Around the Nation

The 2011 Asparagus Queen, Megan Roskan, and runner-up Christine Merten wave to spectators during an Independence Day parade in Whitehall, Mich. With interests waning in agricultural pageants, organizers are relaxing the requirements to encourage more peop

National

All Hail The Asparagus Queen! How Ag Pageants Lure New Contestants

7:33pm February 03, 2014

by NPR Staff

Some farming communities are struggling to find enough contestants for the pageants that crown monarchs like the Asparagus Queen and Beef Queen. So they are relaxing the pageant rules to spice up the competition.

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The NRA now runs the Great American Outdoor Show, but despite adding a shooting sports hall, the group says it's not a gun show.

Outdoor Show Reopens Under New Management: The NRA

7:33pm February 03, 2014

by Ben Allen

The show was canceled last year in the wake of the killings in Newtown, Conn. Now, the Great American Outdoor Show is back on in Pennsylvania this week, and it's bigger than ever.

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Following Oil Boom In N. Dakota: A Cultural Blooming?

2:25pm February 03, 2014

by Dan Boyce

The oil fields of western North Dakota are bringing vast economic opportunity to a region that just 10 years ago was in decline. Yet, this vitality is rough around the edges and high art and culture are rare commodities. One organization is trying to change that by sending two professional writers into towns most impacted by the boom to conduct creative writing workshops.

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Politics & Government

Voters In New Orleans Give Mayor Mitch Landrieu 2nd Term

7:43am February 03, 2014

by Eve Troeh

Over the weekend, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu won a triumphant re-election victory. Even with the major progress New Orleans has made since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, there are plenty of challenges for Landrieu to tackle in a second term, including high rates of unemployment and crime.

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Murder Trial Reminiscent Of Zimmerman Case To Begin In Florida

7:43am February 03, 2014

by Greg Allen

In Jacksonville, a murder trial begins Monday that once again will bring up the state's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law. Michael Dunn, who is white, is charged in the shooting death of Jordan Davis, a 17-year-old black man, in a dispute over loud music outside a convenience store.

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The Brutal Business Of Heroin Brings Wave Of Overdoses In Pa.

6:42pm February 02, 2014

According to state and local authorities, 22 people in Western Pennsylvania have died of heroin overdose in less than two weeks. The wave of deaths is due to the appearance of an especially potent batch of heroin, mixed with the painkiller Fentanyl. NPR's Arun Rath speaks with Dr. Neil Capretto, medical director of the Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh.

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How To Predict The Super Bowl Champions

12:00am February 02, 2014

This weekend is all about Sunday's Super Bowl matchup between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. NPR's Tom Goldman joins Scott Simon to talk about the history of the game, and the one key factoid that predicts Sunday's winner that no one has mentioned yet.

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Sean Morey, then with the Arizona Cardinals, celebrates after blocking a punt against the Seattle Seahawks in 2007. Morey, who suffers from post-concussion syndrome, retired from the NFL in 2010 on the advice of doctors.

Sidelined By Brain Injury, Ex-NFL Player Copes With 'Desperation'

7:51pm January 31, 2014

by Melissa Block

During his 10-year career, Sean Morey absorbed countless hits, more than a few of which resulted in concussions. "Every time I hit somebody it was like getting tasered," he says. Now, he suffers from lingering conditions, like debilitating headaches, and is an advocate for players' health.

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More Republicans Push For Fixing, Not Repealing, Obamacare

7:51pm January 31, 2014

by Eric Whitney

Some conservatives say the health care law is here to stay. They're urging Republicans to shift their focus from repealing it to changing parts they don't like. The Tea Party wing calls that capitulation. And it's pushing primary challengers against Republicans they say are soft on repeal.

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New York Looks To Bring Bitcoin Out Of The Shadows

2:58pm January 31, 2014

by Ilya Marritz

Bitcoin has been tied to the dark side of the Internet, where it's been linked to drug trafficking. But New York's financial regulators say they want to foster innovation and are looking to legitimize the virtual currency by licensing it.

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