Weekend Edition Saturday

Master Sgt. Alvy Powell Jr. sang opera at some of country's most decorated institutions during his 26 years in the U.S. Army Chorus. At StoryCorps, he told his sister that she's his inspiration.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to artist Judy Chicago about her new memoir, The Flowering. Chicago is most known for her multimedia installation, The Dinner Party.

Washington Post reporter Felicia Sonmez is suing the paper and a former executive editor. She alleges she was barred from covering Me Too-related stories because she is a sexual assault survivor.

Virtuoso guitarist Sunny War is releasing her first album for the first time. It's called Seems You Haven't Learned.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Matt Ripa of the Catholic University of America about finding one of the dresses Judy Garland wore while filming The Wizard of Oz.

NPR's Anamaria Sayre explains the significance of the Cuban protest song, "Patria Y Vida."

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Illinois State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz about a new law that would make Asian-American history a mandatory part of the state's public school curriculum.

The Minneapolis Police Department is short-staffed, even as violent crime has surged. The city and its residents are improvising as they argue over what the future of policing should look like.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are gathering in relocation centers south of Xinxiang following deadly floods in central China.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has been arresting his political opponents who are disappearing into prisons. Two of their wives are appealing to the U.S. to help.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Debbie Hewet, a nurse and director of critical care services at Mercy Fort Smith in Northwestern Arkansas about the rise in young, unvaccinated COVID patients.

The Summer Olympics are officially underway following yesterday's opening ceremony in Tokyo, a year after they were originally scheduled. COVID restrictions mean fans can't watch events in-person.