Nation Headlines
In South Carolina, Dead-Voter Fraud Doesn't Quite Live Up To Fears
What initially looked to some like widespread voter fraud in South Carolina will likely turn out to be much more benign. A state official said that out of the first six names checked, five involved clerical or poll worker errors, such as someone marking the wrong voter's name in the poll book. The sixth case involved a man who had sent in an absentee ballot, and then died.
Calif. Decision Puts Marriage Politics In Spotlight
Tuesday's ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional could propel the issue of same-sex marriage to the U.S. Supreme Court. It could also make the composition of the high court into a potent election issue.
Rotavirus Vaccine Doesn't Boost Risk Of Intestinal Problem
Unlike an older vaccine, the newer rotavirus vaccine doesn't appear to increase the risk of a dangerous intestinal side effect, according to a large new study. The vaccine has been responsible for a substantial reduction in deaths from rotavirus worldwide.
Romney Campaign Preemptively Downplays MN, CO And MO Contests
Romney's campaign made available to the world a memo by political director Rich Beeson in which the aide rehearsed all the reasons why nothing that will happen Tuesday evening, indeed in the rest of February or March will stop his boss' inevitable March to the glittering prize of the nomination.
A Pulpit For The Masses: YouTube, Christians Click
Many have turned to YouTube to express their views about the message of Jesus. At least one has reached biblical proportions. With more than 18 million views, "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" has become a sensation.
Meaningless In Missouri? Not In Santorum's View
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is looking for momentum as Republicans caucus and vote in three states on Tuesday: Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado. And dissatisfaction with front-runner Mitt Romney in Missouri could point to a potential opportunity for President Obama in the fall.
Why Missouri Voters Have The 'Beauty Contest' Blues
With no delegates at stake in Missouri's GOP primary, many voters are upset that the "beauty contest" will cost taxpayers $7 million. It could also dampen turnout for the March 17 caucuses, which do actually count.
Exec Resigns From Embattled Breast Cancer Charity
A top official at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation — which pushed for the defunding of Planned Parenthood — has resigned. Anti-abortion groups are also keeping up the drumbeat to take away Planned Parenthood's federal funding despite the charity's turnabout on supporting the group.
Staff Removed From School With Sex Abuse Charges
The L.A. Unified School District is replacing the entire staff of the elementary school at the center of a growing sex abuse scandal. Two teachers from Miramonte Elementary have been arrested on suspicions of abusing and conducting lewd acts on children.
The Next Step For California's Gay Marriage Ban
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared California's same-sex marriage ban, known as Proposition 8, unconstitutional on Tuesday. This paves the way for a U.S. Supreme Court case that could have far-reaching implications for gay marriage around the country.
Correcting Common Misconceptions About Air Travel
The claims airline passengers make about flights are often embellished. During turbulence, for example, passengers may think a plane is dropping hundreds of feet, when it's never typically more than 20. Airline pilot Patrick Smith, writes the Ask The Pilot column for Salon.com. He sets the record straight on common air travel myths.
How Should We Welcome Home Iraq War Veterans?
St. Louis, Mo. held a parade for veterans of the Iraq War in January 2012 that drew an estimated 20,000 participants and 100,000 spectators. Fifteen other cities are considering similar parades, but some argue that such celebrations should not be held while the war in Afghanistan continues.
Applying For Financial Aid Without The Fear Factor
Application deadlines for financial aid like grants, scholarships and student loans are just around the corner. But many students may need help getting their paperwork in order. Host Michel Martin speaks with Adrianna Badillo. She's the director of Gear-Up, a program designed to guide low-income students into higher education.
The Wage Gap Between Moms, Other Working Women
Moms earn up to 14 percent less than women who don't have children, says a University of New Mexico study. Host Michel Martin discusses the gap with UNM economist Kate Krause; Dina Bakst of A Better Balance, a workplace rights organization; and Dawn Porter, founder of Trilogy Films and a mother of two.
Could Taxes Or Food Stamp Restrictions Tame America's Sweet Tooth?
A tax proposal on the table in Massachusetts could discourage sugar consumption a bit by making sugary foods more expensive. But outside Massachusetts, surveys show that a majority of taxpayers oppose the idea of a "sin tax" on soda and candy.
Why Bother With Caucuses?
Contests in Iowa and Nevada have been plagued by embarrassing snafus. As Minnesota and Colorado head to their caucuses Tuesday, we look at why some states still bother with this primitive but uniquely American way of picking a president.
Taxing Sugar, Will It Help People Be Healthier?
New research indicates excessive consumption of sugar leads to an increase in all kinds of chronic diseases. But how much sugar is too much? Would making sugary foods more expensive help to get consumers to cut back?
