Around the Nation

Beekeepers Glen Andresen and Tim Wessels are trying to breed a honey bee that is more resilient to colder climates.

Crop-Protecting Fungicides May Be Hurting The Honey Bees

9:00am February 16, 2017

by Eilís O'Neill

Bees have been dying in unprecedented numbers. A new study has found that fungi-destroying chemicals may make it harder for bees to metabolize their food. And if they can't get energy, they can't fly.

National

Rat-Related Disease Kills 1, Bronx Residents Angered By Infestation

7:20am February 16, 2017

by Doreen McCallister

New York City residents in the affected area of the Bronx say they've complained for years about the rats. One person has died from leptospirosis which commonly occurs through exposure to rat urine.

Columbia University, the University of Michigan and the Rochester Institute of Technology are among the universities giving "MicroMasters" a shot.

These Top Schools Are Offering Big Savings On Master's Degrees, But There's A Catch

10:48pm February 15, 2017

by Kirk Carapezza

A master's degree, especially from an elite university, can be expensive. But a several universities are trying an experiment online to see if that cost, for some degrees, can come down.

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Workers assemble Boeing 787s at the company's plant in North Charleston, S.C., in 2015. Results of a vote released Wednesday show workers have rejected union representation.

National

Boeing Employees Vote Against Unionizing In South Carolina

10:02pm February 15, 2017

by Barbara Campbell

In a post on Facebook, the lead organizer says workers have said they don't need a union "at this time." The union says it represents 35,000 Boeing employees at 24 other locations around the country.

Broad Institute Wins Big Battle Over CRISPR Gene-Editing Patent

7:31pm February 15, 2017

by Richard Harris

CRISPR technology is already worth billions of dollars, investors say. This ruling seems to affirm the biggest piece of the pie goes to the Broad, over patent rival University of California, Berkeley.

"Sell by" and "expiration" labels on food products may contribute to food waste by misleading consumers to throwing away perfectly good food. Now, two food industry associations are encouraging food companies to do away with these labels.

For Food Manufacturers, 'Sell By' Labels May Have Reached Their Expiration Date

5:52pm February 15, 2017

by Dan Charles

Those "expiration" labels on packaged food may confuse consumers and dupe them into throwing good food in the trash. Two major food industry associations want to change that and are proposing reforms.

Black Bloc Group Leads Militant Protests In San Francisco Bay Area

5:03pm February 15, 2017

The San Francisco Bay Area is seeing a rise in a group called the Black Bloc. The group uses destruction as a way to revolt. NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to Paige St. John of The Los Angeles Times for some background on the group.

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National

Head Of Florida's Senate Fights To Protect The Everglades

5:03pm February 15, 2017

by Greg Allen

Environmental groups working to restore the Everglades have a powerful Republican ally. The head of Florida's Senate, Joe Negron, is pushing for a billion dollar land purchase to protect the Everglades — and his home district — from toxic algae.

Chef José Andrés To Close Restaurants For 'Day Without Immigrants'

4:29pm February 15, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Chef José Andrés about why he is closing his restaurants in support of "A Day Without Immigrants" strike.

National

DACA Recipient Detained By U.S. Immigration Authorities

4:29pm February 15, 2017

NPR's Kelly McEvers talks with Mark Rosenbaum of the pro-bono law firm Public Counsel about the detention of a 23-year-old immigrant living in Washington state, who is registered with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Immigration and Customs Enforcement described Daniel Ramirez Medina as a gang member and a risk to public safety. His attorneys say he has denied being part of a gang, and that he was pressured by ICE to admit affiliation.