National

Sen. Rubio's Response Gives GOP A Chance To Woo Hispanics

8:44am February 12, 2013

by David Welna

The 41-year-old Florida senator will deliver the official Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night. It's a chance for a party that has fared badly with both young and Hispanic voters to showcase a new stance on immigration.

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Fixing Long Lines At The Polls May Be Harder Than You Think

5:00am February 12, 2013

by Pam Fessler

President Obama is expected to once again address Election Day problems in his State of the Union address, this time with some possible solutions. But some worry that involving Congress will just make things worse. And one MIT professor says it's not yet clear what would fix the problem.

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Obama Speech To Set Second Term's Tone

5:00am February 12, 2013

by Mara Liasson

President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night will pick up where his inaugural speech left off. He's expected to bring up the issues of the economy, overhauling immigration, gun control and the budget.

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American Catholics Divided On Pope Benedict's Legacy

6:28pm February 11, 2013

by John Burnett

Catholics in the U.S. had varying reactions to Pope Benedict's surprise resignation on Monday.

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Gas, Oil Booms Bring Complications To Small Towns

3:39pm February 11, 2013

The discovery of oil and natural gas in Wyoming, Colorado and North Dakota has created a new generation of boomtowns. The explosive growth generated by the oil and gas drilling is often accompanied by an influx of new labor. The small towns near the fields wrestle to balance the economic advantages of the boom with the dramatic changes it brings to these tight-knit communities.

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National

Procedure Expected To Bog Down Hearing For Alleged Sept. 11 Planners

11:44am February 11, 2013

by Dina Temple-Raston

Pretrial hearings resume Monday for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men accused of helping plot the Sept. 11 attacks. There will be two competing narratives in the courtroom, however, with the prosecution focusing on the attacks, and the defense stressing the defendants' treatment after they were captured.

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Turkey vulture droppings can strip paint, kill grass and sicken pets. The droppings also smell really bad.

Vultures Beware: Virginia Town Targets Flock Of Unwanted Visitors

7:34am February 11, 2013

by Liz Baker

In the town of Leesburg, Va., a flock of 200 turkey vultures takes over suburban backyards every few years. Despite their seeming abundance, the birds are protected by federal law, so the residents called in backup for some official vulture harassment.

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Muslims pray during a special Eid ul-Fitr morning prayer at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Aug. 30, 2011, in Los Angeles.

As Islam Grows, U.S. Imams In Short Supply

4:58pm February 10, 2013

by John Burnett

The more than 2,100 American mosques are facing a challenge. There aren't enough imams, or spiritual leaders, to go around.

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Rise Early And Shine: Teachers And Students Try Out Longer School Days

4:58pm February 10, 2013

by Charles Lane

Kids may not like the idea of extending the average six-hour school day, but some educators and politicians do. They are experimenting with ways to increase enrichment classes and make it affordable for school districts.

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West's Allure Dulls Monkhood's Luster For Some Buddhists

4:58pm February 10, 2013

Since the Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet in 1958, reincarnated high lamas have been born in, or exposed to, the West at an increasing rate. Journalist Tim McGirk wrote about the effects of that exposure in this month's issue of The Believer.

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