Around the Nation

World News

Goods Sold In Cuban Shops Often Come From Florida Stores

9:51am July 08, 2014

by Greg Allen

Some stores in and around Miami specialize in the Cuba trade, selling everything from discount clothes to car parts for Soviet-era cars. It's a legal way around the 50-year-old trade embargo.

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First Trial Begins For A Friend Of Marathon Bombing Suspect

9:51am July 08, 2014

by Tovia Smith

Azamat Tazhayakov, a friend of suspected bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, is accused of obstruction of justice. The native of Kazakhstan is denying the charges saying he cooperated with authorities.

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Buddhist Monks Face Jail Time For July 4 Fireworks Display

9:51am July 08, 2014

Albuquerque, N.M., imposed strict restrictions on fireworks displays. The monks say they didn't know about the ban since they don't watch TV, listen to the radio or read the news.

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Rick and Marianne wash dishes together. She no longer remembers that he is her husband.

As A Husband Becomes Caregiver To His Wife, A Marriage Evolves

7:56am July 08, 2014

by Julia Mitric

Rick Rayburn became a full-time caregiver to Marianne, his wife of 42 years, after she developed dementia. She may not be the woman he married, but he says she's helping him become a better husband.

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Marvin Ramos, now 18, was overwhelmed when his daughter, Hailey, was born. But now he says he's determined to be the best father he can be. "I haven't run away," he says, "and I never want to."

Teen Tries To Be The Parent His Own Dad Never Was

8:40pm July 07, 2014

by NPR Staff

Marvin Ramos' father says Ramos ruined his life by having a child at 17. But while he struggles, Ramos, now 18, is determined to be an active part of his daughter's life.

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Firecracker Man Calls Himself A Little Nuts

1:14pm July 07, 2014

John Fletcher of Michigan celebrated Independence Day by setting off 10,500 firecrackers attached to his body. He's done this for years. Sometimes he gets injured.

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Funnel Cloud Photo Bombs Wedding Pix

1:14pm July 07, 2014

As a Canadian bride and groom posed for a close-up — down the road from their ceremony — a funnel cloud appeared behind them.

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National

Increasing Use Of Oil Trains Inspires Backlash From States

12:18pm July 07, 2014

by Kirk Siegler

It's been a year since a train carrying crude oil exploded near a town in Quebec, killing nearly 50. The accident drew attention to the use of railroads to ship crude from North Dakota to the coasts.

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People line up at the FamilySource Center in Los Angeles, an organization in one of President Obama's five designated "Promise Zones" that aims to help fight poverty in the area.

Programs Target Poverty In Obama's 5 'Promise Zones'

11:02am July 07, 2014

by NPR Staff

The idea is to basically carpet-bomb specific urban neighborhoods and rural areas with programs like after-school classes, GED courses and job training, with the goal of turning those areas around.

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Arts

On The Hunt For The Nation's Best Burrito

9:23am July 07, 2014

Anna Maria Barry-Jester has been traveling the USA, eating, photographing, blogging and ranking the nation's burritos for the site FiveThirtyEight. She tells NPR's Tamara Keith about the epic journey.

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