September 15, 2021 - PBS NewsHour full episode

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.

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 who enabled Nassar. Amna Nawaz reports.

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.

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.

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.

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.