NPR National News

Pages

It's All Politics
4:22 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Will 2008's Surge In Young Voters Continue In 2012?

Credit T.J. Kirkpatrick / Getty Images
Supporters of Texas Rep. Ron Paul cheer as the Republican presidential candidate speaks on March 28 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.

Historically, young people have been much less likely to vote than older Americans.

That trend has started to change in the past few presidential election cycles, especially in 2008, when a census report found that 49 percent of those ages 18 to 24 who were eligible to vote participated in the presidential election.

Read more
Asia
2:53 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Is North Korea Changing — Or Resisting Change?

Originally published on Tue April 3, 2012 10:05 pm

Recent developments in North Korea are puzzling watchers of the "Hermit Kingdom" in both the U.S. and South Korea.

There are some signs of change within the new leadership in North Korea — and there are signs of resistance to change as well.

When he was in Seoul, South Korea, last week, President Obama said he didn't know who is calling the shots in Pyongyang, which is making it difficult to determine what's next for North Korea.

Read more
Shots - Health Blog
2:50 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

FDA To Fund Controversial Research Foundation

Credit Win McNamee / Getty Images
FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg says there is a desperate need to have the Reagan-Udall Foundation up and running.

Originally published on Tue April 3, 2012 10:05 pm

A nonprofit foundation set up to support scientific research of interest to the Food and Drug Administration is finally starting to take off after years of struggling financially — and it's about to get some long-promised funding from the FDA.

But some critics worry that this foundation, which will also raise money from private sources including industry, could provide a way for the food and medical industries to sway FDA decisions.

Read more
The Salt
2:17 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

'Nature's Barcode' Tells The Story Of Foods' True Origin

As we've reported, fish fraud – labeling a less-desirable species as a more desirable one – is more widespread than you'd think. Olive oil, too, isn't always what it seems. And honey from Asia is fraught with suspicion.

Read more
Music Reviews
2:10 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Dr. John: Swamp Grooves From The Bayou Underworld

Credit Alysse Gafkjen
Dan Auerbach (left) joins Dr. John on the latter's new album, Locked Down.

Originally published on Wed April 4, 2012 9:41 am

Right now, Dan Auerbach is living a rock-star moment, with his hard-hitting blues-rock duo The Black Keys selling out arenas all over the country. Lots of people want him on their records. So what does he do? He seeks out the 71-year-old Dr.

Read more
The Two-Way
2:02 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Large Tornadoes Suspected Of Touching Down Near Dallas

Credit Tony Gutierrez / AP
Destroyed vehicles sit in a Kenworth trailer lot after a tornado that swept through the area toppling many of the trailers on the lot on Tuesday in Lancaster, Texas.

"We've got two tornadoes, one in Dallas and one in Arlington. I just watched it plow through a tractor trailer parking lot like it was Godzilla in a temper tantrum."

That's how NPR's Wade Goodwyn just described the images being shown on local television in Texas.

The images from WFAA, the local ABC affiliate in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, show tractor trailers flailing across the air in the middle of a dark debris ball.

Read more
Sports
2:00 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Women's College Basketball Down To Notre Dame, Baylor

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

It's April 3rd and Kentucky has the men's crown, but the March Madness isn't over just yet. Notre Dame and Baylor are playing for the NCAA Women's Division 1 basketball championship this evening in Denver. Notre Dame just missed the title last year, so this year the Fighting Irish adopted the slogan: Unfinished Business. And they did make it all the way back to the final game.

But NPR's Tom Goldman says Notre Dame might have picked a bad year to finish that business of winning the whole thing.

Read more
Economy
2:00 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Buyers Still Face Mortgage Barriers

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

While rents rise, home prices keep drifting lower. On the bright-side for homeowners and homebuyers, mortgage rates are at record lows. Refinancing can save many owners hundreds of dollars a month, if they can qualify to get those low rates. And many Americans are qualifying and refinancing. But millions, it seems, who arguably should qualify have not been able to.

NPR's Chris Arnold covers the housing market and joins us now. Hi, Chris.

CHRIS ARNOLD, BYLINE: Hi, Robert.

Read more
National Security
2:00 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

U.S. Posts Reward For Leader In Mumbai Terrorism Attack

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

From NPR News, it's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Audie Cornish.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

And I'm Robert Siegel. Ten million dollars. That's what the U.S. will pay for information leading to the capture of the leader of an Islamist group in Pakistan. Hafiz Mohammed Saeed is suspected of organizing the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai, India. Another $2 million reward is posted for his deputy.

Read more
Media
2:00 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

James Murdoch Steps Down From BSkyB

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Audie Cornish.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

And I'm Robert Siegel.

More today in the British tabloid phone hacking and police bribery scandals. News Corp executive James Murdoch has resigned as chairman of the broadcasting giant BSkyB. He acknowledged to becoming a lightening rod for criticism.

As NPR's David Folkenflik reports, James Murdoch was once heralded as a leader at BSkyB but recent headlines have taken a toll.

Read more

Pages