Around the Nation

A group of volunteers is helping biologists see whether there are any martens left in the Olympic National Forest in Washington state.

To Catch A Marten: Seeking Clues In Olympic National Forest

9:01am January 22, 2013

by Ashley Ahearn

Scientists are worried about the elusive members of the weasel family that live in parts of Olympic National Forest in Washington state. To see whether martens are endangered, volunteers are installing remote camera traps to take photos of the animals.

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The Big Sandy Power Plant, 4 miles north of Louisa, is the biggest industry in Lawrence County. Local residents blame President Obama's environmental policies for the company's plans to close the plant in 2015.

National

In Kentucky's Coal Country, A Resentment For Obama

8:22pm January 21, 2013

by Noah Adams

If the voters in Louisa, Ky., had their wish, Mitt Romney would have taken the oath of office Monday. The local coal-fired power plant is due to close amid a push for cleaner-burning plants. Local residents blame Obama for the pending job losses.

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National

Inaugural Balls Downsized The Second Time Around

7:19pm January 21, 2013

The tradition of inaugural balls goes back to George Washington. In recent times, presidents have had multiple balls. Four years ago, President Obama attended ten. But in these days of austerity, there were only two balls. Allison Aubrey talks to Melissa Block.

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National

Gun Background Checks Need Fixes, Experts Say

5:13pm January 21, 2013

by Steve Henn

One of President Obama's gun control proposals appears to have widespread support — universal background checks for gun purchases. Some experts on mental health and gun violence find problems with the current laws, and they say the system doesn't do a very good job of predicting and preventing gun crime.

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Politics & Government

America At This Moment: Obama's Second Inauguration

4:21pm January 21, 2013

As President Barack Obama enters his second term, he leads a country that remains deeply divided on issues from fiscal policy to gun control. Despite the divisions, many Americans maintain a sense of hope for themselves, their towns and the country.

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Myrlie Evers-Williams To Deliver Inaugural Invocation

10:01am January 21, 2013

by Debbie Elliott

The widow of a slain Mississippi civil rights leader Medgar Evars will help open the inaugural ceremony Monday. President Obama has selected activist Myrlie Evers-Williams to deliver the invocation. She's the first woman and lay person to have the honor.

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Politics & Government

Crowds Begin Converging On Washington, D.C.

10:01am January 21, 2013

Morning Edition has a team of reporters spread out across the city, getting a feel for how things are going in different areas. Thousands of people are descending on the nation's capital to be a part of President Obama's second inauguration.

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NASA's 'Mohawk Guy' To March In Inaugural Parade

10:01am January 21, 2013

The Inaugural parade will have floats and marching bands and for science geeks, a special treat: life-size replicas of the Mars rover, Curiosity and the Orion space capsule. The biggest attraction may be marching along side of the replicas. Bobak Ferdowsi, the go to guy for last years Mars landing, told Wired magazine he'll reveal a special hairstyle just for the parade.

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Inaugural Parade Begins At The Pentagon, Moves To D.C.

10:01am January 21, 2013

After George Washington took his oath of office he was joined by a procession made up of local militias as he made his way from Mount Vernon to New York City. These days, the parade is a colorful blend of marching bands, floats and different organizations — led by ceremonial military regiments.

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Will The Grass Be Greener In Obama's Second Term?

8:02pm January 20, 2013

by NPR Staff

One of the chief expectations of those who voted for President Obama is that he moves assertively to pass climate change legislation, whatever the political climate in Washington. But that won't be easy given the polarization in Washington.

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