Around the Nation

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., shown on Capitol Hill on April 23, voted against a bill expanding background checks on gun sales, which has upset some of his constituents.

Politics & Government

Is Jeff Flake The Most Unpopular Senator In The Country?

9:00pm May 06, 2013

by Peter O'Dowd

Some of Sen. Jeff Flake's constituents in Arizona are still livid over his recent vote against expanded background checks for gun sales. They say the Republican is ignoring their calls for a public meeting.

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The Senate on Monday approved a bill to allow states to collect sales taxes from online retailers. Proponents say sellers will get help navigating tax collection, but many retailers says complying will be burdensome and opens the door for unforeseen probl

Some Net Retailers Aren't Buying Online Sales Tax Proposal

9:00pm May 06, 2013

by Yuki Noguchi

Proponents of the bill, currently before Congress, say collecting taxes from online sales should be relatively simple for retailers. But with close to 10,000 tax jurisdictions around the country, some online businesses say collecting the taxes and navigating potential problems will be a costly burden.

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"Sue," the Tyranosaurus rex skeleton, is one of the most famous exhibits at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History

Chicago's Famed Field Museum Struggles To Dig Out Of A Hole

8:25pm May 06, 2013

by Cheryl Corley

The museum, already hard-hit by the economic crash, didn't meet projected fundraising and attendance numbers, and now must make up a $5 million budget deficit. The shortfall forced it to sell some items in its renowned collection.

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The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C, is one of the world's largest cathedrals, and the seat of the Episcopal Church.

A Search For Faith In 'Godless' Washington

4:03pm May 06, 2013

by NPR Staff

When he first moved to Washington, D.C., White House faith adviser Jonathan DuBois had heard people in the nation's capital weren't serious about their religious beliefs. Instead, he found how those in the public eye keep a private faith.

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Author Benjamin Alire Saenz writes about life on the U.S.-Mexico border. Here he holds his latest book, Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club, in front of "$26," a painting by Francisco Delgado (the presidents in the painting appear on American

Vibrant 'Club' Links Two Countries In Award-Winning Book

3:27pm May 06, 2013

by Monica Ortiz Uribe

Benjamin Alire Saenz won this year's PEN/Faulkner award for his latest collection of short stories, Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club. The real-life Kentucky Club is just south of the U.S.-Mexico border, and Saenz joined a reporter there to talk about life in two countries.

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Why Calif. Doesn't Want Smokers To Pay More For Health Insurance

3:27pm May 06, 2013

by Stephanie O'Neill

The federal health law allows states to charge smokers up to 50 percent more for a health plan sold through the new exchanges. But a bill moving forward in the California Legislature would prevent that from happening.

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Politics & Government

Sanford, Colbert Busch Clash In Sole Debate Before Election

3:27pm May 06, 2013

by Kathy Lohr

Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, a Republican, and Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, faced off Monday night in the only debate before a special congressional election in South Carolina. Sanford is trying to make a comeback after he lied about an affair with an Argentine woman while he was in office. His ex-wife has also accused Sanford of trespassing at her home.

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Politics & Government

Advocates Honor LaHood's Time At Transportation Department

3:27pm May 06, 2013

by Brian Naylor

As outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood prepares to hand off the baton to President Obama's nominee, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, Morning Edition reflects on Lahood's legacy. What have he and the president accomplished? What's still to be done?

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Colorado To Tax Legalized Marijuana

3:27pm May 06, 2013

That debate has been a partisan one. Democrats wanted the tax high, saying consumers will gladly pay. Republicans wanted a lower tax, saying if not, a black market will develop.

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After years in the halls of Congress, Republican Mitch McConnell has to convince Kentucky voters that he's still paying attention to what they want.

McConnell Tries To Show He's Still At Home In Kentucky

8:51am May 06, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

The Senate minority leader is up for re-election next year, and polling in his state shows his popularity is suffering. Some voters complain that Mitch McConnell is out of touch with the people of the Bluegrass State, and others say it's time for some new blood. Still, he will be hard to beat.

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