NPR Top Stories
Cleveland Hero Charles Ramsey Rewarded With Burgers For Life
Ramsey gained instant fame with his accounts of what happened after he heard cries for help from inside a Cleveland home where authorities say three young women had been held captive for about a decade. His tale famously included a mention of the Big Mac he'd been eating.
'On Top Of The World' At 80: Japanese Climber Summits Everest
A Japanese mountaineer has become the oldest person to conquer Mount Everest, as Yuichiro Miura, 80, reached the peak Thursday morning. The feat marks Miura's third time atop Mount Everest. As in 2008, Miura's accomplishment is in danger of being surpassed by rival climber Min Bahadur Sherchan, 81.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Funerals Begin In Tornado-Ravaged Moore, Okla.
Among the first to be remembered will be 9-year-old Antonia Candelaria, one of 7 children killed at their elementary school. She and her best friend, Emily Conatzer, were holding on to each other when they both died.
Losers In Chicago School Closings Target Elected Officials
The Chicago school board on Wednesday voted to close dozens of schools, despite community protests that the closings disproportionately affect minority students. The Chicago Teachers Union and community activists plan to show their disapproval by campaigning against elected officials who disagreed with them.
Obama Group's Climate Push Puts President Under Scrutiny
Organizing for Action — a group that formed out of President Obama's re-election campaign — has focused its ire on Republicans it calls "climate change deniers." But some environmentalists are frustrated with the president himself on issues like the Keystone pipeline.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Living In Two Worlds, But With Just One Language
Elysha O'Brien calls herself a "Mexican white girl." Not just because of her ethnically ambiguous appearance, she says, but also because she can't speak Spanish. Fearing their children would experience discrimination if they spoke Spanish, her parents chose not to teach them their native tongue.
Sick Inmates Dying Behind Bars Despite Release Program
Federal prisoners can request compassionate release if they are terminally ill, but a recent investigation found that many die while their requests drift through the system. Now, prison leaders say they will simplify the approval process and start tracking requests electronically.
Judge: Unredeemed Borders Gift Cards Are Worthless
A Manhattan judge upholds a lower court ruling that $210 million worth of unredeemed gift cards from the defunct book chain are no longer valid.
Lois Lerner's Brief And Awful Day On Capitol Hill
The IRS bureaucrat showed up long enough at a House hearing into the scandal engulfing her agency to declare her innocence and her constitutional right to say no more.
Teachers In Moore Gather For 'Sharing And Healing'
What was billed as an informational meeting turned into a counseling session and a chance to recognize principals, teachers and support staff who stepped up in the crisis.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
In Raw Milk Case, Activists See Food Freedom On Trial
Activists say the case against Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger is about raw milk — and much more. His supporters have turned the case into a rallying cry for personal food freedom and the rights of farmers and consumers to enter into private contracts without government intervention.
Holder Acknowledges U.S. Citizens Killed In Drone Strikes
For the first time, the Justice Department admits that it targeted American-born al-Qaida leader Anwar al-Awlaki and that three other U.S. citizens have died in drone strikes.
Think Obama's In Trouble? That Depends On Your Party
Despite the scandals consuming Washington, the president's job approval ratings remain steady. Why? Reaction is breaking along partisan lines, with Democrats inclined to give Obama the benefit of the doubt.
Scientific Tooth Fairies Investigate Neanderthal Breast-Feeding
Our closest relatives, chimpanzees and gorillas, breast-feed their offspring for several years. Some baby orangutans nurse until they are 7 years old. Researchers found a way to test ancient teeth for clues about when humans cut nursing short.
North Korean Sends Special Envoy To China Amid Tensions
The trip comes as relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have soured over North Korea's nuclear program and the recent seizure of Chinese fisherman.
Fears Of Killing Immigration Bill Doomed Same-Sex Amendment
Amid warnings the proposal would shatter support for the measure, Democrats backed away from a provision that would allow gay U.S. citizens to sponsor foreign-born spouses for green cards. Advocates for gay and lesbian immigration rights accused Democrats of caving in to threats.
British Driver Says She's Sorry In 'Twit And Run' Case
A British driver who struck a cyclist with her car — and who then bragged about the incident on Twitter — has issued an apology. The incident caused an uproar after the collision Sunday.
Could African Crops Be Improved With Private Biotech Data?
A plant scientist at Mars Inc. has appealed to the world's biggest life sciences companies to help him — by sharing what they already know about 100 crops that could provide better nutrition in Africa. But can the kings of agricultural intellectual property get onboard with open source agricultural information for Africa?
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
A Decade In The Making, West Bank Barrier Is Nearly Complete
Despite much international criticism, Israel has continued building its West Bank barrier. It's now nearing completion, while the Israelis and Palestinians continue to argue over whether it will help or hurt prospects for a Middle East peace agreement.
The First Web Page, Amazingly, Is Lost
Ironically, there's one piece of Web history that can't be found online: the very first page. Now, a team at the lab where the World Wide Web was born is on a hunt for old hard drives and floppy disks that might hold copies of the missing files.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