GOP Rivals Campaign In Minnesota Ahead Of Caucuses
Minnesota holds non-binding GOP caucuses Tuesday. Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul all campaigned in the state Monday. Each of front-runner Mitt Romney's rivals is looking at the state as a place where they can regain their footing.
Sports News The Super Bowl May Have Overshadowed
It's estimated more than 111 million people watched Sunday's Super Bowl — the biggest TV audience ever for the championship game. Morning Edition has an update of stories that may have gotten lost during the Super Bowl hype.
UC Students Propose Alternative To Tuition Increases
Tired of tuition increases within the cash-strapped University of California system, a group of students has suggested eliminating tuition entirely. Instead, they propose that graduates pay the system a percentage of their income over the subsequent 20 years.
Romney Ramps Up Efforts To Attract Social Conservatives
At a rally in Centennial, Colo., GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney rolled out some new material: the rights given to people by God.
Remembering Roger Boisjoly: He Tried To Stop Shuttle Challenger Launch
Boisjoly was the engineer who boisterously warned about problems with the Challenger's elastic seals. That he couldn't do anything about the launch haunted him and turned him into a crusader for ethics in engineering. Boisjoly died at age 73.
Is White, Working Class America 'Coming Apart'?
In his new book, Charles Murray, co-author of the controversial The Bell Curve, argues that in an increasingly economically stratified America, the white working class is slipping behind.
In Battleground Colorado, Independents On The Rise
A centrist think tank finds that in several key states, both parties are losing voters relative to the number of newly declared independents. In Colorado, which holds its Republican caucuses Tuesday, declared independents are now about even with registered Republicans or registered Democrats.
Fight For GOP Soul, SuperPACs Spur Negative Political Ad Explosion
While the barrage of negative ads is likely to be bad during the general election, the Republican primaries have seen a confluence of factors that have made for particularly fertile ground for negative ads: the introduction of superPACs collided with a war for control of the GOP between conservatives and hard conservatives.
'Boxing Is The Love Of My Life': A Woman Fights For A Shot At Gold
You could say Tyrieshia Douglas' boxing career began at 16, when she was arrested for street fighting. Now, at 23, Douglas is one of 24 fighters competing for three spots on the first ever U.S. Olympic women's boxing team.
Helicopter Parents Hover In The Workplace
So-called helicopter parents have hit the workplace, phoning employers to advocate on behalf of their adult children. Human resource managers say more parents are trying to negotiate salary and benefits and are even sitting in on job interviews.
Ending Violence Sparked By Baby's Cry
About 300 babies die each year after being hospitalized for serious injuries, according to a new report. Researchers are testing ways to help parents cope with the anger and frustration that can be triggered by a crying baby.
Indiana's Top Election Official Convicted of Voter Fraud
Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White was accused of lying about his home address on voter registration forms in order to continue receiving a stipend for serving on his town's council.
Penn. School District Goes Broke
The Chester Upland School District — a small, mostly minority district outside Philadelphia — is on the verge of going broke. State budget cuts and mismanagement by both local and state leadership have put the district in such financial straits that teachers and some other employees agreed last month to work without pay for the rest of the school year. A judge ordered the state to advance Chester Upland $3 million, but that will only keep the schools open for a few weeks.
Virginia Votes To Repeal Restricted Gun Buying Law
Twenty years ago, Virginia had a not-so-flattering reputation as a haven for illegal gun runners. Traffickers would buy batches of guns legally in the state, and sell them on the black market. With the Virginia guns turning up at crime scenes up and down the Eastern seaboard, the state legislature decided it was time to act — a law was passed to limit gun purchases to one a month. But gun rights activists have fought to overturn it, and on Monday, the Virginia Senate approved legislation to repeal it. Bill Sizemore, reporter for The Virginian-Pilot, has been following this effort in the state legislature, and talks with Robert Siegel about what propelled it this time around.
As Olympic Trials Near, Women's Boxing Heats Up
Women's boxing will be an Olympic sport for the first time in London later this year and the trials to choose the U.S. competitors will be held in Spokane in February. Tyrieshia Douglas from Baltimore is one of the competitors. When she was 16-years-old, she was arrested for street-fighting and says her juvenile court judge recommended she take her skills into the gym. Now she's 23-years-old and ranked No. 2 in the country in her weight category.
'Prop 8' Ruling Expected Tuesday; California Measure Banned Gay Marriage
The ban was struck down as unconstitutional more than a year ago. Whichever way the appeals court rules, the case is likely to go to the Supreme Court for the final decision.
