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When Caitlin Wells Salerno and Jon Salerno's first son, Hank, was born, his delivery cost the family only $30. Gus' bill came in at more than $16,000, all told — including the $2,755 ER charge. The family was responsible for about $3,600 of the total.

A hospital hiked the price of a routine childbirth by calling it an 'emergency'

Obstetrical emergency departments are a new aspect of some hospitals that can inflate medical bills for even the easiest, healthiest births. Just ask baby Gus' parents about their $2,755 ER charge.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., arrives at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 5. Her opposition to Democrats' proposed spending package is forcing changes, but her specific positions have been hard to pin down.

What does Kyrsten Sinema want out of spending negotiations? Here's what we know

The Arizona Democratic senator has been hard to pin down, but her moderate stance is forcing progressives in her party to make concessions.

Hospitals around the U.S., including large academic medical centers like Vanderbilt University's in Nashville, Tenn., have been forced to rely on traveling nurses to keep their intensive care units fully staffed. The demand for travel nurses has driven up their hourly rates, which then motivates more staff nurses to leave in pursuit of a traveling gig.

Worn-out nurses hit the road for better pay, stressing hospital budgets — and morale

In areas overwhelmed by COVID cases, hospitals must rely on traveling nurses to operate ICUs. Hospitals pay a premium for that temporary help, while also struggling to keep their staff nurses happy.

More nurses are quitting their jobs to try a lucrative stint as a traveling nurse

In many hospitals, the only thing keeping ICUs fully staffed is a rotating cast of traveling nurses. Hospitals are having to pay them so much that their staff nurses are tempted to hit the road too.

Grete Bergman, left, and Sarah Whalen-Lunn at their StoryCorps recording in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2018.

With 3 bold marks, Indigenous women helped revive a once-banned tradition

Grete Bergman was among the first Gwich'in women to get traditional facial markings since colonizers barred the practice. She and markings artist Sarah Whalen-Lunn did it for their daughters.

Enforcement of the new abortion law in Texas is blocked by a federal judge

A federal judge has blocked the state's controversial abortion law, finding it was designed to make it difficult for people to exercise their constitutional rights. Texas will appeal.

Luke and Holly Barrón live in Oklahoma with their three sons, 7-year-old Reid, 5-year-old Holden<strong> </strong>and 2-year-old Conley. Their oldest son, Keaton (pictured here), died in 2018 when he was 8 years old following a battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that began when he was 2 1/2. Part of what made Keaton so special was how much he cared about others, his family said.

An Oklahoma family has been named the kindest in the country

For this family, kindness is centered on action. The Barróns, who have been named the nation's kindest family by Parents magazine. They turned a personal tragedy into a catalyst for positive change.

News brief: abortion law blocked, debt limit fix, caregivers' COVID deaths

Texas' abortion law is temporarily blocked. Congress appears closer to a deal that keeps the government paying its bills. A study estimates more than 140,00 children have lost a caregiver to COVID-19.

Thousands of Afghans at a military base in Wisconsin await resettlement

Some 13,000 Afghan refugees who escaped the Taliban forces find themselves in an Army base in rural Wisconsin. They await resettlement in communities across the nation.

Weeks after Ida, Bayou communities outside New Orleans' levee system still devastated

NPR's Sarah McCammon examines how one Louisiana community is weathering the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Climate change and disappearing land.

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