NPR News: 05-09-2026 5AM EDT

Alabama Republicans push forward with voting map changes amid legal challenges and protests. Voting rights activists demonstrate against proposed districts that would dilute Black representation. A Dutch cruise ship grapples with a Hanta virus outbreak as it nears the Canary Islands. Tech layoffs continue at Cloudflare, tied to AI adoption. Other updates include a lawsuit over federal DNA collection from protesters and a new state diaper program for low-income families.

Alabama's Congressional Maps and Primary Elections

Republican lawmakers in Alabama approved plans for special primary elections as they seek to redraw congressional districts. The state's attorney general filed an emergency motion to overturn a court ruling that barred map changes until 2030. This follows a Supreme Court decision that found Alabama's prior maps diluted Black voters' power, leading to the election of two Black Democratic representatives among the state's seven House seats. Protests erupted inside and outside the statehouse from voting rights activists opposing the new proposals, which would weaken two current Black-majority districts. The push comes after a recent Louisiana case and perceived Supreme Court shifts, allowing Republicans to argue for revised maps that reduce those districts' influence. Kyle Gassett of Troy Public Radio noted the attorney general's request to lift the legal emba