Around the Nation

WBT radio's bomb shelter in Charlotte, N.C., part of a government-funded emergency communications network, as it looked in 1963.

Cold War Bunker Network Repurposed For 21st Century Threats

6:42pm February 19, 2013

by Julie Rose

In Charlotte, N.C., a secret bunker rests quietly below a radio station. Built in 1963, it was part of a federal network designed to provide emergency communications in case of a nuclear attack. With a new slew of potential threats to contend with, FEMA has revived the idea.

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Reports indicate that gas pump prices are at their highest level on record for this period of the year, but consumers might see a break in the near future — if all goes well.

End Of Winter Drives Nation's Gas Prices Uphill

6:42pm February 19, 2013

by Jeff Brady

Gas prices typically rise this time of year as refineries switch to summertime formulas, which are designed to reduce smog. But because of maintenance work — partially delayed by Superstorm Sandy — the run-up in prices is happening earlier this year.

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Jim Gandy, chief meteorologist for WLTX, in Columbia, S.C.

Forecasting Climate With A Chance Of Backlash

5:31pm February 19, 2013

by Jennifer Ludden

A surprising number of TV weather presenters are vocal deniers of climate change, while others fear audience backlash if they talk about such a polarizing topic. But one meteorologist in South Carolina is waging a climate education campaign, and says it's going over well.

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Older Tech Workers Oppose Overhauling H-1B Visas

3:45pm February 19, 2013

by Martin Kaste

Overhauling immigration is complicated and controversial. There's been a proposed increase in H-1B visas. Those are the visas that allow companies to bring in skilled foreign workers for jobs that can't be filled by Americans.

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Don Wright runs at an indoor track at the Maplewood Community Center in North Saint Paul, Minn.

Targeted Cancer Drugs Keep Myeloma Patients Up And Running

3:13pm February 19, 2013

by Richard Knox

Thanks to drugs recently approved by the FDA, patients with the blood cell cancer multiple myeloma are living longer and without the pain. Don Wright was diagnosed 10 years ago and is currently training for his 71st marathon.

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What's Driving The Violence In Chicago

2:15pm February 19, 2013

More than 500 homicides were reported in Chicago in 2012, 16 percent more than in 2011. After the murder of Hadiya Pendleton, the Chicago teen shot a week after attending the inauguration, more attention has been focused on urban violence.

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The Baby Doll Ladies pose during Mardi Gras in New Orleans on Tuesday.

National

The 'Baby Dolls' Of Mardi Gras: A Fun Tradition With A Serious Side

1:17pm February 19, 2013

by Tina Antolini

The baby dolls were born from racial segregation in New Orleans in 1912. A group of African-American prostitutes decided to express themselves through dance and costumes, challenging taboo by parading during Mardi Gras.

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Cyberbullying Law Shields Teachers From Student Tormentors

12:33pm February 19, 2013

by Lisa Miller

There's a new cyberbullying law in North Carolina — but it's not for students who torment other students. It's one of the first of its kind that punishes students who target teachers online. Teachers groups and free speech organizations are split on what the law hopes to accomplish.

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National

Prisoner's Handwritten Petition Prompts Justices To Weigh Government Immunity

12:33pm February 19, 2013

by Nina Totenberg

The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether the federal government can be sued for the actions of prison guards. It comes 50 years after the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright ruling required states to provide counsel for indigent criminal defendants, a case that also began with a long shot, longhand plea from behind bars.

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Hackers Disrupt Burger King's Twitter Account

12:33pm February 19, 2013

The hackers changed Burger King's bio, saying the company was sold to rival McDonalds because the Whopper had flopped. McDonalds tweeted "Not Us!" The hackers, however, brought Burger King 30,000 new followers.

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