Law

After 21 years as a building engineer for Macy's department stores, Kevin Schiller was left unable to work as the result of a 2010 workplace accident.

Federal Workplace Law Fails To Protect Employees Left Out Of Workers' Comp

3:27pm January 21, 2016

by Howard Berkes

Companies that opt out of state workers' comp laws say the Employee Retirement Income Security Act will ensure that injured workers get justice. An NPR investigation found that may not be true.

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A guard stands watch in a tower at the Arkansas Department of Corrections Tucker Unit near Tucker, Ark.

National

The Delicate Politics Of Rising Crime

8:14pm January 20, 2016

by Martin Kaste

Violent crimes increased in the first six months of 2015, FBI data show. It's a relatively small increase, but one that might affect the current bipartisan push to shrink America's prison population.

Hillary Clinton stands for a portrait in San Antonio.

'Top Secret' Email Revelation Changes 'Nothing,' Clinton Says

7:56pm January 20, 2016

by Jessica Taylor

The former secretary of state says a new report that some emails on her private server exceeded the "Top Secret" classification is "an effort to inject" controversy into her campaign.

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The Supreme Court restored two death sentences Wednesday, just a week after ruling Florida's death penalty system unconstitutional. Both cases were procedural in nature.

National

Supreme Court Restores Death Sentences For Kansas Inmates

7:32pm January 20, 2016

by Nina Totenberg

Just a week ago, the court reached a very different conclusion, also by an 8-1 vote, ruling Florida's death penalty system is unconstitutional.

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National

Black Lives Matter Protesters Crash U.S. Conference Of Mayors Meeting

7:14pm January 20, 2016

by Cheryl Corley

Members of the Black Lives Matter movement protested Wednesday at the U.S. Conference of Mayors right before a group of city leaders were set to discuss policing and safe communities.

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National

Attorney General Loretta Lynch Defends Obama Actions On Gun Control

5:15pm January 20, 2016

by Carrie Johnson

Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Wednesday defended President Obama's recent executive actions intended to expand background checks for gun buyers. But Republicans question their usefulness and the motives behind the actions.

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National

University Of Cincinnati Reaches Settlement With Family Of Samuel DuBose

5:15pm January 20, 2016

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Al Gerhardstein, a civil rights attorney in Cincinnati who represented the family of Samuel DuBose. DuBose was shot and killed last year by a University of Cincinnati police officer after a traffic stop. Earlier this week, the University of Cincinnati entered a settlement agreement with the family, awarding the family $4.85 million and a free college education for each of DuBose's 12 children.

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S.C. State Rep. Mike Pitts, seen during last summer's debate over removing the Confederate battle flag from the State House grounds, has introduced a bill called the South Carolina Responsible Journalism Registry Law.

National

Journalist-Registration Bill Is Modeled On Gun Law, S.C. Lawmaker Says

3:07pm January 20, 2016

by Bill Chappell

Criminal background checks and assurances that a person "is competent to be a journalist" are among the requirements put forth by State Rep. Mike Pitts in South Carolina's Legislature.

Environment

VW Fix Should Be Less Emotional Than His Previous Cases, Feinberg Says

2:29pm January 20, 2016

VW recall administrator Kenneth Feinberg talks to Renee Montagne about the status of the process, and what VW needs to do to satisfy regulators. Feinberg most recently oversaw the GM ignition case.

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Gun Stocks Up, But Activists Move To Expand Anti-Investment Push

2:29pm January 20, 2016

by Joel Rose

Instead of pushing for new gun laws, anti-gun activists want supporters to pull big gun retailers like Wal-Mart from their investment portfolios. But experts say it might not be effective.

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