Merrit Kennedy
Merrit Kennedy is a reporter for NPR's News Desk. She covers a broad range of issues, from the latest developments out of the Middle East to science research news.
Kennedy joined NPR in Washington, D.C., in December 2015, after seven years living and working in Egypt. She started her journalism career at the beginning of the Egyptian uprising in 2011 and chronicled the ousting of two presidents, eight rounds of elections, and numerous major outbreaks of violence for NPR and other news outlets. She has also worked as a reporter and television producer in Cairo for The Associated Press, covering Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan.
She grew up in Los Angeles, the Middle East, and places in between, and holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University and a master's degree in international human rights law from The American University in Cairo.
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The new tax will hit thousands of products with added sugar or artificial sweetener. It's expected to raise millions of dollars annually for an expansion of early-childhood education. -
"[C]ancelling or changing the location of the 2016 Olympics will not significantly alter the international spread of Zika virus," WHO says, after scientists called for the Games to be moved. -
The group says armed men killed a staff member during an attack on a convoy that lasted more than 40 minutes. It's one of many recent attacks worldwide on the group's staff. -
Automated systems sent data showing smoke in a bathroom, according to an aviation publication. Earlier, authorities reported finding debris including human remains from the plane. -
The sweeping, first-of-its-kind bill will now be sent to Oklahoma's governor, who has not indicated whether she plans to sign it. If she does, a pro-abortion rights group plans to sue. -
Jones, who was 116, reportedly had a penchant for bacon and lingerie. Now, there is believed to be only one person still alive who was born before 1900. -
The Pirates-Marlins series was meant to honor Hall of Fame player Roberto Clemente, who hails from the island. But players say they were worried about contracting Zika. -
The president told an energetic audience he "will not rest" until the city's water is safe to drink. A federal state of emergency has been declared as a result of lead leaching into Flint's water. -
About 38,000 runners competed in the London Marathon today – and one of them ran it in orbit 200 miles above Earth. British astronaut Tim Peake says microgravity is "perfect" for post-race recovery. -
Lead seepage into the drinking water in Flint, Mich., has causing a major public health crisis and prompted President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency. This is how it unfolded.
