National

Assessing Hillary Clinton's Legacy

12:04pm December 28, 2012

by Michele Kelemen

She is about to step aside as secretary of state and "step off this incredibly high wire." She generally gets high praise, though some critics say her role was limited on the major foreign policy questions of the past four years.

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Templeton, Iowa, is a tiny farming community mostly unchanged since the days of Prohibition.

The Rebirth Of Rye Whiskey And Nostalgia For 'The Good Stuff'

11:04am December 28, 2012

by Noah Adams

Rye was all but pushed off the market by sweeter, corn-based bourbon after Prohibition, but it might be coming back, no illegal still required. Bartenders from coast to coast seem to prefer its intense flavor for their cocktail creations.

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John Cruitt reunited with his third-grade teacher, Cecile Doyle, to tell her about the impact she had on him as he coped with his mother's death.

National

Decades Later, Student Finds Teacher To Say 'Thank You'

7:45am December 28, 2012

When John Cruitt's mother died, his teacher was there to help him cope. More than 50 years later, Cruitt sought to find the woman who, he says, changed his life.

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People visit a memorial outside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 15.

Shootings Leave Sandy Hook Survivors Rethinking The Odds

11:02pm December 27, 2012

by Alix Spiegel

The probability that an individual will experience a school shooting may be low. But when the improbable happens to you, where do you find comfort?

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Rain clouds move over the remnants of parched cornstalks on Aug. 22 near Wiley, Colo. A summer storm came too late to help farmers whose crops were decimated in the wide zone of exceptional drought in Colorado's eastern plains.

An Abundance Of Extreme Weather Has Many On Edge

9:40pm December 27, 2012

by Jennifer Ludden

It was the warmest year on record and brought a series of extreme weather events, from wildfires and floods to drought and a devastating derecho. Polls show a big jump this year in the number of people connecting such disasters with climate change.

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Schwarzkopf, Commander In Gulf War, Dies At 78

9:40pm December 27, 2012

Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the Desert Storm offensive that drove Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait, has died. Audie Cornish talks with NPR's Tom Bowman about the much-decorated soldier.

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With Clock Ticking, 'Fiscal Cliff ' Looms Ever-Closer

2:23pm December 27, 2012

Just five days remain for the government to reach an agreement to avoid the tax hikes and spending cuts set to take effect Jan. 1, 2013. Many analysts now say the deadline is unlikely to be met. NPR's Ron Elving explains the looming deadline and the possible ramifications of going over the fiscal cliff.

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National

As Families Change Shape, Societies May, Too

2:16pm December 27, 2012

The family has long been the central unit of many societies. But now, people around the world are marrying less and having fewer children. By 2050, seniors may outnumber children worldwide. Geographer Joel Kotkin shares a new report outlining the economic, political and cultural implications of the changes underway in the traditional family unit.

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National

Holiday Travelers Stranded By Severe Weather

5:13am December 27, 2012

by Claudio Sanchez

A major storm system is causing havoc for travelers trying to get home from their holiday destinations. Powerful winds and blizzard conditions have hit parts of the U.S.

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A hilltop view of the 18-foot fence along the U.S.-Mexico border west of Nogales, Ariz.

Is The Border Secure Enough To Tackle The Immigration System?

8:10pm December 26, 2012

by Ted Robbins

"Secure the borders first" has been the cry from Republicans in Congress before they'd agree to comprehensive immigration reform. That stance seems to be changing, as some experts say demanding border security first is backward.

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