National

Is A Recess Appointment Valid If The Senate Says It's Not Really Gone?

9:09am December 05, 2012

by Carrie Johnson

President Obama and Senate Republicans have different views when it comes to what counts as "recess." A federal appeals court is now weighing the question in a case challenging three of Obama's appointments.

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When The Art Of The Deal Includes Improv Training

9:09am December 05, 2012

by Julia Flucht

Some top-tier business schools — Duke, UCLA, MIT and Stanford — are teaching improv as a way for students to increase collaboration, creativity and risk taking. An instructor at MIT says success in business, as in improvisation, can hinge on your ability to rebound.

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Electronic medical records can have drawbacks, too.

Computerized Health Records Breed Digital Discontent For Some Doctors

6:50pm December 04, 2012

by Eric Whitney

Some doctors are unhappy about switching from paper records to electronic ones. While the government is creating incentives for doctors to switch, some say the hassles and expense exceed the rewards.

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MIT health economist Jonathan Gruber, who explained the ins and outs of health overhaul in a comic book, says that excluding the value of health insurance from federal taxes is a terrible idea, at least from an economist's point of view.

The Perilous Politics Of The Health Insurance Tax Break

6:50pm December 04, 2012

by Julie Rovner

Economists say that excluding the value of employer-sponsored health insurance from federal taxes makes no sense. But many worry that changing the tax code could mean higher taxes or that employers would push down the value of the health insurance they provide.

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Despite their recent woes, "daily deal" companies Groupon and Living Social can be profitable, says analyst Arvind Bhatia.

What's Next For The Daily Deal Business Model?

8:22am December 04, 2012

by NPR Staff

Are the days of "daily deal" coupons about to expire? Shares of email coupon company Groupon are down nearly 80 percent since going public last year. And its smaller rival, Living Social, plans to lay off as many as 400 employees, after reporting a net loss of more than $560 million in the third quarter.

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The restored building where the "Gadget" atomic bomb was assembled would be included in the Manhattan Project National Park. Gadget was the nickname given to the first nuclear bomb, tested at Trinity Site, N.M., in July 1945.

National

Manhattan Project Sites Part Of Proposed Park

6:55am December 04, 2012

by Ted Robbins

Congress is considering whether to turn three top-secret sites involved with creating the atomic bomb into one of the country's most unusual national parks. Critics question the need for a park that celebrates nuclear weapons. Supporters say the park would ask tough questions about lessons learned.

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Rabbi A. Romi Cohn, a noted mohel, prepares an infant for circumcision at Congregation Shaare Zion in Brooklyn on Sept. 4. Cohn opposes a New York City rule requiring parental consent for a type of circumcision ritual practiced by some Orthodox Jews.

New York, Orthodox Jews Clash Over Circumcision

8:25pm December 03, 2012

by Joel Rose

Several Jewish leaders are suing New York City to block a new rule regulating a circumcision ritual known as metzitzah b'peh. City health officials say the ritual, practiced by some Orthodox Jews, can spread the herpes virus to infants. But critics say the law infringes on their freedom of religion.

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In the presidential debate on Oct. 16, Mitt Romney presented a hypothetical way to cap deductions and raise revenue.

Pick A Number: Let's Play 'Cap Those Deductions'

8:35am December 03, 2012

by Scott Horsley

Mitt Romney may have lost the election, but the tax policy he floated is sticking with congressional Republicans. Rather than raising rates, the GOP would prefer to shrink or eliminate deductions. So what would that do to the deficit — and to the middle class?

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GOP Bill On Immigrant Jobs Up For House Vote

8:06am November 30, 2012

Renee Montagne talks with Rep. Raul Labrador, Republican from Idaho and one of the congressmen who introduced the bill that's set for a vote Friday. The STEM Jobs Act allows people who are in the U.S. legally who are getting advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math to stay and get their green cards, he says.

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The Rev. Eric Williams and his colleague Jannette Berkley-Patton visited StoryCorps in Kansas City, Mo., where they discussed a funeral that shaped Williams' future.

A Life's Ministry Springs From A Dilemma Over AIDS

7:05am November 30, 2012

by NPR Staff

For more than 20 years, the Rev. Eric Williams has devoted himself to educating people about AIDS and helping those who suffer from the disease. As he recalls, one funeral — and a "favor" — led him to the undertaking. World AIDS Day is Saturday.

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