Around the Nation

With Clock Ticking, 'Fiscal Cliff ' Looms Ever-Closer

2:23pm December 27, 2012

Just five days remain for the government to reach an agreement to avoid the tax hikes and spending cuts set to take effect Jan. 1, 2013. Many analysts now say the deadline is unlikely to be met. NPR's Ron Elving explains the looming deadline and the possible ramifications of going over the fiscal cliff.

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National

As Families Change Shape, Societies May, Too

2:16pm December 27, 2012

The family has long been the central unit of many societies. But now, people around the world are marrying less and having fewer children. By 2050, seniors may outnumber children worldwide. Geographer Joel Kotkin shares a new report outlining the economic, political and cultural implications of the changes underway in the traditional family unit.

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Restored Wedding Album Given To Sandy Victims

6:56am December 27, 2012

Mary and Lenny Buongiorno figured their photos were lost forever after Sandy flooded their Staten Island home. The waterlogged album was in a pile of roadside debris when bus driver Mike Valente spotted it. He spent five weeks meticulously cleaning and restoring the images on his computer. After presenting the new album to the overjoyed couple, he told the New York Post, "I'm all about memories."

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Times Square Hosts Good Riddance Day

6:47am December 27, 2012

The day is designed to say goodbye to the worst memories of 2012. In New York Friday, a mobile shredding truck along with a dumpster and sledgehammer, will help you say goodbye to things you don't need heading into the new year.

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National

Holiday Travelers Stranded By Severe Weather

5:13am December 27, 2012

by Claudio Sanchez

A major storm system is causing havoc for travelers trying to get home from their holiday destinations. Powerful winds and blizzard conditions have hit parts of the U.S.

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John Steinbach shows a day laborer in the parking lot of Ricos Tacos Moya a photo he took of him for an ID.

National

Debating The Impact Of An Immigration Crackdown

7:24pm December 26, 2012

by Jennifer Ludden

In 2007, Prince William County, Va., voted to step up police checks aimed at driving out illegal immigrants. The move sparked local outcry and national attention, but five years on, supporters and opponents differ on whether the policy has been a success.

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National

Legalized Pot Creates Quandary For Adults In Wash.

7:24pm December 26, 2012

by Martin Kaste

Now that marijuana is legal in Washington state, parents and drug counselors face the quandary of what to tell kids about the drug. Counselors, especially, say their job is harder now because of the example of adults who are openly and legally indulging in a substance that, just a few weeks ago, could still be dismissed as illegal.

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Economy

Measuring The Impact Of Your Charitable Donations

2:56pm December 26, 2012

As the year comes to a close, many people turn attention to giving back through charitable donations. With the economic recovery, many are seeking out more information to be sure that the donations go to the intended cause.

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When The Holiday Season Is Transformed By Loss

2:54pm December 26, 2012

Alcestis 'Cooky' Oberg lost her father-in-law unexpectedly on Christmas Day in 1982. For the first few years, it meant that Christmas was a somber time. Oberg, a contributor to USA Today, talks about how the mood of the holidays evolved for her family over time.

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Politics & Government

The Pint-Sized Pundit And The Political Highlights Of 2012

2:46pm December 26, 2012

NPR's Political Junkie Ken Rudin recaps the week in politics and reflects on some of the significant political moments of the year. He also faces off in a trivia battle with burgeoning political junkie Gabe Fleisher, a fifth grader who drafts a political newsletter everyday before school.

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