If your tax refund is ugly, you didn't necessarily lose

Fewer taxpayers are receiving refunds this year, and those who will are finding that they’ll be getting less – an average of 8 percent less than last year. But for most Americans, there’s no nefarious cause. [NPR] Hanna Barczyk for NPR ‘It's hard to look at this as anything other than completely damning’: How the Education Department failed student borrowers The department is supposed to protect borrowers, but its poor oversight let outside contractors potentially hurt borrowers and pocket government dollars, an internal watchdog reports. While the Federal Student Aid office did spot individual cases where rules were broken, it missed patterns of bad behavior. [That likely cost borrowers money, hurt their credit ratings and increased their risk of defaulting on their student loans](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Beth Nakamura for NPR What does it take to stop school shootings? In this district, it’s ‘moving kids from despair to hope’ Since the 2018 shooting in Parkland, Fla., many schools have stepped up their efforts to identify and assess potential threats. A district in Oregon has found success since 2000 by moving quickly to address any immediate threat, then taking a big-picture look at the potentially violent student, what factors may have put the student in crisis, and how they can be addressed. [One young man who was brought in because of a threatening Facebook post says the approach turned his life around](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Susan Walsh/AP Shockingly small refund? Look back at your pay stubs for the answer The tax refund received by the average U.S. taxpayer dropped this year, leaving many fuming. But one of the leading think tanks behind President Trump’s tax overhaul say that’s by design, because getting a big refund means “what you've done is given the federal government an interest-free loan.” Tax withholding was slashed last year, so the money was dispersed across paychecks instead. [Still, those who were counting on their usual April windfall have found themselves in a bind, and others did see a tax increase](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Image Source/Getty Images Out of the frying pan: A neuroscientist and former addict explains what a brain on drugs is really experiencing Alcohol: “It acts kind of like a sledgehammer or just in a widespread way to disrupt all kinds of cell functioning.” Cocaine: It blocks recycling of dopamine, and does it really, really well. Marijuana: “The whole brain is flooded with THC, and that causes the cell-to-cell communication in cells throughout the brain to be enhanced.” [Judith Grisel used them all to excess, but the neuroscientist studying the mechanisms of addiction has now been clean for 30 years](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( NASA/JPL-Caltech RIP to one of history’s most daring explorers When the Opportunity rover landed on Mars in 2004, its mission was only expected to last 90 days. Fourteen years, 25 miles and countless discoveries later, NASA announced the little robot’s official death. A massive dust storm silenced the rover in June. Keri Bean, who helped send the last message, said celebrations of Opportunity’s landing inspired her career. [“I was really drawn to the idea of exploring and being so interested and caring about something that much.”]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [dailynewsletter@npr.org](mailto:dailynewsletter@npr.org?subject=Best%20of%20NPR) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to our Best of NPR emails. | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 [NPR]