Around the Nation

Politics & Government

Most Agree 'Welfare For Farmers' Has To Go

10:35am September 23, 2013

by Frank Morris

The farm bill which Congress is bitterly divided over is set to expire at the end of this month. Included in it is the $5 billion a year subsidy called Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program. It shells out money to farmers and land owners regardless of need or loss.

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Pirate Gathering In Virginia Doesn't Come Close To Record

10:35am September 23, 2013

Thousands of scallywags in costume turned up at The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Va. They wanted to break the Guinness record for largest pirate gathering. They fell short and may try again next year.

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Banned Books Week Highlights What's Taken Out At Schools

10:35am September 23, 2013

This week, booksellers and writers highlight works removed from schools and libraries. Among the banned books is Toni Morrison's Beloved which gets removed for explicit content. Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is targeted for racial issues.

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A Boston police officer wheels an injured boy down Boylston Street as medical workers carry an injured runner after the Boston Marathon bombing in April.

Boston Hospitals Share Lessons From Marathon Bombing

10:10am September 23, 2013

by Tovia Smith

Every victim who arrived at a hospital alive survived the attack. But hospitals say the experience also revealed room for improvement, and they're about to share the lessons they learned at a national conference in Washington, D.C.

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A Japanese micro-bar only has room for four customers at a time.

World News

An Introduction To What's New And What's Next

5:45pm September 21, 2013

The online magazine Ozy launched Monday, offering readers a streamlined site with original reporting and a look at trends on the horizon. Co-founder Carlos Watson talks about his vision for the site.

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Cities Race To The Top Of The Ferris Wheel

11:34am September 21, 2013

Las Vegas is set to claim the title of city with the largest Ferris wheel, but not for long. New York City plans for a taller wheel, and rumors swirl that Dubai may top even that. Host Scott Simon talks to John Russick, director of Curatorial Affairs at the Chicago History Museum, about the first ever Ferris wheel, which debuted at the 1893 World Fair in Chicago.

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EPA Wants To Limit Greenhouse Gases From New Coal Power Plants

8:11pm September 20, 2013

by Elizabeth Shogren

Under the proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency, new plants that run on coal would be permitted to emit only about half as much carbon dioxide as the average coal plant puts into the air today. Emissions from the electricity industry are already declining as utilities turn to natural gas and wind farms.

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Why Companies And CEOs Rarely Admit To Wrongdoing

11:56am September 20, 2013

by Sonari Glinton

JPMorgan Chase revealed last year that some traders in London concealed losing $6 billion. The company has agreed to pay $900 million in fines, but federal regulators also forced the bank to admit to wrongdoing. One analyst says admitting mistakes tarnishes your reputation.

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Part-Time Judge Picks Laughs Over The Law

7:40am September 20, 2013

Vince Sicari presided as a part-time judge in South Hackensack, N.J., until his moonlighting as standup comic and TV actor took center stage. Because some of his characters were racist and homophobic, the state ethics committee ruled that he had to choose. He appealed. New Jersey's Supreme Court also said choose, and Sicari resigned from the bench.

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After Shooting Tragedies, States React With Legislation

6:10am September 20, 2013

by Ted Robbins

Mass shootings provoke sorrow and outrage, but what actually changes? Not much in Congress regarding gun safety laws, but it's been a busy year for firearm and mental health legislation in states.

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