Around the Nation

Girl Knocks Over 'Elf On The Shelf,' Calls 911

8:08am December 24, 2015

She was worried the toy would tell Santa she'd been naughty. The police officer who came to her house promised to tell Santa it was an accident, if she promised to use 911 only for emergencies.

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Alaska's Pot Cafes Will Give Patrons A Taste Of Cannabis

7:39am December 24, 2015

by Elizabeth Jenkins

Alaska is about to become the first state to have pot cafes where people can buy and consume marijuana. The state's marijuana control board recently approved on-site consumption at retail stores.

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'Tranquility' Is A Way Station On Iowa's Campaign Trail

7:15am December 24, 2015

by Tamara Keith

Presidential campaigns involve hundreds of paid staff and thousands of volunteers. A critical element is supporter housing. Kurt Meyer opens his home to campaign employees, volunteers and candidates.

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Politics & Government

Carly Fiorina's Start In Business Began In Washington, D.C.

6:14am December 24, 2015

by Brian Naylor

GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina is best known as the former head of Hewlett-Packard. We explore where she got her start in business. (This piece initially aired on Sept. 25, 2015 on ATC.)

Volunteer Belen Sisa registering voters for Democrat Bernie Sanders in Phoenix, Az., last month. Sisa, who is not a U.S. citizen, recently accepted a job with the Sanders campaign.

Politics & Government

Can't Vote But Campaigning Hard For Presidential Candidates

6:00am December 24, 2015

by Jude Joffe-Block

Some young immigrants whose parents brought them to the U.S. without papers are working for Democratic candidates who support a path to citizenship for them.

In 2015, Race And Tolerance Permeated The National Dialogue

5:10am December 24, 2015

by Gene Demby

When NPR's Steve Inskeep sat down with President Obama for his year end interview, the president said he is optimistic about where the country is heading. We explore the topic further.

A snow gun sits idle at the Mount Sunapee Ski resort in Newbury, N.H., on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015. Unusually warm weather has forced many ski resorts to delay their seasons â or get creative.

Snowless Ski Resorts Offer Hiking, Mini Golf — Or Pleas For Donations

6:23pm December 23, 2015

by Camila Domonoske

For mountains in the Midwest and Northeast, this is the winter that just won't start. That means resorts are re-opening summer activities — or, in some cases, asking the public for good ideas.

National

Despite Grim Media Reports, Crime Rates Are Actually Down In The U.S.

5:05pm December 23, 2015

Media reports this past year have gestured toward an incoming crime wave. But according to a study from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, crime rates are actually down from last year and half what they were in 1990. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Matthew Friedman, an economist at the Brennan Center and co-author of this report, about why crime is down and why murder rates are slightly up.

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You might be able to get fungus-free toenails, but it could cost you.

It's Costing A Lot Of Money To Make Those Toenails Fungus-Free

5:02pm December 23, 2015

by Angus Chen

The health care system could save millions of dollars on treating toenail fungus by cutting out one test, researchers say. But that means that some people might take medication they didn't need.

Despite Energy Savings, Consumers In Vermont Remain Cautious

4:07pm December 23, 2015

by Nina Keck

Average gasoline prices fell below $2 a gallon this week. That means U.S. consumers saved more than $100 billion this year at the gas pump, or about $550 per licensed driver. At the same time, falling natural gas prices — combined with warm temperatures in much of the country — will mean big savings on heating bills. But consumers don't seem to be spending more yet. Why? In Vermont, at least, people are worried about warm days hurting tourism.