Around the Nation

Politics & Government

The Consequences Of A Short-Term Farm Bill Fix

2:09pm January 07, 2013

Lawmakers in Washington extended some provisions of the farm bill that expired in October. Subsidies for grain cotton and soybeans will be renewed, and budgets for some organic and environment initiatives will be cut. Since the extension only lasts nine months, many farmers are left with uncertainty.

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Arts

Starbucks Joins Designer Trend With Rodarte Collaboration

9:06am January 07, 2013

by Kaomi Goetz

The coffee giant recently partnered with the Rodarte fashion house to offer a holiday collection. It's the latest example of high-end designers teaming up with mass-market retailers to make money while showing their work to a broader audience.

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Mass. Cops Egg Each Others House

7:56am January 07, 2013

Investigators say the homeowner is a police sergeant in Newton, Mass. He's the superior officer of the guy who was tossing the eggs at the house. The MetroWest Daily News reports that both men were off duty at the time, and both insist it was just a joke between friends.

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"The Peter's Rock Church in Marianna is no everlasting monument; it has been left to rot, its windows broken, its steeple fallen over. Still, I found it beautiful. Kneeling in the cemetery, listening to the insects hissing, watching as a dog wandered past

Looking For Lost Memories In The Delta

8:14pm January 05, 2013

by Claire O'Neill

Photographer Eugene Richards explains why, 40 years after his first visit to the Arkansas Delta, he decided to go back.

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Obama's On-Again, Off-Again Relationship With Progressives

5:10pm January 05, 2013

by NPR Staff

President Obama handily won re-election, but Congress remains fairly unchanged. Will the status quo prevail during his second term? Or will he follow through on promises that got progressives excited about him in 2008?

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Lew Bird says that before passing away, his friend requested that his funeral include one last ride on a motorcycle.

Baby Boomers' Last Wishes: Motorcycle Hearses And Facebook Obits

7:02pm January 04, 2013

by Peter Gray

As graying baby boomers begin to consider their funeral needs, they're driving a trend toward less traditional, more personalized memorial services. But not everyone in the death-care industry is embracing those innovative changes.

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After losing his bid for re-election in 2010, Democrat Alan Grayson of Florida is back in Congress after winning a safer district.

Outspoken Alan Grayson Gets Another Chance In Congress

9:24am January 04, 2013

by Greg Allen

The Florida Democrat known for his biting comments targeting Republicans was among the House freshmen sworn in this week. He started serving in Congress four years ago but lost a bid for re-election. Now he's back and shows no signs of softening his tone.

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From left, bird-watchers John Williamson, Donna Quinn, Bruce Hill and Frances Raskin try to spot as many different species as possible during this season's bird count in Loudoun County, Va.

From Canada To Latin America, The Christmas Bird Count Is On

8:46am January 04, 2013

by Veronique LaCapra

Since 1900, citizen scientists across the Americas have braved bad weather and lack of sleep to participate in the yearly count — essentially, a bird-watching marathon. In the process, these birds have created the world's longest-running database in ornithology and given scientists a great tool for assessing the health of bird populations.

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A compromise bill that passed the Congress at the last minute included provisions that will reverberate through the nation's health care system.

Bargain Over Fiscal Cliff Brings Changes To Health Care

8:46am January 04, 2013

by Julie Rovner

Health care has been a major focus in recent budget battles. New legislation provides a temporary fix in payments for doctors, but it will be paid for by a decade of cuts to hospitals. And a program for long-term-care insurance won't ever get off the ground.

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A Lot Of Drivers Are Asleep At The Wheel

8:46am January 04, 2013

A survey finds one out of every 24 adults admits to falling asleep at the wheel. Health officials say the true number is higher. Some people don't realize when they drop off for a second or two.

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