National

Vice President Pence Visits Small Texas Community Following Deadly Shooting

4:31pm November 08, 2017

by John Burnett

On the day that Vice President Pence visits Sutherland Springs, Texas to console victims of Sunday's church shooting, people in the town are still reacting to and reflecting on what's happened to the small community.

Democrats Made Surprisingly Strong Showing Up And Down The Ballot In Virginia

4:31pm November 08, 2017

by Sarah McCammon

Democrats in Virginia — and beyond — are celebrating what turned out to be a very good Election Day for the party. Virginia Democrats surpassed expectations in statewide and local races in what many are seeing as a repudiation of President Trump.

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DNC Chair Tom Perez On What This Year's Election Means For The Party

4:31pm November 08, 2017

Democrats won a tight race for governor in Virginia and picked up wins in many races across the country. NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, about what these wins mean for the party now and down the road in 2018.

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National

How The National Instant Criminal Background Check System Works

4:31pm November 08, 2017

by David Welna

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System, also known as NICS, is intended to identify people prohibited under federal law from purchasing firearms from a licensed dealer. However, there are many loopholes in the system.

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At a press conference in Japan on Monday, President Donald Trump blamed mental illness, not guns, for the Texas massacre.

Texas Shooter's History Raises Questions About Mental Health And Mass Murder

3:54pm November 08, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

President Trump says the Texas shooting shows that mental health is a "problem of the highest order." This comes amid a debate about mental illness, guns, and his own record on mental health programs.

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The luxury Manzana de Gomez Kempinski hotel in Havana is off-limits to Americans, according to a State Department list of banned companies and hotels in Cuba that was published on Wednesday.

U.S. Bans Americans From Staying In More Than 80 Cuban Hotels

3:32pm November 08, 2017

by Bill Chappell

The Trump administration's new Cuba Restricted List includes stores, marinas and government ministries, along with rum and tourism companies.

The government has dropped its case against Desiree Fairooz (center), who laughed out loud during Jeff Sessions' confirmation hearing in January.

DOJ Drops Case Against Woman Who Laughed During Sessions Hearing

3:10pm November 08, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

Desiree Fairooz faced up to a year in prison if convicted on the charges, which included disrupting Congress. Code Pink called the charges absurd and a waste of time and taxpayer money.

Virginia Gov.-elect Ralph Northam (right) and Lt. Gov.-elect Justin Fairfax greet supporters at an election night rally Tuesday after the Democrats' victory.

7 Takeaways From Election Day 2017

2:59pm November 08, 2017

by Domenico Montanaro

It was a big night for Democrats, who got their first major wins at the ballot box in the Trump era. Here is what it means.

A menu board shows calorie counts hangs at a Starbucks in New York City. The FDA had previously halted the roll out of rules requiring chain restaurants and other food establishments to post calories on menus. Now, the agency says the rules will be in pla

You Can't Hide From Calorie Counts: FDA Will Implement Obama-Era Rule

2:54pm November 08, 2017

by Allison Aubrey

The FDA had previously halted the roll out of rules requiring chain restaurants and other food establishments to post calories on menus. Now, the agency says the rules will be in place by May 2018.

Danica Roem is among the many candidates who won historic elections Tuesday.

Election Day Results Brought Many Firsts For Diverse Candidates Nationwide

2:28pm November 08, 2017

by Brian Naylor

From the first openly transgender legislative candidate in the country to the first Sikh mayor of Hoboken, N.J., voters across the nation acted to increase diversity among elected officials.