There's an upside to cold, snowless New England days — great skating
Maine Public reporter Ari Snider heads out on a couple of Maine's lakes to explore the burgeoning sport of "wild ice skating." (Story aired on All Things Considered on Jan. 16, 2025.)
Harley Davidson Sends Pope Francis Gifts
The company sent the pope two motorcycles and a leather jacket. The occasion is a gathering of bikers in Vatican City this weekend hoping for a blessing of the motorbikes.
Bidding War Breaks Out For 2 Boston Parking Spaces
The two spaces in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood went for $560,000, according to the Boston Globe. The spaces are on crumbling asphalt in an alleyway.
Business News: A Man, A Plan, A Canal
The Nicaraguan congress has granted a Chinese tycoon the exclusive right to develop a multi-billion dollar rival to the Panama Canal. The bill grants the investor 50 years of control over the potential shipping route — pending a study of its viability.
Voters Cast Ballots In Iran's Presidential Election
It's Iran's first presidential election since the stunning vote in 2009. Back then, a surprisingly early declaration of victory for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparked a wave of protests, followed by years of government repression.
U.S. To Provide Military Support To Opposition In Syria
The Obama administration has decided to send military aid to the rebels in Syria. The decision was announced after the administration said it had concluded, with high confidence, that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons on multiple occasions over the past few months.
Talks In Turkey May Solve Violence Over Park Construction
A plan to build on a small park in Istanbul's downtown Taksim Square prompted an outpouring of opposition to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. That led to clashes between police and protesters that have killed at least five people and injured hundreds.
Detroit's Emergency Manager Meets With Creditors
Kevyn Orr will ask unions, retirees and banks to take big losses on debt the city just can't afford to pay. But Orr is walking a fine line trying to convince those parties to accept a bankruptcy-style settlement, without actually going to bankruptcy court — at least, not yet.
Maine College Students Take On A Bear Of A Study
The state is trying to keep tabs on its bear population. Undergraduates at Unity College are in the woods tranquilizing bears and collaring them so the state can better understand the animals.
U.S. Navy To Make Its Communications Less 'Rude'
The Navy has been issuing orders and messages in capital letters since the 1850s when teletype machines didn't have lower case. But to young sailors, raised on texting, "all CAPS" signifies shouting.