Around the Nation

National

New York Murder Rate Plummets, But Who Should Get The Credit?

8:16pm January 24, 2013

by Joel Rose

While Chicago and Detroit are struggling to control rising murder rates, New York City hit a record low number of homicides in 2012. The police commissioner has often pointed to several controversial policing tactics for falling crime, but some analysts say there are many potential explanations.

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Will Obama Administration Clear Keystone XL Pipeline?

5:06pm January 24, 2013

by Jeff Brady

Now that Nebraska's governor has approved a new route for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, it'll be up to President Obama to decide whether the controversial project will move forward. The State Department is expected to complete an environmental review in coming months.

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National

Roe v. Wade at 40: A Look at Its Legacy

2:27pm January 24, 2013

Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion, just turned 40. Host Neal Conan speaks with Linda Greenhouse, who covered the Supreme Court and writes in a New York Times opinion piece that it was about "the rights of doctors...acting in what they considered to be the best interest of their patients."

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National

A Closer Look at Women In Combat

1:39pm January 24, 2013

The military's lift of the combat ban for women potentially opens up thousands of front-line positions, but many women in uniform argue they've long served in front-line units. Host Neal Conan talks to Lt. Col. Samantha Nerove about what the change may mean and her experiences in the military.

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National

Women In Combat Ban To Be Lifted

1:19pm January 24, 2013

The Pentagon is expected to officially announce Thursday that it will lift the military ban on women in combat. The defense chief's groundbreaking move opens up thousands of front-line positions for women. For more on the Pentagon's decision Steve Inskeep talks to NPR's Tom Bowman. And from Kentucky, Blake Farmer of member station WPLN has reaction from Fort Campbell.

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Each January, anti-abortion protesters mark the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling with the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Attendance often reaches into the thousands, such as during the 25th anniversary march pictured here. The 40th March for Life

'Roe V. Wade' Turns 40, But Abortion Debate Is Even Older

3:57pm January 23, 2013

by Julie Rovner

Abortion foes say the U.S. Supreme Court's aggressive decision set the issue on the path toward becoming intractable. Others say factors besides the landmark case — including doctors, lawyers, President Nixon and the Catholic Church — more strongly influenced the state of today's debate.

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Religion

Amidst Church Scandals, Who Still Joins The Priesthood

2:18pm January 23, 2013

A decade after news of the sex abuse scandal in the Boston archdiocese of the Catholic Church broke, reports of abuse continue to emerge. The number of priests in the U.S. is in rapid decline, raising questions about who still chooses the job and how the work has changed after high-profile abuse scandals.

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'We Have No Choice': A Story Of The Texas Sonogram Law

9:19am January 23, 2013

Journalist Carolyn Jones wrote about her experience with the law for The Texas Observer after having an abortion last year. The state requires that a woman seeking an abortion receive a sonogram at least 24 hours before the procedure.

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Some states can bill skiers for search-and-rescue efforts. Often, those who need rescuing wandered into out-of-bounds areas and couldn't find their way back.

Economy

Schussing Down Slopes Can Snowball Into A Search-And-Rescue Bill

9:02am January 23, 2013

by Nina Keck

A fresh fall of snow can mean more skiers and riders getting lost in the woods. Who should pay to rescue them can become a tricky issue, but some states can bill riders who have gone astray.

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Obama's Promise To Close Guantanamo Prison Falls Short

8:13am January 23, 2013

by Jackie Northam

In January 2009, the president signed an executive order to close the U.S. prison camp. But four years later, the prison remains open, and critics say the president miscalculated how difficult it would be to close the facility that houses terrorism suspects.

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