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Janet Heimlich reports that while most Americans take running water, and electricity for granted, there are still pockets of the US where such amenities are lacking. Tamina, Texas is a small, poor, predominantly African American Community about 30 miles north of Houston. Although Tamina is near one of Houston's wealthiest suburbs, the community lacks a sewage system and many residents depend on septic tanks or the outdoors for waste disposal. The community is too poor to afford its own sewage system and county officials say it's not their job to provide this service. A survey by state officials in Texas has already identified nearly 400 communities in the state that have waste water problems.

NPR's Michael Sullivan reports that Sri Lankans went to the polls today to elect a new parliament, but in the city of Jaffna, residents seem disinterested in the results. They don't believe that the election will end the 17-year war between government forces and Tamil Tiger separatists, who are fighting for control of the region. The government currently has control of Jaffna, but the rebels are fighting hard to take the city, which they view as the cultural and spiritual home of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority.

NPR's Michael Sullivan reports Tamil rebels and Sri Lankan troops have agreed to a cease-fire for two days. Aid workers will immunize children against polio during the truce, and also encourage the children to attend school.

In India, a boy with blue skin and worshipped as a god. Scott Simon speaks with SJ Sindu about her new book, "Blue Skinned Gods."

Guyana, one of South America's poorest countries, is under severe threat by rising seas. That had made it a champion of climate action, but it all changed when ExxonMobil found oil off its waters.

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Jody David Armour, criminal justice and law professor at the University of Southern California, about the ongoing protests in Los Angeles over George Floyd's death.

A longtime symbol of labor protests, Scabby the Rat, can be seen outside stores, factories or other places where unions don't like hiring practices. But these days, Scabby is in the courts, too.

Family members says they're happy about the guilty verdict for the former police officer, who fatally shot Wright in April. But they say it's not true justice.

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison about former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pleading guilty to violating George Floyd's civil rights.

The Canadian powwow and round dance act perform a meditative set for globalFEST.