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National

Instead Of Celebration, Christmas A Time For Solace In Newtown

4:22pm December 25, 2012

by Mark Herz

In Newtown, Conn., Christmas is very different this year, a little more than a week after the shooting at an elementary school. Eight families that attend St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church lost children to the tragedy. Parishioners came to Christmas masses there seeking solace, and priests gave a message of hope and comfort.

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A lone employee oversees Hewlett-Packard workstations being assembled at a plant on Jan. 1, 1993. Huge improvements in computer technology propelled the economy during that decade.

Back To The Economy Of The '90s? Not So Fast

9:42am December 25, 2012

by Uri Berliner

As the parties wrangle over taxes and the "fiscal cliff," there's been a lot of talk about the golden days of the 1990s — and each party's role in creating it. Yet economists say a lot was happening outside Washington as well.

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Sofia Campos, 23, is the head of the United We Dream campaign — a national network of youth-led immigrant organizations. Campos was born in Peru, but grew up in California, entirely unaware of her undocumented status until she tried applying for college

In Pursuit of Recognition: An Undocumented Immigrant's Resilient Fight

9:42am December 25, 2012

by Mandalit del Barco

Undocumented students have played a crucial role in calls for immigration reform. Now, as lawmakers from both parties resume talks of legislation, student leaders have expanded their fight. Sofia Campos, who's at the forefront of the movement, shares her story of unyielding activism.

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Ronan at 2 years old. "I know Ronan's purpose in life was to shed light on this disease," says his mother, Maya Thompson. "This is why I will continue to fight for childhood cancer for the rest of my life."

Finding New Meaning In The Loss Of A Son

6:00pm December 24, 2012

by Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Maya Thompson's son Ronan died of cancer three days before his fourth birthday. During his illness, she began a raw and sometimes angry blog that drew millions of readers. Thompson has since started a foundation and is funding clinical trials to find a cure for childhood cancer.

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National

Firefighters Trapped And Shot After Responding To Blaze

5:18pm December 24, 2012

by Joel Rose

Two firefighters died and two others were hospitalized in western New York on Monday. They were shot after responding to a fire in the town of Webster, outside Rochester. Police say the gunman is also dead, and they're not ruling out the possibility that the firefighters were led into a trap.

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In Newtown, Conn., makeshift memorials have been set up outside the town hall, which is holding thousands of toys and stuffed animals for residents as the holidays approach.

National

Toy Donations Pour Into Newtown For The Holidays

1:48pm December 24, 2012

by Diane Orson

Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, gifts have come into the grief-stricken Connecticut community by the truckload. Parents say they're not sure how to celebrate, but some hope the traditions will bring back some sense of normalcy.

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National

When There's A Baby Between You And The Glass Ceiling

1:44pm December 24, 2012

by NPR Staff

Family or career — it's a dilemma that many working mothers face. Though women outnumber men in the workforce, the gender gap at the top is still wide. How much of that is by choice?

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A school bus drives past a welcome sign near the Chalk Hill Middle School in Monroe, Conn. Students from Sandy Hook Elementary in neighboring Newtown will attend the school in January.

National

Near-Replica Of Sandy Hook Made Nearby For Students

7:54pm December 22, 2012

by David Schaper

The surviving students of the shootings in Newtown, Conn., won't be returning to their old school. From the wall paint to the desks, a soon-to-be reopened school in Monroe is meant to feel familiar for Sandy Hook kids.

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National

Atheists Join Religious Groups In Giving Sandy Hook Support

6:37pm December 22, 2012

In the wake of the Newtown shooting, a coalition of atheists have come together to provide some relief. Atheists Giving Aid is raising money for funeral costs and counseling services for Sandy Hook victims.

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In The Minority, But Sticking To Party Lines

6:37pm December 22, 2012

House Speaker John Boehner sent his colleagues home for the holidays after failing to pass a proposed solution to the year-end tax hikes that he called "Plan B." Host Guy Raz speaks with James Fallows of The Atlantic about Boehner's status as a leader within the GOP. They also discuss the defiant tone of the NRA press conference Friday.

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