National

Bonet and his sister, Didra, are shown here in Puerto Rico in this undated family photo.

Puerto Rico's Battered Economy: The Greece Of The Caribbean?

10:51am February 06, 2013

by David Greene

With the highest unemployment rate in the U.S. and a mountain of debt, the island is facing a declining population. But those who stay insist they're there for the long haul.

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National

Postal Service Plans To End Saturday Mail Delivery

10:51am February 06, 2013

The U.S. Postal Service is expected to announce Wednesday that letters will no longer be delivered six days a week. The move starts this summer and should save $2 billion. Saturday package delivery, however, will continue.

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Health researchers say the proportion of people in their late 40s to 60s with diabetes, hypertension or obesity has increased over the past two decades.

Aging Poorly: Another Act Of Baby Boomer Rebellion

10:40am February 06, 2013

by Rob Stein

Many of them have cut out smoking, and rates of heart attack and emphysema have declined. But baby boomers are burdened with diabetes, hypertension and many other chronic conditions. Researchers say too little exercise and a rise in obesity threaten baby boomers' golden years.

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The Xlerator hand dryer is made almost entirely of American components and assembled in Massachusetts. But the company's owner says it's simply not cost-effective to use an American-made motor.

Why Is It So Hard To Make A 100 Percent American Hand Dryer?

8:17pm February 05, 2013

by NPR Staff

The Xlerator high-speed hand dryer is made almost entirely of U.S.-made parts and manufactured by a small workforce in Massachusetts. But its motor, like almost all nonindustrial motors, is made in Asia — meaning it's very difficult for small manufactured goods to be entirely American made.

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Miguel Fontanez Sr., the owner and founder of Pioco's Chicken in Kissimmee, Fla., serves customers at his restaurant. He opened the restaurant 11 years ago, and it has become a hub for the area's large Puerto Rican community.

One-Way Tickets To Florida: Puerto Ricans Escape Island Woes

6:09pm February 05, 2013

by Greg Allen

Life in Puerto Rico is tougher than ever. The U.S. territory — popularly known as "the island of enchantment" — faces a decaying economy and escalating violent crime rate. Many residents are leaving the island in record numbers and embracing the mainland as home.

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Craig McCarl dips Xlerator covers two at a time into a chrome bath. He has worked for Excel Dryer in East Longmeadow, Mass., for 31 years.

How One Company Reinvented The Hand Dryer

4:52pm February 05, 2013

by NPR Staff

Bathroom hand dryers used to be a hated product because they took too long to work. But a decade ago, a family-owned business in Massachusetts came out with a new product that changed the way we dry our hands.

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Shirley Chambers cries during Monday's funeral for her son Ronnie Chambers, 33. She had four children, three boys and a girl, all victims of gun violence in Chicago over a period of 18 years.

National

Gun Violence Robs Chicago Mother Of 4th Child

3:40pm February 05, 2013

by Cheryl Corley

Shirley Chambers' first child was murdered about 18 years ago. A few years later, her daughter and son were shot to death. And her remaining son was buried on Monday. Chambers says "We've all got to work together" to stop the violence, but she's not sure new gun restrictions or more police on the streets will make a difference.

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Jeannine Sato holds her 2-year-old son, Keni; 5-year-old Hana is held by her father, Mas Sato. Jeannine decided to leave her job when her employers said she could take six weeks off after giving birth to her first child or risk losing her job.

FMLA Not Really Working For Many Employees

1:47pm February 05, 2013

by Jennifer Ludden

Labor organizations say the Family and Medical Leave Act is too restrictive and that workers often have to choose between their family and their livelihood. Now, there are calls for Congress to expand the law and provide paid leave.

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National

Ala. Bunker Standoff Ends With Gunman Dead, Boy Alive

10:29am February 05, 2013

Authorities in Alabama say a 5-year-old boy who was held captive for a week in an underground bunker was rescued Monday. His captor is dead. Robert Siegel talks to Dan Carsen of member station WBHM for more.

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U.S. May Build Base For Drones In Northwest Africa

2:29pm February 04, 2013

The United States is looking to base surveillance drones in the African nation of Niger. The base there will allow the U.S. unmanned vehicles to conduct operations in northern Africa, including in Mali, where France has intervened to fight Islamist militants. Tom Bowman talks to Melissa Block about the latest on the increasing U.S. military role in Africa.

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