National

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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Highly detailed sonar systems aboard the research vessel Pritchard gave researchers a clear view of the sediment on the seafloor off Long Island.

Sand After Sandy: Scientists Map Seafloor For Sediment

2:29pm February 04, 2013

by Christopher Joyce

On the deck of a 27-foot boat off the shore of Long Island, researchers are using sonar to study the sand and sediment that washed away from the system of protective barrier islands and beaches by Hurricane Sandy.

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The reactor room at Babcock & Wilcox's prototype reactor outside Lynchburg, Va. The reactor vessel is behind the orange curtain.

Are Mini-Reactors The Future Of Nuclear Power?

12:15pm February 04, 2013

by Ben Bradford

The prefabricated nuclear reactors, which would be small enough to build in a factory and ship on trucks, would generate about one-tenth the power of a typical nuclear power plant. It's potentially a growth opportunity for American industry, but critics say the reactors carry a host of safety, security, environmental and economic concerns.

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A sign hangs outside a house in Miami in 2010. Currently, Florida's foreclosure legal process can take a couple of years, which critics say is hurting the housing market.

Foreclosure Process Hammers Florida's Housing Market

12:09pm February 04, 2013

by Robin Sussingham

As much of the country enjoys the start of a housing recovery, Florida is still being swamped by foreclosures. Experts blame the state's legal process, and they say it will be awhile before the housing market is fully rebuilt in the Sunshine State.

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A wood stork soars over its nest in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary near Fort Myers, Fla., in 2008, as baby wood storks wait in their nest for an adult to bring food.

Wood Stork's Endangered Status Is Up In The Air

6:16pm February 03, 2013

by Greg Allen

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife may upgrade the wood stork's status from "endangered" to "threatened." But some environmentalists and the Audubon Society says that in south Florida, the bird's population is still a long way from reaching a full recovery.

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Scientists have seen promise in the potential of stem cells, but not everyone agrees stem cell replacement therapy is ready for prime time.

FDA Challenges Stem Cell Companies As Patients Run Out Of Time

10:30am February 03, 2013

by NPR Staff

With limited options, some Americans are willing to pay thousands of dollars for stem cell replacement therapy. But the Food and Drug Administration, as well as many scientists, have concerns about its safety and argue more research and oversight is needed.

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