'What If?' Moments Stand Out In Story Of Father Who Killed Himself And Sons
"I'm sorry, goodbye," Josh Powell wrote in an email to his attorney just before he apparently ignited an explosive fire Sunday in Graham, Wash., that took not just his life but those of his 5- and 7-year-old sons.
Seeking Revenge In 'Underworld Of Vanished Bikes'
More than 200,000 bikes were reported stolen in 2010, according to FBI statistics. By some estimates, more than one million bike thefts go unreported annually. When thieves stole writer Patrick Symmes' bike in 2006, he set out to catch a thief in what he calls "the dangerous underworld of vanishing bikes."
Freddie Mac Good For Business, Bad For Homeowners?
An investigation by ProPublica and NPR sheds light on questionable practices by the government-owned mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks with NPR's Chris Arnold and Arturo de los Santos, who is trying to save his house.
From Struggle To Glory In Minor League Football
Jamie King's NFL dreams never took off, but he got a second chance when he was asked to coach the Fredericksburg Generals, a little-known team in Virginia. He talks with guest host Jacki Lyden about helping a group of misfits become champions, and how it changed his life in the process. King is profiled in this week's The Washington Post Magazine.
A Glimpse Behind Bars: Juveniles In The Justice System
In the confines of jail cells, a veteran photographer documents children's experiences. He snaps pictures without revealing his subjects' faces, aiming to "give them a voice."
Polar Bear Clubs Finder Warmer Than Normal Water
It's the season of the Polar Bear Plunge, when many Americans take a challenge to leap into icy water. If they can find cold water. In Rehoboth Beach, Del., people leaped into ocean water that was 47 degrees — the warmest on record.
Big Win In Nevada Starts Off Potential Huge Month For Romney
Mitt Romney's victory in Nevada on Saturday is only the start of what could be a big month for him. Many of the states holding caucuses and primaries in February are ones he carried in 2008.
Komen Foundation Struggles To Lure Back Donors
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation is fighting to keep controversy from undermining its fundraising efforts. Komen spends tens of millions of dollars for cancer research, education and screening. But that spending was criticized long before the current flap over its Planned Parenthood grants.
After Deep Cuts, New Mexico Now Has Budget Surplus
In New Mexico, state lawmakers are figuring out what to do with a budget surplus. Republicans want to give some of the money to businesses, in the form of tax breaks. Democrats want to restore some of the cuts to services made over the last three years.
Storing Grain Can Aid Farmers In Commodity Pricing
Across the corn belt, more farmers are putting up their own grain bins. In the past year alone, farmers nationwide have added some 300 million bushels of on-farm storage. By storing their own grain, farmers can choose when and at what price they want to sell, and that can translate into thousands of dollars in profit. And this has grain buyers — like grain elevators and ethanol plants --working to keep their edge in the market.
Giants Tower Over Patriots As Super Bowl Champs
The New York Giants came back with a last-minute score to beat the New England Patriots 21-17 Sunday night for New York's fourth Super Bowl title. It was a rematch of the 2008 NFL championship, when Eli Manning led New York past New England to ruin the Patriots' bid for a perfect season.
Chef Picked To Represent U.S. In France's Bocuse d'Or
Some of the nation's finest chefs spent a recent weekend at the Culinary Institute of America in New York competing in a cooking challenge. The winner goes on to represent the United States at the Bocuse d'Or in France next year. No American has ever come close to winning that contest.
Unions Create TV Ad To Appeal To Young People
Hoping to continue a conversation about inequality started by the Occupy Wall Street movement, a recently tested ad by the AFL-CIO doesn't mention unions. Instead, it focuses on a "Work Connects Us All" theme.
California's Stevia Growers Bet On Fast Track To Sweetener Success
The first big fields of stevia ever grown in the U.S. will spout this summer in California's Central Valley. One company is trying to turn this semiwild, zero-calorie plant into an industrial crop at Silicon Valley speed.
In Idaho, Two Workers Take Jobs, And Hope For Best
Before the recession, Idaho had one of the fastest growing economies in the country. But last year, its jobless rate peaked at nearly 10 percent. That number has begun to creep down – but many workers in the state are still struggling to replace the jobs they've lost.
Stopping The 'Brain Drain' Of The U.S. Economy
Recent surveys show that a large percentage of graduates from the nation's top schools are taking jobs in consulting or finance. But students at some top schools have begun protesting recruitment drives by financial firms in an effort to steer students away from the financial sector.
Fewer Autopsies Mean Crucial Info Goes To The Grave
Autopsies are conducted on just 5 percent of patients who die in hospitals, and experts say that is a troubling trend that has broad implications for public health in America: Death certificates aren't as accurate as they could be, and that information drives research dollars and public health spending.
