National The San Francisco Zoo will receive a pair of pandas from China San Francisco is the latest U.S. city preparing to receive a pair of pandas from China, in a continuation of Beijing's famed "panda diplomacy." The Associated Press
National Watch: A circus elephant runs loose in a Montana town before being recaptured The animal was having a routine bath when she was startled by a truck backfiring and ran away before being recaptured by handlers. Videos of the unexpected sight were shared widely on social media. Joe Hernandez
Science 2 cicada broods will emerge around the same time in the U.S. NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with entomologist Michael Raupp about the two cicada broods that will emerge in parts of the U.S. in a few weeks.
Science Here's what worries scientists about bird flu's spread among cattle Avian influenza is still spreading among dairy cattle. Scientists are paying close attention to how the virus is changing and what that means for its pandemic potential. Will Stone
Science Terrance the octopus came to live with a family. Then she laid dozens of eggs The Clifford family was as prepared as possible to welcome Terrance the octopus. But there was one thing they missed: she was pregnant. And then she laid a whole lot of eggs. Jordan-Marie Smith Sarah Handel
Animals PHOTOS: A tiny house village for feral cats in Seattle Along Interstate 5 south of downtown Seattle, intricate tunnels weave their way through brush and invasive blackberry bushes. The tunnels are established by feral cats – living and breeding in colonies along the greenbelt. Megan Farmer
Environment Fish out of water story ends with 77,000 young salmon in the wrong water The Chinook got shook when their truck got cooked. Now the salmon are swimming — but in the wrong brook. Bill Chappell
Animals Should whales have the same rights as people? Some indigenous Polynesians say yes, and they're pushing an initiative to give whales personhood rights as a way to combat climate change.
Environment A government proposal to kill a half-million owls sparks controversy A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to kill some 470,000 owls over 30 years to protect other owl species has prompted conservationists and animal welfare advocates to weigh the consequences. Clare Marie Schneider
Food For the first time, U.S. dairy cows have tested positive for bird flu Livestock in Texas, Kansas and Michigan are confirmed to have the virus, and herds in New Mexico and Idaho have also tested positive. The threat to the public is low, federal officials say. Joe Hernandez