National

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, is among a bipartisan group of eight senators who this week announced a plan to overhaul the nation's immigration laws.

What's Behind Rubio's 'Full Circle Back' On Immigration?

7:17pm February 01, 2013

by David Welna

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., appears to have reversed his views on an earned path to citizenship, which in a Tea Party-backed 2010 campaign he called "code for amnesty." Some critics say the young Cuban-American lawmaker seems to be looking ahead to 2016 and a possible White House bid.

Queue Listen Now

The winding down of the war in Afghanistan and efforts to slice the budget deficit will likely mean more spending cuts for the Pentagon.

Pentagon Remains Big Target In Likely Budget Cuts

7:17pm February 01, 2013

by Tom Bowman

Although a fiscal cliff was narrowly prevented at the beginning at the year, there's another budget deadline approaching. If Congress doesn't act, billions in automatic budget cuts will slice military spending, possibly hurting contractors and some personnel.

Queue Listen Now

National

Boeing Contract Offer Could Prompt Engineers Strike

2:18pm February 01, 2013

by Ashley Gross

Boeing is scrambling to figure out why two batteries malfunctioned on its 787, causing officials to ground the airplane this month. And at a time when Boeing most needs its skilled engineers, they're weighing a possible strike. Union leaders are considering the company's final contract offer Thursday.

Queue Listen Now

Handguns collected in South-Central Los Angeles as part of a Gun for Gift Card exchange in 2009. One teenager here says getting a gun on the streets is just "one phone call away."

National

South L.A. Teens Doubt New Laws Will Change Gun Culture

1:04pm February 01, 2013

by Mandalit del Barco

In South Los Angeles, murders, robberies and rapes are common — and so are guns and shootings. "We're so used to this," says one teen. "This is everyday life for us." Proposed gun laws don't seem relevant when so many old guns are stolen or passed around, and when serial numbers are filed off.

Queue Listen Now

How The Glock Became America's Weapon Of Choice

10:18am February 01, 2013

In his book Glock: The Rise of America's Gun, Paul Barrett traces how the sleek, high-capacity Austrian weapon found its way into Hollywood films and rap lyrics, not to mention two-thirds of all U.S. police departments.

Queue Listen Now

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Colin Kaepernick?

7:55pm January 31, 2013

by Mike Pesca

The gifted quarterback can run and pocket pass, skills that helped him lead the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. But what will it take for the Baltimore Ravens to stop — or at least slow down — Kaepernick on Sunday?

Queue Listen Now

An anonymous artist started placing the hand-painted gnomes on the bases of utility poles all over Oakland.

Painted Gnomes Allowed To Roam On Oakland Utility Poles

7:55pm January 31, 2013

by NPR Staff

Over the past year, small, elfin creatures started springing up all around Oakland, Calif., on the base of utility poles. The local utility had vowed to remove them but now says the paintings can stay.

Queue Listen Now

Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, based in Washington, D.C.

Coming Home — And Out — In The South

5:17pm January 31, 2013

There's no way to really generalize what it's like to be gay in the South. But to get an idea, we spent a day with Chad Griffin — the newest president of a Washington-based gay rights group — as he spent his first day on the job in his hometown of Arkadelphia, Ark.

Queue Listen Now

National

What The 'New York Times' Hack Tells Us About China

2:27pm January 31, 2013

The New York Times announced late Wednesday that they have been warding off cyber attacks from Chinese hackers since September. Wired senior reporter Kim Zetter explains who the hackers target, how they do it, and why.

Queue Listen Now

The Barclays Center in New York, the new home of the Brooklyn Nets, was built partially with investment from overseas donors seeking U.S. citizenship. A little-known immigration program allows wealthy investors to get a green card in exchange for funding

Investing In Citizenship: For The Rich, A Road To The U.S.

2:17pm January 31, 2013

by NPR Staff

The road can be long and difficult for some wanting to immigrate to the U.S. For those with money to spend, though, there's a different path. The EB-5 visa program offers green cards in exchange for investment in U.S. businesses. Rich immigrants can live the American dream, but what does the U.S. get in return?

Queue Listen Now