Around the Nation

Sideburns Contest To Honor Commodore Perry

7:09am August 05, 2013

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry won a major victory over the British 200 years ago at the Battle of Lake Erie. On Wednesday the citizens of Erie, Pa., will honor him the best way they know how — with a sideburns contest. Judges are looking for sideburns that resemble Commodore Perry's famous mutton chops.

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Preschooler To Serve Second Term As Mayor Of Minn. Town

7:05am August 05, 2013

The mayor of Dorset, Minn., is now four years old. Bobby Tufts' named was pulled out of a hat last year, making him mayor of the town of 20 people. Dorset doesn't have a formal government. On Sunday, his name was drawn again.

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Sports

A-Rod Said To Be Facing Long Suspension From Baseball

5:52am August 05, 2013

Major League Baseball is expected to hand down suspensions to several players implicated in performance enhancing drug use. New York Yankees all star Alex Rodriguez is the most prominent name on the list, and he also faces the longest suspension.

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Politics & Government

McConnell Squares Off With Rivals At Ky. Political Picnic

5:44am August 05, 2013

by David Welna

Over the weekend, the western Kentucky town of Fancy Farm was the site of the first meeting between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his likely Democratic opponent, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Grimes. National Democrats promise to make defeating McConnell the top priority as they head into a mid-term election that offers Republicans a good chance of taking control of the Senate.

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A researcher at Johns Hopkins University says there are serious setbacks for children without summer educational opportunities, known as the "summer slide."

Missed Summer Learning Spells Out Long-Term Struggles

7:52pm August 04, 2013

by NPR Staff

While children attending academically enriching summer camps can improve their education over the summer, kids without the same opportunities might stagnate. Little slips can compound over time, research shows, widening the achievement gap later in life.

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National

Museum Tries To Save The Plant Where Rosie Riveted

6:38pm August 04, 2013

by Tracy Samilton

The Yankee Air Museum must raise $3.5 million to buy a portion of the former Willow Run bomber plant in Michigan, where Rosie the Riveter worked during World War II. Otherwise, the factory is due for demolition.

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As part of its rebranding effort, Greeley has adopted the slogan "Greeley Unexpected," appearing on a billboard on Highway 34 in Weld County, Colo.

National

Cow Town Opts For Funk Over Funky Smell

1:46pm August 03, 2013

by Nathan Heffel

The stench of cattle haunts Greeley, Colo., and that's not doing the tourism industry any favors. The city, long reliant on meatpacking, is desperately trying to shake its image by constructing a new one.

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If you worked here, you'd be worried about losing your employer-funded health insurance contributions.

Congress May Be Getting Its Own Obamacare Glitch Fixed

10:16pm August 02, 2013

by Julie Rovner

The Obama administration says it has solved a thorny issue that threatened the health insurance coverage of more than 10,000 congressional staffers. But critics say the administration is overstepping its legal authority.

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Tommy Peebles shines a light on the pond. With the help of Bick Boyte, the two Tennesseans catch frogs with homemade "gigs" for a frog leg fry they hold every year.

National

The Old Gig: Catching Frogs On Warm Summer Nights

7:05pm August 02, 2013

by Blake Farmer

Summer nights — for a small few in the South — are a time for wading through yucky ponds with a flashlight in one hand and a frog gig in the other. It's a good way to pass the time, hang out with friends, and find some yummy frog legs for a cookout later in the summer.

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The offshore wind farm in the North Sea near Borkum, Germany, is nearly complete. The Riffgat facility, seen here on June 23, includes 30 turbines, each with a generating capacity of 3.6 megawatts.

Sold! First Parcels Auctioned For Future Offshore Wind Farms

6:01pm August 02, 2013

by Elizabeth Shogren

The federal government held its first ever auction for the right to build offshore wind farms on Wednesday. After 11 rounds, a Rhode Island company was the highest bidder, at $3.8 million.

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