, voting rights, and the rising cost of living, are taking place around the country today. Organizers say more than 3,000 rallies are being held and millions of people are expected to attend. After a Ferguson from Minnesota Public Radio has more from a massive rally in St. Paul. There's been a lot of cheering as people, especially non-Minnesotans, have lifted up. The people of Minnesota for the way that they reacted to Operation Metro surge and really encouraged others around the country who are watching to take steps to follow up on the things that Minnesotans have done, respecting one another, trying to support their neighbors and just a lot of cheers here as some of the speakers say that the country does not want a king and they want to make sure that the people are empowered. Sarah Ferguson reporting, you're listening to NPR News. University of Mississippi this week launched a first of its kind research center focused

3:07on the risks of sports gambling. In Pierce Windsor-Johnston reports, betting has expanded nationwide since a 2018 Supreme Court decision that struck down a federal ban. Experts say sports betting has become easier than ever with mobile apps allowing users to place wagers anytime anywhere. Kate Humble with the National Council on Problem Gambling says that accessibility is changing how younger generations interact with gambling. The brain is still developing at that age and making sure that they are able to conceptualize that this is real money that they're playing with, especially in a generation that has grown up with video games and gambling elements in those video games. Humble says schools and lawmakers are still playing catch up as many states move quickly to legalize sports betting without building strong safeguards for prevention or treatment. Windsor-Johnston NPR News. French police say they have one suspect in custody and they're searching for a second one.

4:07After they stopped a suspected bomb attack outside the Bank of America headquarters building in Paris early today. Police say they spotted two suspects carrying a shopping bag near the bank and that one had a lighter and was allegedly trying to ignite a device. The French newspaper La Parisian reports that it was a five-liter container filled with an unidentified liquid and an explosive charger rather, officials say they're investigating it as terrorism-related. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.