Weekend Edition Saturday

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with novelist Marianne Wiggins about her latest book, "Properties of Thirst," along with her daughter, Lara Porzak, who helped her mother finish writing it after a stroke.

Brittney Griner sentenced in Russia. Deshaun Watson suspended from six games for alleged sexual misconduct. And the deaths of two titans of sport: Bill Russell and Vin Scully.

Salt Lake City council member Alejandro Puy knows speeding in his district is a problem, so he's created custom yard signs to get drivers' attention.

While the size of the economy shrank, the nation is still creating jobs at a surprising rate. Also, hedge fund managers end up ahead after negotiations on the Democrats' climate change bill.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to musician Eblis Alvarez about his new album, "Meridian Brothers and El Grupo Renacimiento." It's an imaginary collaboration with a fake 1970s Colombia salsa band.

How Afghan citizens and the Taliban government are reacting to the revelation that al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was living among them and was killed in a U.S. drone strike last Sunday.

Indiana has become the first state to pass new new abortion ban after the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision in late June.

NPR's Scott Simon talks with U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., about his trip to Taiwan with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other foreign policy issues.

Loretta Berning remembers her father and a cherished Victory Vertical piano made during World War II for our StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative.

Vin Scully, the "Voice of the Dodgers," died this week at the age of 94. Scott Simon reflects on the announcer's skill calling games for MLB's Los Angeles team.

The Kremlin says it's open to talking about a trade for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner. It warned Washington against using the media in negotiations over a swap.

A whale common to Arctic waters has been sighted in the Seine River in northern France. Authorities say they are trying to assess its health.