NPR News: 04-15-2026 12PM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump says the United States and Iran could soon resume peace talks this week. Mediators are moving to extend a two-week ceasefire between the two countries, which expires next Tuesday. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv. President Trump told The New York Post that peace talks could be happening over the next two days with Iran. In Pakistan, we'll have to see about that. The top Pakistani mediators are actually scheduled to be traveling abroad for the next scheduled date in several days. But UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says his indication is that it is highly probable the talks will restart. At NPR's Daniel Estrin reporting, Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at the University of Georgia last night about efforts to end the war in Iran. His visit came nearly a week after talks between the two sides broke down in Islamabad. Sarah Callis with Georgia Public Broadcasting and Reports, Vance talked to students at an event hosted by Turning Point USA. Vance told the crowd of hundreds to continue supporting the Trump administration even if they disagree with the war in Iran. University of Georgia student Drake Smith attended the event. He describes himself as a moderate Republican and voted for President Trump, but says the Iran war is pushing him away. I don't know why we need to go send our troops to die in a war that is pointless honestly because our America should be first in our ideals and we are not together as a country right now. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Callis in Athens, Georgia. The House is preparing to vote on legislation to extend the government's authority to conduct surveillance on foreign nationals overseas without a warrant. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act includes a provision that's set to expire next Monday. Civil Liberties Group supposed renewing the measure. President Trump supports it. It's tax day and many Americans are getting larger refunds this year, but in many cases, those refunds are getting eaten up by higher gas prices. NPR's Stephen Besaha reports the average gallon of regular gas in the U.S. now costs $4.11. So far this year, the average tax refund is about $350 higher than last year, thanks to the tax changes in Republicans' one big beautiful bill act from last year. Retiree Bob Jones in Birmingham, Alabama says he's happy with his refund, but he plans on keeping it all in savings. You need to save even simply for gas right now. Gas is through the roof, as you know. The Bank of America Institute says consumer spending has remained steady while tax refunds cover the extra price of the pump. But if gas prices, tariffs, and inflation continue to go up, they could erode all the benefits Americans receive from the tax changes. Stephen Besaha, NPR News. Taxes are trading mixed on Wall Street at the Sour. The Dow was down 241 points. The NASDAQ up 244. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is introducing its first baby elephant in nearly 25 years. The two-month-old Asian elephant named Lynn May will make her debut today during a five-day preview. The exhibit opens to the general public next week. The U.S. is experiencing a resurgence of measles with more than 1,700 confirmed cases so far this year. NPR's Maria Godoy reports a new study finds that rising measles cases come with significant human and economic costs. Last year, the U.S. confirmed 2,287 measles cases, the highest number in decades. In a new modeling study, researchers at Yale estimated that responding to those cases cost the country some $244 million. The average cost per case was more than $104,000. The researchers also found that even a small 1% drop in measles vaccination rates could result in more than 4,000 hospitalizations and 36 preventable deaths from measles each year. That 1% drop in vaccinations would also cost the nation an additional $1.5 billion per year between now and the year 2030 in related health costs. The findings appear in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Maria Godoy and PR News. A Paris art lover has won a Pablo Picasso painting with a raffle ticket costing just $117. The lottery offered a chance at a Picasso portrait valued at around $1 million with proceeds going toward Alzheimer's research. This is NPR News.