Around the Nation

No 'Butts' About It, Calif. Man Wins Recycled Surfboard Contest

6:42am October 24, 2017

The competition was tough. Taylor Lane of San Juan Capistrano won using Styrofoam recovered from fish markets. He decorated his surfboard with 10,000 cigarette butts.

A runner passes a ghostly sculpture on display between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach in Sydney.

This Halloween: What Does It Mean To Call Something 'Spooky'?

6:18am October 24, 2017

by Leah Donnella

Scared, fine. Frightened, sure. But spooked? This week, we dive into the racial history behind one of Halloween's most fraught descriptors.

News Brief: Niger Firefight, Trump Has Lunch With GOP Senators

5:10am October 24, 2017

Many questions remain about the ambush in Niger that led to the deaths of four American soldiers. President Trump heads to the Capitol to sell his agenda during lunch with Republican senators.

President Trump has an opportunity to refocus on the military with a Medal of Honor ceremony and to congressional priorities as he heads to Capitol Hill Tuesday.

After Controversy Over Condolence Calls, Can Trump And The White House Refocus?

6:09pm October 23, 2017

by Domenico Montanaro

The president once again got sidetracked and mired in a controversy of his own creation for a week. He has a chance to move on this week to more pressing things of substance, but can he?

A roll of "I Voted" stickers sits on a table at an elementary school during the U.S. presidential election on November 8, 2016 in Dearborn, Mich.

A Tale Of Two Efforts To Improve Confidence In U.S. Elections

5:57pm October 23, 2017

by Pam Fessler

One effort, centered on President Trump's voter fraud commission, is mired in controversy. But efforts to improve communication between the feds and election officials are showing progress.

U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl (center) is escorted to the military courthouse at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Oct. 16, the day he pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

National

At A Hearing For Bowe Bergdahl, The Focus Is On President Trump

5:54pm October 23, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

The Army judge, Col. Jeffrey Nance, posed the question of whether the sergeant could receive a fair trial after comments made by the president, who has repeatedly called Bergdahl a traitor.

Republicans Could Affect Americans' Retirement By Targeting 401(k) Plans

5:48pm October 23, 2017

by Chris Arnold

Republicans in Congress are talking behind closed doors about a plan that would affect millions of Americans who are saving for retirement — and not in a good way according to many critics. The idea is to drastically lower the amount of money that Americans can set aside before taxes in their 401(k) accounts.

National

After Hurricane Maria's Destruction, Connecticut Father Gets His Sons Out Of Puerto Rico

5:48pm October 23, 2017

After weeks of hearing from his teenage sons in Puerto Rico about the lack of sufficient food and water, a Connecticut father sells his car to pay for plane tickets to get them out.

National

Bergdahl Defense Says Case Should Be Dismissed Because Of Trump's Comments

5:48pm October 23, 2017

by Greg Myre

A sentencing hearing began today for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who pleaded guilty to desertion and dereliction of duty for leaving his unit in Afghanistan. But instead of beginning testimony today as planned, the judge heard an argument from the defense — that the case should be dismissed because of remarks made by President Trump.

Queue Listen Now

National

Chairman Of Joint Chiefs Of Staff Says A Lot About Attack In Niger Is Still Unknown

5:48pm October 23, 2017

by Tom Bowman

The nation's highest military officer — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Marine General Joseph Dunford — revealed more details today about the deadly ambush in Africa earlier this month where four U.S. soldiers were killed in Niger.