PBS NewsHour

Schools around the country are now back at in-person classes. But there has been a jump in the number of students quarantined, and some places are allowing distance learning again. All too often, parents are facing difficult choices. Stephanie Sy has the story of an economist who is trying to help parents navigate such challenges.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday heard testimony from four elite U.S. gymnasts about the FBI's mishandling of sexual abuse allegations against former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols criticized the agency and pressed lawmakers to demand further accountability for those they enabled Nassar. Amna Nawaz reports.

For the second part of our series on the ravages of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, we take a look at the deadly cost of the drug just across the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. With the support of the Pulitzer Center, special correspondent Monica Villamizar and producer Zach Fannin report.

Californians have voted overwhelmingly to keep Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in office until the end of his term. Newsom improved on his share of the vote from his first election three years ago. To discuss the results and any lessons they hold for the midterm elections, as well as the role of former President Trump in the GOP, we turn to Washington Post columnists Perry Bacon and Gary Abernathy.

Jeffrey Brown has the story of prominent poet Rita Dove confronting private pains and public strains; home and history. This report on her book, “Playlist for the Apocalypse,” is part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

In our news wrap Wednesday, members of the Afghan women's soccer team along with coaches and families crossed into Pakistan and will seek asylum in other countries. North and South Korea traded missile tests amid rising tensions. Pope Francis says Catholic clerics should not mix politics with Communion. Boston voters have chosen Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George for a mayor's run-off.

Wednesday evening at the White House, President Joe Biden — joined by the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Australia — announced a new partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, including an effort to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. The one unspoken issue clearly driving this move: a rising China. Foreign affairs correspondent Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff with more.

Tonight, we begin a three-part look at the production — and devastating effects — of the drug fentanyl. Illicit use of the synthetic opioid painkiller has ravaged the United States, with Mexican drug cartels now seeing huge profits. With the support of the Pulitzer Center, from Sinaloa State, in Mexico, special correspondent Monica Villamizar and videographer Zach Fannin report.

Explosive new details about former President Donald Trump's actions around last year's election and the January insurrection have been revealed in a yet-to-be-released book by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa of the Washington Post. Judy Woodruff discusses them and the questions they raise with White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor and foreign affairs and defense correspondent Nick Schifrin.

The Biden administration has said COVID-19 vaccine boosters may be available to eligible groups a week from now. But that timing is uncertain and scientific advisory committees still need to meet in the next several days. Lisa Desjardins spoke with CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky about the status of boosters and the spread of the virus as part of a special forum hosted by Research America.

With just hours left until voting ends in California in the recall election of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newson, Stephanie Sy provides us with an overview of the recall and we check in with Scott Shafer, politics and government editor for public media station KQED in San Francisco, about the latest in the race.

Over the past two decades, tens of thousands of Afghans rose to the occasion and took jobs in the public sector to help their country and their livelihoods. Now that the U.S. has pulled out, many feel abandoned. One particular group who say they feel let down — former police women — are now being targeted by the Taliban. Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News reports.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was on Capitol Hill Tuesday, appearing again before a congressional oversight panel about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Blinken was peppered by both Democrats and Republicans about the Biden White House strategy and planning. Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, is a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations and joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

In our news wrap Tuesday, Tropical Storm Nicholas crawled past Houston, Texas, knocking out power to more than half a million homes and businesses. COVID-19 numbers in the United States are now averaging 170,000 cases per day — their highest levels since early March. Four former Minneapolis police officers involved pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges in the death of George Floyd.

Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. On that day and for weeks after, first responders at the World Trade Center worked to clear rubble and to search for remains. Many were stricken with debilitating illness, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hear from some of them, as Amna Nawaz reports on the challenges first responders are still facing.

In our news wrap Monday, about a million New York City students returned to school Monday, with no option for remote learning in the nation's largest public school district. Tropical Storm Nicholas is headed for landfall in Texas Monday night, with up to 16 inches of rain. President Joe Biden traveled to Idaho and Northern California for a first-hand look at the aftermath of wildfires.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including Democrats’ $3.5 trillion social spending bill and California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recall election.

Voters in Boston are getting ready for a major shakeup in their city's politics. Tuesday's election in the race for mayor narrows the field to two finalists. One thing won’t change — all the contenders in this nonpartisan election are left of center. But as Jeffrey Brown reports for our "Race Matters" series, the face of leadership looks different this year.

As the U.S. continues inoculating adults and adolescents, questions remain about vaccinating the 48 million kids under the age of 12. With the delta variant raging, almost five times as many children are being hospitalized for COVID-19. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called on the FDA to pick up the pace. William Brangham discusses with Dr. Lee Beers, president of the academy.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee released a proposal Monday that helps pay for most of President Biden's $3.5 trillion social spending bill. In addition to raising the corporate tax rate on businesses making $5 million in income, the plan also includes taxes for wealthy individuals. Judy Woodruff discusses with the Chairman of the Budget Committee, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.