Around the Nation

Drawing Your Gun: The Moment And The Aftermath

2:15pm February 05, 2013

In the debate on gun control, self-protection and the protection of others are commonly cited justifications for gun ownership. NPR's Neal Conan talks with guests about what happens when a person draws a gun on another individual.

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Jeannine Sato holds her 2-year-old son, Keni; 5-year-old Hana is held by her father, Mas Sato. Jeannine decided to leave her job when her employers said she could take six weeks off after giving birth to her first child or risk losing her job.

FMLA Not Really Working For Many Employees

1:47pm February 05, 2013

by Jennifer Ludden

Labor organizations say the Family and Medical Leave Act is too restrictive and that workers often have to choose between their family and their livelihood. Now, there are calls for Congress to expand the law and provide paid leave.

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Politics & Government

In Minn., Obama Appeals For Movement On Gun Background Checks

1:47pm February 05, 2013

by David Welna

On Monday, President Obama was in Minnesota. It's a democratic state he won easily in November, yet it's a state with strong hunting tradition. The president was in Minneapolis to push his proposals to reduce gun violence.

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Texas Court Of Inquiry To Decide If Prosecutor Lied

1:47pm February 05, 2013

by Wade Goodwyn

A rare "court of inquiry" is underway for a sitting judge in Texas. Judge Ken Anderson faces allegations that as a prosecutor he hid evidence vital to a murder defendant's case. That defendant was convicted of killing his wife, and spent 25 years in prison before being exonerated.

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Tuba Players Take Valentine's Day Requests

1:47pm February 05, 2013

Tuba players at the University of Memphis, dressed in cute red vests and bow ties, are offering serenades. For about $25, they will play two songs while delivering chocolates and a card.

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Highly detailed sonar systems aboard the research vessel Pritchard gave researchers a clear view of the sediment on the seafloor off Long Island.

Sand After Sandy: Scientists Map Seafloor For Sediment

2:29pm February 04, 2013

by Christopher Joyce

On the deck of a 27-foot boat off the shore of Long Island, researchers are using sonar to study the sand and sediment that washed away from the system of protective barrier islands and beaches by Hurricane Sandy.

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A sign hangs outside a house in Miami in 2010. Currently, Florida's foreclosure legal process can take a couple of years, which critics say is hurting the housing market.

Foreclosure Process Hammers Florida's Housing Market

12:09pm February 04, 2013

by Robin Sussingham

As much of the country enjoys the start of a housing recovery, Florida is still being swamped by foreclosures. Experts blame the state's legal process, and they say it will be awhile before the housing market is fully rebuilt in the Sunshine State.

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Twitter Lit Up When Superdome Lost Power

12:09pm February 04, 2013

Twitter was on fire during the Super Bowl, but the twitterverse really lit up when the lights went out at the Superdome. Someone created a Twitter account named "SuperBowlLights." Many people tweeted Beyonce must have caused the failure with her electric half-time show.

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49ers fan Kristofer Noceda (third from left) with friends at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Sports

Keeping Those Jerseys Unwashed For The Big Win

6:16pm February 03, 2013

by Amy Held

On Super Bowl Sunday, there are likely a lot of unwashed Ravens and 49ers jerseys around. It's just one of many superstitions sports fans cling to in the belief it will bring their team victory. But superstitions may also be beneficial from an evolutionary standpoint.

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The seed library is a partnership between the Basalt Public Library and the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute. Seed packets encourage gardeners to write their names and take credit for their harvested seeds.

National

How To Save A Public Library: Make It A Seed Bank

3:07pm February 02, 2013

by Luke Runyon

A small-town library in Colorado is lending more than just books. Patrons can now check out seeds and farm them. After the crops are harvested, the patrons return the seeds from the best fruits and vegetables so the library can lend them out to others.

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