NPR News: 04-16-2026 11AM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. NPR has learned Israel is planning to enter a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon. Israeli media are reporting the ceasefire could take effect in coming hours. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv. Israel is preparing to enter a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, according to a person briefed on the matter, not authorized to speak publicly. The person said the Israeli Cabinet had met Wednesday to consider a week-long ceasefire in Lebanon. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting the ceasefire could begin in the coming hours. Israel's military spokesman declined comment to NPR. The U.S. has been encouraging a ceasefire. Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors held rare talks in Washington this week. There's been a month and a half of deadly conflict, with Hezbollah fire on Israel and an Israeli invasion of Lebanon uprooting more than a million people, according to Lebanese officials. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, the U.S. naval blockade of Iran and ports continues. So far, 13 ships have turned around at the direction of the U.S. fleet off the Strait of Hormuz. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Cain, spoke at a Pentagon news conference this morning. He said since the blockade began Monday, ships have made what he says is the wise choice of turning around when confronted. The joint force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific area of responsibility under the command of Admiral Paparo, will actively pursue any Iranian flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran. He emphasized the blockade applies to all ships, not just Iranian vessels. A Texas judge has ordered a Christian girls camp to preserve cabins damaged last summer in a deadly flood that killed 27 people. For member station KUT, Kaylee Hunt reports. Camp Mystic plans to welcome over 800 campers back this summer, but it will not be able to use cabins or other structures damaged during last July's flooding. Judge Maya Gaira Gamble says these sites need to be preserved, so attorneys for more than a dozen families suing the camp can collect evidence. Here's Brad Beckworth, an attorney for the parents of missing eight-year-old camper Seales Stewart. We don't know what we don't have, but we know a lot of things were destroyed, may not work, may never be found. That makes the duty to preserve what does exist even more important. The stewards and other families accuse Camp Mystic of negligent behavior during and leading up to the flood, which the camp denies. For NPR News, I'm Kaylee Hunt in Austin. Virginia authorities say the state's former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife and then killed himself. Officials say it's done from an ongoing domestic dispute. This is NPR. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office both say they're investigating former California Congressman Eric Swalwell. He's accused of sexual misconduct and rape. NPR has not independently verified the claims. Swalwell has denied them. He has ended his bid for California governor and resigned from Congress. NPR's Elena Moore reports on the unique digital movement that brought the allegations to light. It all started when a few left-leaning content creators began posting online about Swalwell, prompting dozens of women to send them messages with their own experiences. Cheyenne Hunt was one of the creators receiving messages after posting about Swalwell in late March. She says she quickly became part of a small movement. And it was really three girls in a group chat that were figuring out how we were going to bring the story forward, consolidate a group of women together, and get their story told the right way. Within days, it captured the attention of major news organizations. And last Friday, some of the most serious allegations were published by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. Elena Moore and NPR News. The governors of Michigan and Wisconsin have declared emergencies as flooding hits their states. Motorists have been rescued from cars in Milwaukee and people evacuated away from nearby Michigan levees. Convenient store retailer 7-Eleven says it will close hundreds of stores in the U.S. this year. That's because its parent company, based in Japan, is trying to turn a profit. Well, over 600 7-Eleven stores are slated to close. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.