National

Wisconsin Voters Divided On Whether Job Growth Is Enough

6:51pm September 04, 2014

by Scott Horsley

GOP Gov. Scott Walker is touting an economic turnaround. But his Democratic challenger, Mary Burke, argues that the state's recovery falls short of what was promised four years ago.

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When Wildlife Documentaries Jump The Shark

5:54pm September 04, 2014

by NPR Staff

Networks like the Discovery Channel have been criticized for pushing entertainment at the cost of science, with fake "documentaries" about everything from mermaids to mythical monster sharks.

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Sen. Kaine: Strikes On Islamic State Must Be Approved By Congress

4:48pm September 04, 2014

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., discusses the need for President Obama to seek Congressional approval before moving ahead with military actions against the Islamic State.

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When Dawn Gioia first received a request to lease mineral rights under her home, in a downtown neighborhood in Brighton, Colo., she thought it was a scam.

Residents Worry Urban Drilling Will Turn Downtowns Into Oil Towns

3:18pm September 04, 2014

by Lesley McClurg

Drilling for oil and gas in rural and suburban areas isn't new. But energy extraction companies are now moving into more densely populated areas, raising a new set of concerns for city residents.

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North Carolina District Breaks Ties With Teach For America

7:04pm September 03, 2014

by Reema Khrais

The school board in Durham, N.C., voted 6-1 to end its relationship with Teach For America, after the current crop of teachers finish out their stints. Board members cited the lack of experience and the limited commitment of these young teachers in the district's "high-needs" schools. Education reporter Reema Khrais of WUNC explains the situation.

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Federal Regulators Impose Tough New Rules For Banks

7:04pm September 03, 2014

by Jim Zarroli

Federal banking regulators vote Wednesday on new rules that will require banks to increase their holdings of highly liquid assets. The new rules stem directly from problems experienced during the financial crisis, when banks found they couldn't quickly convert assets into cash.

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Colorado Republicans Buck National Party Trends On Immigration

7:04pm September 03, 2014

by Kirk Siegler

If the GOP is going to try to make inroads with Latinos in swing states, they might take a look at the former steel town of Pueblo, Colo., where Republicans say their pitch is starting to resonate.

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Page County, Va., Sheriff John Thomas received an MRAP for his department in May. "Is it overkill? Yeah, it is. I mean, for our use, it's more armor than we need. But it's free," he says.

Should Local Police Get The Military's Extra Armored Trucks?

6:17pm September 03, 2014

by David Welna

The Pentagon has been transferring mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to local police. Built to protect U.S. forces from roadside bomb blasts at war, these huge vehicles aren't always welcome.

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Spires from the Mormon temple in downtown Salt Lake City reach to the sky.

Podcaster Risks Excommunication For Defending Gay Mormons

4:26pm September 03, 2014

by Terry Gildea

Earlier this week, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints excommunicated an advocate for female priesthood. This weekend, a Utah man who questioned church doctrine might face a similar fate.

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Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in December.

In Iraq, Coordination With Iran Not Impossible, Gen. Dempsey Says

4:26pm September 03, 2014

by Scott Neuman

"I'm not predicting that it's entirely impossible that we would at any point act collaboratively with Iran," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff tells NPR.

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