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 10:46:00 -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 Black Leaders Ask: Where's Our President? From President Obama on down, a new wave of black politicians who eschew identity politics has risen across the country. But that has many in the black community feeling that a historic opportunity to address urban issues is slipping away. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:46:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124592503&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124592503&ft=1&f=1001 From President Obama on down, a new wave of black politicians who eschew identity politics has risen across the country. But that has many in the black community feeling that a historic opportunity to address urban issues is slipping away.

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]]> Obama Considers Janet Yellen For No. 2 Fed Post President Obama intends to nominate Janet Yellen, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, to take over as vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, a person familiar with the selection says. She served as a top economic adviser to President Clinton. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:58:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124610065&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124610065&ft=1&f=1001 President Obama intends to nominate Janet Yellen, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, to take over as vice chairman of the Federal Reserve, a person familiar with the selection says. She served as a top economic adviser to President Clinton.

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]]> Tiger Woods May Make A Masters-ful Return To Golf Reports swirl that Tiger Woods may return to golf for the Masters Tournament. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:40:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/03/it_could_be_a_mastersful_retur.html http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/03/it_could_be_a_mastersful_retur.html Reports swirl that Tiger Woods may return to golf for the Masters Tournament.

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]]> Retail Sales Take A Surprising Turn In February The Commerce Department said retail sales rose 0.3 percent last month — surpassing expectations that sales would decline by 0.2 percent — as consumers did not let major snowstorms stop them from storming the malls. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:40:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124607841&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124607841&ft=1&f=1001 The Commerce Department said retail sales rose 0.3 percent last month — surpassing expectations that sales would decline by 0.2 percent — as consumers did not let major snowstorms stop them from storming the malls.

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]]> Israel Seals Off West Bank After Clashes The action prevents Palestinians from entering Israel because of fears of unrest following recent protests. The closure began at midnight Thursday and will end at midnight Saturday. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:24:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124606968&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124606968&ft=1&f=1001 The action prevents Palestinians from entering Israel because of fears of unrest following recent protests. The closure began at midnight Thursday and will end at midnight Saturday.

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]]> Pinera Govt Projects $30 Billion In Quake Damage 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. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:11:00 -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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]]> Lindsey Vonn Wins 3rd Straight Overall World Cup American Lindsey Vonn won her third straight overall World Cup title in Germany. The U.S. Olympian, who won the final super-G of the season Friday, also won titles in the downhill, the super-G and combined events this season. She is the first woman to win three straight overall titles since Petra Kronberger of Austria in 1990-92. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:07:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124605452&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124605452&ft=1&f=1001 American Lindsey Vonn won her third straight overall World Cup title in Germany. The U.S. Olympian, who won the final super-G of the season Friday, also won titles in the downhill, the super-G and combined events this season. She is the first woman to win three straight overall titles since Petra Kronberger of Austria in 1990-92.

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]]> Dozens Killed As Twin Bombings Hit Lahore, Pakistan A pair of suicide bombers targeting army vehicles detonated explosives within seconds of each other Friday, killing at least 43 people in the eastern city of Lahore and wounding about 100, police said. It was the fourth major attack in Pakistan this week, indicating Islamist militants are stepping up violence after a period of relative calm. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:58:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124604454&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124604454&ft=1&f=1001 A pair of suicide bombers targeting army vehicles detonated explosives within seconds of each other Friday, killing at least 43 people in the eastern city of Lahore and wounding about 100, police said. It was the fourth major attack in Pakistan this week, indicating Islamist militants are stepping up violence after a period of relative calm.

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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 reporters with NPR's Planet Money used $1,000 of their own cash to buy a tiny piece of one — and plan to track it until it dies. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:34:00 -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 reporters with NPR's Planet Money used $1,000 of their own cash to buy a tiny piece of one — and plan to track it until it dies.

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]]> Obama Postpones Trip To Indonesia President Obama is delaying his trip to Asia next week to focus on his big push on health care. The White House tweeted the announcement. His family was going to go with him but they will not now. The White House wanted Congress to act on the health care bill by March 18, Obama's original departure date. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124608638&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124608638&ft=1&f=1001 President Obama is delaying his trip to Asia next week to focus on his big push on health care. The White House tweeted the announcement. His family was going to go with him but they will not now. The White House wanted Congress to act on the health care bill by March 18, Obama's original departure date.

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]]> Do Big Quakes Increase Global Seismic Activity? There have been three deadly earthquakes already this year — in Haiti, Chile and Turkey — and a fourth that caused damage in Taiwan. Is this a coincidence? Seismologists can't answer that question directly, but they say there's a growing realization that big earthquakes can trigger other earthquakes many thousands of miles away. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124604129&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124604129&ft=1&f=1001 There have been three deadly earthquakes already this year — in Haiti, Chile and Turkey — and a fourth that caused damage in Taiwan. Is this a coincidence? Seismologists can't answer that question directly, but they say there's a growing realization that big earthquakes can trigger other earthquakes many thousands of miles away.

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]]> Administration Turns Eye Toward Big Agribusiness Top Obama administration officials launch a series of workshops Friday delving into agriculture antitrust issues. Some big agribusiness firms say the forums will showcase a well-functioning, free market, but some producers think the probe will expose a system increasingly hostile to traditional family farms. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124604147&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124604147&ft=1&f=1001 Top Obama administration officials launch a series of workshops Friday delving into agriculture antitrust issues. Some big agribusiness firms say the forums will showcase a well-functioning, free market, but some producers think the probe will expose a system increasingly hostile to traditional family farms.

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]]> Ground Zero Workers Reach Deal On Claims New York City has reached a settlement with first responders and ground zero workers who were sickened by the dust from the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The $657 million package was negotiated by a special entity created to head off lawsuits against the city and its contractors. The plan still needs to be approved by a judge and the workers. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124604159&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124604159&ft=1&f=1001 New York City has reached a settlement with first responders and ground zero workers who were sickened by the dust from the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The $657 million package was negotiated by a special entity created to head off lawsuits against the city and its contractors. The plan still needs to be approved by a judge and the workers.

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]]> Battle Over Ivory, Tuna Expected At Wildlife Meeting Wildlife experts convene next week in the city of Doha in Qatar to consider how to control the trade in rare animals and plants. Trade in elephant ivory continues to be a contentious issue. And this year sees a brand new effort to move offshore and protect some of the ocean's most charismatic and sought-after species. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124592439&ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124592439&ft=1&f=1001 Wildlife experts convene next week in the city of Doha in Qatar to consider how to control the trade in rare animals and plants. Trade in elephant ivory continues to be a contentious issue. And this year sees a brand new effort to move offshore and protect some of the ocean's most charismatic and sought-after species.

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]]> Christian Groups Find Way Around High Health 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. Several evangelical Christian groups are using similar approaches. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -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. Several evangelical Christian groups are using similar approaches.

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