News

De Desharnais of Ashwood Development in New Hampshire says homebuilding activity for her company has slowed sharply since the housing crash. But she's hopeful that business will pick up.

Missing In The Housing Recovery: New Houses

8:18pm May 15, 2014

by Chris Arnold

Even now, five years after the crash, homebuilding is stuck at half its normal level. And a hoped-for bounce after the harsh winter hasn't materialized. Some analysts blame higher mortgage rates.

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World News

Former Ambassador To Russia: Putin Has No Master Plan For Ukraine

8:02pm May 15, 2014

Michael McFaul, ambassador to Russia from January 2012 to February 2014, says, "I've never seen [Putin] devote a speech to the necessity of reuniting Crimea with Russia. That came only recently."

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National

San Diego County Wildfires Prompt Evacuations, State Of Emergency

10:55am May 15, 2014

More than a half-dozen wildfires are burning in the Southern California county. Thousands of residents have been evacuated. Renee Montagne speaks with reporter Erik Anderson of member station KPBS.

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Muslim pilgrims wear masks to prevent infection from the Middle East respiratory syndrome in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

Health & Safety

How U.S. Hospitals Are Planning To Stop The Deadly MERS Virus

9:09am May 15, 2014

by Jason Beaubien

A second case of the new Middle East respiratory syndrome has shown up in the U.S. The virus has been spreading through Saudi hospitals. Health officials expect more cases to appear here.

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Ras Baraka Rises To Mantle Of Newark's New Mayor

7:59pm May 14, 2014

by Sarah Gonzalez

In Newark, the New Jersey city held its first mayoral election since Cory Booker left for the U.S. Senate. Ras Baraka won, and Sarah Gonzalez of WNYC explains how the mayor-elect plans to run Newark.

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As More Speakers Get The Boot, Who's Left To Send Off Graduates?

7:59pm May 14, 2014

by Eric Westervelt

In a string of commencement-speaker dropouts, would-be honorary guests are being pushed out by campus protests. Meanwhile, schools are trying to boost their reputations and promote diverse ideas.

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A woman casts her ballot at a polling station on May 11 in Hartsizk, Ukraine. Pro-Russian separatists are claiming independence after the referendum in cities across eastern Ukraine.

World News

After Referendum In Eastern Ukraine, Different Visions Emerge

7:59pm May 14, 2014

by Corey Flintoff

Residents of eastern Ukraine are trying to figure out what happens next, now that pro-Russian separatists have claimed independence. But there's even disagreement over what's feasible.

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Monica Chavez packs up a box at an Amazon.com fulfillment center Dec. 2, in Phoenix.

Online Sales Taxes Shift Consumer Behavior, Study Shows

5:34pm May 14, 2014

by Yuki Noguchi

Some states have enacted so-called Amazon taxes, forcing the giant online retailer to collect sales taxes the same way traditional stores do. In those states, Amazon's sales fell about 10 percent.

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Greenwald On NSA Leaks: 'We've Erred On The Side Of Excess Caution'

4:24pm May 14, 2014

Journalist Glenn Greenwald says he and his team weighed the public's interest against the potential harm to innocent people when deciding how many of Edward Snowden's leaked documents to make public.

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Paul Siperke, co-owner of Cleveland brewery Fat Head's, plans to keep providing health insurance to his employees. But he's irked by the continual price fluctuations in the group's policy — this year caused partly by the Affordable Care Act.

Pub Owner Frustrated That Health Plan Prices Keep Jumping

11:28am May 14, 2014

by Sarah Jane Tribble

The Affordable Care Act may eventually smooth out the volatility in health insurance costs for small businesses. But for the next few years, it could be a bumpy — and expensive — ride.

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