NPR Topics: News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1001&ft=1&f=1001 NPR news, audio, and podcasts. Coverage of breaking stories, national and world news, politics, business, science, technology, and extended coverage of major national and world events. Copyright 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:10:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1001&ft=1&f=1001 Charges Of 'Re-Segregation' At N.C. High School A high school in Wayne County, N.C., has a student population that is poor and 99 percent black. That's not the case at other public high schools in the same county. The disparity has prompted a civil rights inquiry — and complaints about what one leader calls "re-segregation." Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:10:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124584047&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124584047&ft=1&f=1001 A high school in Wayne County, N.C., has a student population that is poor and 99 percent black. That's not the case at other public high schools in the same county. The disparity has prompted a civil rights inquiry — and complaints about what one leader calls "re-segregation."

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]]> Christian Group's Members Share Health Care Costs The nonprofit Samaritan Ministries transfers money among its members to pay each household's health care costs. Benefits to members include lower monthly payments and faith-based policies, but there's no guarantee their bills will be covered. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124544505&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124544505&ft=1&f=1001 The nonprofit Samaritan Ministries transfers money among its members to pay each household's health care costs. Benefits to members include lower monthly payments and faith-based policies, but there's no guarantee their bills will be covered.

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]]> We Bought A Toxic Asset; You Can Watch It Die Remember those complicated bonds full of home mortgages? The ones that almost brought down the economy? A team of NPR reporters used $1,000 of their own money to buy a tiny piece of one — and plan to track it until it dies. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124491608&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124491608&ft=1&f=1001 Remember those complicated bonds full of home mortgages? The ones that almost brought down the economy? A team of NPR reporters used $1,000 of their own money to buy a tiny piece of one — and plan to track it until it dies.

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]]> New Jersey Man Held In Yemen After Al-Qaida Sweep Sharif Mobley was arrested in a roundup of suspected al-Qaida members and was being treated at a hospital in San'a when he got into a shootout with guards during an escape attempt, killing one and wounding another, an official said. Acquaintances said the former nuclear plant worker had strong religious views and had become increasingly radical. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:35:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124597894&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124597894&ft=1&f=1001 Sharif Mobley was arrested in a roundup of suspected al-Qaida members and was being treated at a hospital in San'a when he got into a shootout with guards during an escape attempt, killing one and wounding another, an official said. Acquaintances said the former nuclear plant worker had strong religious views and had become increasingly radical.

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]]> NYC Reaches $657M Deal With Ground Zero Workers The city has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits filed by rescue and response workers who say they became sick due to dust and debris from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. The money would come from a $1 billion FEMA grant. The deal must be approved by a judge. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:45:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124597202&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124597202&ft=1&f=1001 The city has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits filed by rescue and response workers who say they became sick due to dust and debris from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. The money would come from a $1 billion FEMA grant. The deal must be approved by a judge.

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]]> Strong Quakes Torment Chile As President Sworn In A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake capable of tremendous damage struck central Chile early Saturday, shaking the capital for a minute and a half and setting off a tsunami. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:32:53 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124141678&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124141678&ft=1&f=1001 A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake capable of tremendous damage struck central Chile early Saturday, shaking the capital for a minute and a half and setting off a tsunami.

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]]> Sen. Reid's Wife, Daughter Seriously Hurt In Crash The Senate majority leader's wife, Landra, suffered a broken back and neck after the minivan she was riding in with her daughter, Lana Barringer, was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer truck on a highway in suburban Virginia. Neither woman's injuries appeared to be life-threatening, Reid's aides said. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:50:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124596420&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124596420&ft=1&f=1001 The Senate majority leader's wife, Landra, suffered a broken back and neck after the minivan she was riding in with her daughter, Lana Barringer, was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer truck on a highway in suburban Virginia. Neither woman's injuries appeared to be life-threatening, Reid's aides said.

