National

A diving whale off the coast of Southern California near the Los Angeles suburb of Palos Verdes in 2010.

Whale Traffic Jam Delights Visitors And Baffles Scientists

6:13pm December 30, 2013

by Kirk Siegler

Now is a good time to spot gray whales off the coast of Southern California, but scientists have been seeing an unusually high number of other whales. "The fact that we're getting a chance to see at this time of year fin whales, blue whales, is really a mystery," says a marine biologist.

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'Times' Report Finds No al-Qaida Involvement In Benghazi Attack

5:58pm December 30, 2013

In a 7,000-word investigative report published by The New York Times on Sunday, David Kirkpatrick revisits last year's assault on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. Kirkpatrick finds that — contrary to much commentary from mostly Republican members of Congress — al-Qaida was not involved. He joins Robert Siegel to talk about his reporting and the backlash against his conclusions.

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National

Priest Released After Court Overturns Child Endangerment Charge

4:38pm December 30, 2013

by Jeff Brady

A Catholic Church official convicted of child endangerment as part of a priest abuse scandal will be released from prison soon. An appeals court overturned his conviction and a Philadelphia judge ordered Monsignor William Lynn released on $250,000 bail. Prosecutors vow to restore the conviction.

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at the opening of the New York Genome Center on Sept. 19 in New York City.

Assessing Bloomberg's Legacy Is A Complex Task

11:16am December 30, 2013

by Margot Adler

On Tuesday, Michael Bloomberg ends his three terms as mayor of New York City. His 12 years in office were groundbreaking, locally and globally.

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A Tragic Year For Wildland Firefighters Ends In Reflection

8:22am December 30, 2013

by Kirk Siegler

Thirty-four firefighters died in the line of duty this year. The unusually high number is sparking a larger conversation about the dangers firefighters face as more homes are built in and around drought-stricken forests.

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National

The U.S. Energy Boom: Highlights Of The Year And What's Ahead

5:42pm December 29, 2013

The big energy story of 2013 was a boom in domestic oil production, especially in North Dakota. NPR's Arun Rath talks with national correspondent Jeff Brady, who saw the boom firsthand during a recent reporting trip to the state.

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National

Task Force Recommends Changes At Maryland's Prisons

11:12am December 29, 2013

by Allison Keyes

The panel has approved 18 recommendations it hopes will make things safer at the state's prisons. The proposals come on the heels of recent indictments of corrections officers and inmates at a Baltimore jail that involved drug smuggling and sexual impropriety.

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The most abundant meteorites found in Antarctica are called chondrites. They are some of the oldest objects known in the solar system.

The Hunt For Meteorites Begins In Antarctica

10:07am December 29, 2013

by Rae Ellen Bichell

Each winter, a team of scientists sets out on a search for those rare shooting stars that make it to the ground instead of burning up in the sky. There aren't many better places to look for these space rocks than Antarctica, often in areas where no human has set foot before.

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National

Still In Recovery, Okla. Builds Defenses Against Future Storms

6:54pm December 28, 2013

In May, a massive mile-wide EF5 tornado devastated the city of Moore, Okla., killing 24 people. Now, seven months later, residents are rebuilding neighborhoods with improved storm shelters. NPR's Arun Rath checks in with the city's Mayor Glenn Lewis.

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National

Property Battle Leaves LA Homeless Vets With Few Options

6:54pm December 28, 2013

This year saw a major development in a story that NPR's Ina Jaffe has been following since 2011. NPR's Arun Ruth checks in her about a group of homeless, disabled veterans who filed a lawsuit seeking housing on the sprawling campus of the VA health care facility in West Los Angeles.

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