National

National

NYPD To Disband Controversial Unit That Spied On Muslims

4:33pm April 16, 2014

The Demographics Unit was trying to root out terrorist threats, but never produced a usable lead. Kelly McEvers talks to journalist Matt Apuzzo, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the unit.

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What motivated Edward Snowden to leak NSA secrets? Bryan Burrough, Suzanna Andrews and Sarah Ellison explore Snowden's background in an article for Vanity Fair.

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Edward Snowden: From 'Geeky' Dropout To NSA Leaker

3:44pm April 16, 2014

What motivated the former NSA contractor to divulge carefully guarded NSA secrets? A new Vanity Fair article takes a look back at the "kid from the Maryland suburbs."

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Sending Money On An Overseas Round Trip To Avoid Taxes

6:03pm April 15, 2014

by Jim Zarroli

Some investors avoid paying taxes in a move called round-tripping — shifting money offshore, then investing it in U.S. stocks or bonds. A study estimates it costs the U.S. billions in lost revenues.

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Oil Is Not All That's Booming In North Dakota — So Is Drug Trade

5:29pm April 15, 2014

by NPR Staff

Local and federal authorities worry over a rise in North Dakota's drug trade. Sharon Cohen of the Associated Press explains the proposed solutions to the issue, which some tie to the recent oil boom.

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National

Months Of Training And A Moment Of Silence As Marathon Draws Near

5:29pm April 15, 2014

by Audie Cornish

Even as Boston pays tribute to the victims of the marathon bombing, runners are preparing to run in the race next week. NPR is following the stories of eight of these participants, dubbed the "NPR 8."

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National

The Long Wait On Safety Rules For The 'Soda Can' Of Rail Cars

5:29pm April 15, 2014

by David Schaper

Nine months after the deadly crash of a runaway oil train just over the U.S. border in Canada, U.S. regulators still haven't enacted new safety standards for tank cars known for their thin shells.

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National

'Washington Post' And 'Guardian' Win Pulitzer For NSA Stories

7:20am April 15, 2014

by Mandalit del Barco

Journalism's highest honor, the Pulitzer Prize, went to two paper for their coverage of the leak of National Security Agency documents. The Post and Guardian relied on data provided by Edward Snowden.

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National

Nevada Ranch Dispute Ends As Feds Back Down — For Now

6:42pm April 14, 2014

by Ted Robbins

A Wild West-style dispute between a Nevada rancher and the Bureau of Land Management has subsided — at least for the moment. Saying Cliven Bundy owed substantial back fees for allowing cattle to graze on federal land, the BLM had begun rounding up his cattle. But following protests from Bundy and hundreds of others, some armed, the BLM backed down, for now.

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A Philadelphia Gas Works employee replaces old steel and cast-iron pipes with new plastic pipes that are less likely to leak.

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After Deaths, Renewed Focus On Leaky Gas Pipelines

6:42pm April 14, 2014

by Jeff Brady

The effort to replace thousands of miles of aging, corroded pipes — which could take decades and cost billions — is receiving fresh attention after an explosion last month in New York killed eight.

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West has been actively restoring and rebuilding homes and buildings in the past year. "We started with the explosion, and diligently we've fixed the problems," says Mayor Tommy Muska.

A 'Roller Coaster' Year For Texas Town Rocked By Blast

6:42pm April 14, 2014

by Wade Goodwyn

Some lawmakers say a deadly fertilizer plant explosion in West last year could be the state's best opportunity to pass needed safety measures. But it's going to be an uphill battle.

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