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]]> Club Settles In Child's Uzi Death At Gun Fair A Massachusetts sporting club is donating $10,000 to children's charities as part of a deal settling criminal charges in the death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi during a gun fair. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:51:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124595061&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124595061&ft=1&f=1001 A Massachusetts sporting club is donating $10,000 to children's charities as part of a deal settling criminal charges in the death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi during a gun fair.

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]]> Export Growth Likely To Remain Bright Spot For US The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:30:47 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103396584&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103396584&ft=1&f=1001 The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly shrank in January, reflecting a big drop in imports of oil and foreign cars. American exports also fell, a potential blow to hopes that the economic recovery will be aided this year by U.S. sales abroad.

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]]> N.Y. Attorney General Steps Aside In Governor Probe Andrew Cuomo said he has appointed an independent counsel to probe whether Gov. David Paterson illegally took World Series tickets or had improper contact with a woman who accused an aide of domestic violence. He said he is being cautious because of heated politics that have raised concerns about a conflict of interest when he says none exists. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:59:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124591082&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124591082&ft=1&f=1001 Andrew Cuomo said he has appointed an independent counsel to probe whether Gov. David Paterson illegally took World Series tickets or had improper contact with a woman who accused an aide of domestic violence. He said he is being cautious because of heated politics that have raised concerns about a conflict of interest when he says none exists.

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]]> NY Gov. David Paterson To Be Probed By Independent Counsel NPR's Russell Lewis tells us that in a Thursday afternoon teleconference, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo "says according to his preliminary findings, there are 'credible issues to review in a probe' of the governor. He has recused himself and appointed former Chief Judge Judith Kaye to oversee that review as an independent counsel." Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:12:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/03/gov_paterson_to_be_probed_by_i.html http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/03/gov_paterson_to_be_probed_by_i.html NPR's Russell Lewis tells us that in a Thursday afternoon teleconference, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo "says according to his preliminary findings, there are 'credible issues to review in a probe' of the governor. He has recused himself and appointed former Chief Judge Judith Kaye to oversee that review as an independent counsel."

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]]> Football Legend, TV Star Merlin Olsen Dies The Hall of Fame defensive lineman went on to a successful career in sports broadcasting and commercials, as well as a continuing role on Little House on the Prairie. He was 69 and had been suffering from cancer. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:05:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124587144&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124587144&ft=1&f=1001 The Hall of Fame defensive lineman went on to a successful career in sports broadcasting and commercials, as well as a continuing role on Little House on the Prairie. He was 69 and had been suffering from cancer.

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]]> Genetically Determined Dieting? Maybe Not Yet There's a personal genetic test that claims to predict whether a low-carb or low-fat diet is your best choice. While the science is intriguing, you might want to hold off before shelling out $149 for the results. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/03/genetically_determined_dieting.html http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/03/genetically_determined_dieting.html There's a personal genetic test that claims to predict whether a low-carb or low-fat diet is your best choice. While the science is intriguing, you might want to hold off before shelling out $149 for the results.

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]]> Schools Across U.S. Grapple With Closures Kansas City, Mo., has just approved one of the largest school closures in the nation's history. All over the U.S., the number of districts shutting schools is growing rapidly in the face of declines in both revenue and enrollment. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:12:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124582041&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124582041&ft=1&f=1001 Kansas City, Mo., has just approved one of the largest school closures in the nation's history. All over the U.S., the number of districts shutting schools is growing rapidly in the face of declines in both revenue and enrollment.

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]]> Computers One Step Closer To Reading Your Mind Clairvoyant computers may be nearer to reality than you'd think. In a new study, a computer program that analyzes brain scans was able to detect participants' thoughts — or at least their memories of a short film they were thinking about. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124581153&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124581153&ft=1&f=1001 Clairvoyant computers may be nearer to reality than you'd think. In a new study, a computer program that analyzes brain scans was able to detect participants' thoughts — or at least their memories of a short film they were thinking about.

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