Around the Nation

National

Do-It-Yourself Library Brings Neighborhood Together

7:40am October 19, 2013

Dina Moreno of Seattle describes how her family built a "Little Free Library," one of thousands of miniature lending spots popping up around the country. The library, the size of a doll house, has helped bring the neighborhood together.

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Pastor Jamie Coots holds a snake at Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name Church of Middlesboro, Ky.

National

Serpent Experts Try To Demystify Pentecostal Snake Handling

10:09pm October 18, 2013

by John Burnett

Earlier this month, NPR reported on a small group of Pentecostal Christians who handle snakes to prove their faith in God. We wondered why the handlers are bitten so rarely, and why so few of those snakebites are lethal. Herpetologists who have studied the snake-handling phenomenon have some theories.

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Moms Petition Mars To Remove Artificial Dyes From M&M's

5:35pm October 18, 2013

by Allison Aubrey

The petition to candy-maker Mars is motivated by concerns that artificial colorings can make some kids hyperactive. In Europe, natural dyes have now outstripped their artificial counterparts.

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Daisy Coleman, now 16, looks at trophies and other awards she's won for beauty pageants, dancing and sports. She has attempted suicide at least twice since waking up in freezing temperatures on her doorstep.

National

Nearly Two Years Later, A Controversial Rape Case Is Reviewed

5:35pm October 18, 2013

by Peggy Lowe

In March 2012, two Missouri high school athletes were charged in a sexual assault case — and the charges were dropped three months later. Now, a county prosecutor will ask a judge to look at accusations. The firestorm surrounding the case was fueled in part by "hacktivist" crusaders Anonymous.

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Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, in New York City.

Wilted Reputations Left By Shutdown And Default Threat

5:35pm October 18, 2013

by John Ydstie

There was a sense of relief Thursday as the U.S. government went back to work and once again skipped past default. But around the world, many investors wonder whether the U.S. is going to be in fiscal crisis mode for some time to come, and how the country's currency and creditworthiness will be viewed by others.

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Obamacare Fight Leads Sen. Roberts To Turn Against Old Friend Sebelius

1:28pm October 18, 2013

by Don Gonyea

Despite their failure to defund the health care law, Republicans still detest it — and now there's a movement underway to oust Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. What's unexpected is that the effort is being led by Sen. Pat Roberts, a fellow Kansan she has long had close ties to.

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After Shutdown Dust Clears, Where Does Boehner Stand?

12:23pm October 18, 2013

Weeks after vowing that House Republicans would not capitulate to President Obama's demands for "clean" bills reopening the government and raising the debt ceiling, Speaker John Boehner led his caucus in doing exactly that. Only about a third of Republicans voted "yes" on the bill with Boehner, but Boehner's standing among Tea Party conservatives in his caucus may have actually improved.

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During Shutdown, EPA Office Finds Old Soup In Office Fridge

12:23pm October 18, 2013

Even after sending home nearly all its staff during the shutdown, the Chicago office of the Environmental Protection Agency managed to detect a potentially toxic substance. A 16-year-old can of Campbell's soup was discovered in a refrigerator there.

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Is Pitbull 'Mr. Education'? Rapper Opens Charter School In Miami

9:52am October 18, 2013

by Claudio Sanchez

Pitbull is just one of a growing number of celebrities who've lent their names and opened their wallets to the charter school movement. His Sports Leadership And Management Academy opened in Miami this fall.

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Gary Robins sits in the chair of his Supercuts salon in Media, Pa., one of 41 he owns throughout Philadelphia and Delaware.

The Roots Of Franchising Took Hold In A Hair Salon Chain

10:23am October 17, 2013

by Uri Berliner

Franchising is commonplace throughout the retail and service economy, whose pioneers included a former servant turned hair salon owner in the late 19th century. Such businesses are not for everyone, but Gary Robins, who owns dozens of Supercuts, says the setup has allowed him to grow more quickly than if he were on his own.

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