National

Battles And Bashes: What's News In Sports

6:45pm February 01, 2014

From the NFL's ban on head-to-head hits, the change in the playoff structure and predictions for the Super Bowl, A. Martinez from member station KPCC joins NPR's Arun Rath to discuss the latest in sports news.

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Janet Yellen smiles as President Obama announces her nomination for Federal Reserve chairwoman on Oct. 9.

After Overcoming Early Obstacles, Yellen Assumes Fed's Top Job

7:51pm January 31, 2014

by John Ydstie

The world of central banking is largely a man's world. But Janet Yellen, the Federal Reserve's new leader, has been undeterred by such barriers since she was in high school in Brooklyn. Now global financial markets will be watching her every move.

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Sean Morey, then with the Arizona Cardinals, celebrates after blocking a punt against the Seattle Seahawks in 2007. Morey, who suffers from post-concussion syndrome, retired from the NFL in 2010 on the advice of doctors.

Sidelined By Brain Injury, Ex-NFL Player Copes With 'Desperation'

7:51pm January 31, 2014

by Melissa Block

During his 10-year career, Sean Morey absorbed countless hits, more than a few of which resulted in concussions. "Every time I hit somebody it was like getting tasered," he says. Now, he suffers from lingering conditions, like debilitating headaches, and is an advocate for players' health.

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More Republicans Push For Fixing, Not Repealing, Obamacare

7:51pm January 31, 2014

by Eric Whitney

Some conservatives say the health care law is here to stay. They're urging Republicans to shift their focus from repealing it to changing parts they don't like. The Tea Party wing calls that capitulation. And it's pushing primary challengers against Republicans they say are soft on repeal.

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New York Looks To Bring Bitcoin Out Of The Shadows

2:58pm January 31, 2014

by Ilya Marritz

Bitcoin has been tied to the dark side of the Internet, where it's been linked to drug trafficking. But New York's financial regulators say they want to foster innovation and are looking to legitimize the virtual currency by licensing it.

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The farm bill proposes a $1 billion cut to food stamps, which would affect nearly 850,000 struggling families who already depend on food banks like the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland, Calif.

Small Cuts To Food Stamps Add Up To Big Pains For Many Recipients

8:00pm January 30, 2014

by Richard Gonzales

The proposed farm bill would cut nearly $1 billion a year from the food stamp program, known as SNAP. While it's far less than what Republicans had originally wanted, the proposal will affect roughly 850,000 households, many of which are still struggling from cuts made only three months ago.

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In 1984, an American Army unit engaged in this firefight as it shielded a Soviet defector who made a break across the Demilitarized Zone between North Korea and South Korea. Thirty years after the battle, one of the U.S. soldiers, Mark Deville, has finall

National

A Medal Of Valor, 30 Years In Coming

11:17am January 30, 2014

by Tom Bowman

Three decades after U.S. troops helped protect a Soviet defector during a firefight with North Korean troops, one of the soldiers finally received his Silver Star. Mark Deville's comrades were awarded their medals years ago.

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Meet The myRA — Obama's New Retirement Plan

11:00am January 30, 2014

by Yuki Noguchi

On Wednesday, President Obama directed the Treasury Department to create a new retirement plan called "myRA." The decision, a circumvention of Congress, follows through on one of the promises made by the president in his State of the Union. As Yuki Noguchi reports, the success of the plan may depend on its ability to move beyond the limitations of existing retirement plans.

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How Industrial Chemical Regulation Failed West Virginia

7:55pm January 29, 2014

For Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward, the recent chemical spill — and sometimes confusing information authorities have provided about the risks to citizens — reflect long-standing regulatory failures in the state. He says West Virginia has "basically ignored" recommendations for stricter oversight.

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National

This Woman Goes To The Dogs — And Spays Many Of Them

1:17pm January 29, 2014

by Adam Ragusea

In a community overrun with stray animals, one woman in Macon, Ga., has taken it upon herself to spay every single female dog at her own expense. The stray dog problem is acute in the South and has gotten worse since 2008. Kerri Fickling decided she would never really solve the problem piecemeal; the only solution was to stop overpopulation at the source, and if no one else would do it, she would. Adam Ragusea, of Georgia Public Broadcasting, reports on her quest.

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