Kevin White, Boston Mayor In Turbulent '70s, Dies

Sat, Jan28, 2012

The former mayor was credited with putting the city on a path to prosperity. White also saw the city through court-ordered busing to desegregate public schools, but he ended his four-term tenure in 1983 under a cloud of ethics suspicions. White died Friday in his home. He was 82.

BP Emails Reveal Early Knowledge Disaster's Potential

Fri, Jan27, 2012

The day the Deepwater Horizon sank in the Gulf of Mexico, officials warned in an internal email string that if the well was not protected by the blow-out preventer, crude oil could burst into the gulf at a rate of 3.4 million gallons a day — a higher rate than the government's final estimate.

Emails Show How 'Fast and Furious' Ambush News Unfolded At Justice Dept.

Fri, Jan27, 2012

For the first time, the Justice Department has made public a series of sensitive messages that passed to the highest levels of the agency within hours of an ambush that killed a U.S. border patrol agent in 2010, igniting a national scandal over a gun trafficking investigation gone wrong.

FDA Detains OJ Imports After Finding Fungicide

Fri, Jan27, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has detained several shipments of imported orange juice after finding traces of carbendazim, an illegal fungicide. The government says the juice is safe to drink. But carbendazim is not U.S.-approved and any juice that contains small amounts must be detained.

Obama Vs. Gingrich? More Reasons GOP Fears The Matchup

Fri, Jan27, 2012

Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg projects that President Obama would bury Newt Gingrich in the Electoral College. The president has also gained ground against Mitt Romney.

Higher Dropout Age May Not Lead To More Diplomas

Fri, Jan27, 2012

In his State of the Union address, President Obama called on every state to require students to stay in school until they graduate or turn 18. But unimpressive results in states that already have that requirement raise questions about how effective the initiative would really be.

Obama Stresses Importance Of College Affordability

Fri, Jan27, 2012

President Obama told students in Michigan that their universities should stop raising tuition so much faster than the rate of inflation.

Week In Politics: State Of The Union; Republican Debates

Fri, Jan27, 2012

Robert Siegel speaks with our regular political commentators, E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post and Brookings Institution, and David Brooks of the New York Times.

Obama Offers House Dems A Pep Talk

Fri, Jan27, 2012

President Obama dropped in on the House Democrats' retreat in Cambridge, Md., Friday afternoon, offering encouragement and a pep talk.

Military Drops 'Birth Control Glasses' For Fresher Pair

Fri, Jan27, 2012

Over 22 years, the military's thick-framed, large-lensed, standard-issue glasses have developed a reputation for seriously hurting their wearer's chances of getting a date. Now, the military is finally offering a new design.

Dengue Fever Cases Surge Worldwide

Fri, Jan27, 2012

Dengue fever cases are soaring worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. They're also hitting closer to home. Two locally acquired cases were reported in Miami last year, and public health experts say we should expect more.

It's All Politics, Jan 26, 2012

Fri, Jan27, 2012

The GOP presidential race comes to Florida. Has Romney recovered from his South Carolina drubbing? Has Gingrich's momentum been halted? NPR's Ron Elving and Ken Rudin try to figure it out in time for Florida's Jan. 31 primary. Also, Gabby Giffords bows out in an emotional farewell.

Why A Fight To The Finish May Not Be A Bad Thing

Fri, Jan27, 2012

Popular wisdom holds that a long and bitter primary election will hurt the eventual nominee come November. Drawn-out nomination races, the thinking goes, drain coffers and give rivals more time to gather ammunition. But many political analysts say a bruising primary can have certain advantages.