Story of the Day

There's been a sharp decline in the number of arrests and tickets and summonses issued in New York City. Police sometimes use work slowdowns to show dissatisfaction with policies, workloads or contract disputes.

National

When Morale Dips, Some Cops Walk The Beat — But Do The Minimum

6:29pm January 08, 2015

by Martin Kaste

Arrests and ticketing are way down in New York City. Many believe it's a way for officers to show frustration with the mayor. If so, it wouldn't be the first time cops have protested by slowing down.

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Irene Chen and Longlai Zuo, with the China-based company Quality Technology Industrial, show off their top-line phones, which cost about $100.

When It Comes To Smartphones, Are Americans Dumb?

2:20pm January 08, 2015

by Aarti Shahani

If you paid top dollar for a top phone, Asian vendors at the International Consumer Electronics Show have a message: You paid for a brand, not quality. And this year, they want to sell to you.

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As an Army chaplain in Iraq, David Peters administered last rites and grieved with survivors. When he came home, he says, he "fell apart emotionally and spiritually."

Religion

An Army Chaplain, First Tested By War, Finds His Faith Renewed

8:25am January 07, 2015

by John Burnett

When David Peters went to Iraq as an Army chaplain, his relationship with God faltered. But after years of feeling adrift, he eventually found that the trauma of war had actually deepened his faith.

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"I started thinking about effects pedals as being like a palette with different colors," Wilco guitarist Nels Cline says.

Music & Culture

'Voices Within The Music': A Brief History Of Guitar Effects

7:24pm January 06, 2015

by Allyson McCabe

Be it an effects pedal or a hole stabbed in an amp, distortion and sound manipulation have long been part of rock 'n' roll's DNA.

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Palliative medicine physician Michael Fratkin gets off a plane after visiting a patient on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. He's recently launched a startup to support this kind of work.

Rural Doctor Launches Startup To Ease Pain Of Dying Patients

4:16pm January 05, 2015

by April Dembosky

Getting basic health care to rural areas has always been difficult, and delivering specialized care even harder. One doctor is raising money to bring palliative care to patients in rural California.

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Miami-Dade County's animal shelter takes in more than 28,000 dogs and cats each year. In 2012, the county adopted a resolution that the shelter would become a no-kill facility. But even no-kill shelters can euthanize up to 10 percent of their animals.

National

No-Kill Shelters Save Millions Of Unwanted Pets — But Not All Of Them

11:22pm January 04, 2015

by Greg Allen

In the 20 years since San Francisco's SPCA guaranteed adoption for healthy dogs, shelters and rescue groups have embraced the no-kill approach. But the term means different things to different people.

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Books
Arts

How Tinseltown Got Tipsy: A Boozy Taste Of Hollywood History

4:59pm January 04, 2015

by NPR Staff

Mark Bailey, who detailed old Hollywood's legendary love affair with liquor in his book Of All the Gin Joints, shares stories from a bygone era over cocktails at a legendary Hollywood bar.

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Srirupa Dasgupta opened Upohar, a restaurant and catering service, with a social mission. Her employees — primarily refugees — earn double the minimum wage.

National

A Restaurant That Serves Up A Side Of Social Goals

7:23pm January 01, 2015

by Jeff Brady

Burned out from her high-tech job, Srirupa Dasgupta opened a restaurant and catering service that hires primarily refugees. On the menu: a mix of cuisines from South Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

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General Motors CEO Mary Barra testifies before a Senate panel July 17 at a hearing about auto safety recalls.

National

Massive Recalls Give The Auto Industry An Unwanted Record

5:58pm December 31, 2014

by Sonari Glinton

More than 60 million vehicles were recalled in the U.S. this year. But analysts say those recalls say more about the way the industry has restructured than about overall car safety.

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Books
Arts

Join The Morning Edition Book Club: We're Reading 'Deep Down Dark'

6:44pm December 30, 2014

by NPR Staff

Welcome to the first meeting of NPR's new book club! We're reading Hector Tobar's account of 33 men who were trapped for 69 days in a Chilean mine. Send us your questions; we may read them on-air.

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