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. en Copyright 2012 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 31 May 2012 18:57:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1001&ft=1&f=1001 The Bee's Knees: There's A New Spelling Champion Snigdha Nandipati, 14, of San Diego beat eight other finalists to be crowned this year's spelling bee champ. Her winning word was "guetapens," a French-derived word for "an ambush, snare or trap." Thu, 31 May 2012 18:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/31/154090656/live-blog-the-national-bee-casts-its-spell?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/31/154090656/live-blog-the-national-bee-casts-its-spell?ft=1&f=1001 Snigdha Nandipati, 14, of San Diego beat eight other finalists to be crowned this year's spelling bee champ. Her winning word was "guetapens," a French-derived word for "an ambush, snare or trap."

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]]> John Edwards Walks, But His Trial Is A Warning To Politicians At first blush, the trial looks like it might do little to deter politicians from getting money from supporters and, with some sleight of hand, spend it on practically anything. While the verdict was clearly a loss for prosecutors, analysts believe it wasn't a total loss for campaign finance law. Thu, 31 May 2012 18:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/05/31/154081027/john-edwards-mightve-walked-but-trial-still-a-warning-for-politicians?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/05/31/154081027/john-edwards-mightve-walked-but-trial-still-a-warning-for-politicians?ft=1&f=1001 At first blush, the trial looks like it might do little to deter politicians from getting money from supporters and, with some sleight of hand, spend it on practically anything. While the verdict was clearly a loss for prosecutors, analysts believe it wasn't a total loss for campaign finance law.

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]]> Brian Banks, Who Was Cleared Of Rape Conviction, Will Get Shot At NFL Tryout Banks thought the conviction meant an end to his dream of playing in the NFL, but now he's getting a second chance. Thu, 31 May 2012 17:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/31/154098504/brian-banks-who-was-cleared-of-rape-conviction-will-get-shot-at-nfl-tryout?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/31/154098504/brian-banks-who-was-cleared-of-rape-conviction-will-get-shot-at-nfl-tryout?ft=1&f=1001 Banks thought the conviction meant an end to his dream of playing in the NFL, but now he's getting a second chance.

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]]> Gulf Refinery Expansion May Not Cut Gas Prices A five-year, $10 billion expansion in Port Arthur, Texas, has created the largest refinery in the country. But because the U.S. has become a net exporter of gasoline and the facility will contribute to that trend, analysts say the project won't have a big impact on national fuel prices. Thu, 31 May 2012 17:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154085475/gulf-refinery-expansion-may-not-cut-gas-prices?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154085475/gulf-refinery-expansion-may-not-cut-gas-prices?ft=1&f=1001 A five-year, $10 billion expansion in Port Arthur, Texas, has created the largest refinery in the country. But because the U.S. has become a net exporter of gasoline and the facility will contribute to that trend, analysts say the project won't have a big impact on national fuel prices.

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]]> More Americans Are Checking Prices Before Getting Health Care Among recent health care consumers, 16 percent said they'd looked for prices beforehand, compared with 11 percent who'd answered that way two years ago. The most common source is a doctor's office, cited by 50 percent of people who checked on prices. Thu, 31 May 2012 17:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/31/154082530/more-americans-are-checking-prices-before-getting-health-care?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/31/154082530/more-americans-are-checking-prices-before-getting-health-care?ft=1&f=1001 Among recent health care consumers, 16 percent said they'd looked for prices beforehand, compared with 11 percent who'd answered that way two years ago. The most common source is a doctor's office, cited by 50 percent of people who checked on prices.

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]]> Romney's Week: Upstaged Time And Again Upstaged by Donald Trump's "birther" jag, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's message week marred by missteps, bad timing, big news Thu, 31 May 2012 16:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/05/31/154086783/romneys-week-upstaged-time-and-again?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/05/31/154086783/romneys-week-upstaged-time-and-again?ft=1&f=1001 Upstaged by Donald Trump's "birther" jag, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's message week marred by missteps, bad timing, big news

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]]> For Many Teens, Summer Jobs May Be Thing Of The Past A recession and its lingering effects have made it even harder for teens to find summer employment. But the drop off in teen summer hiring predates the recession. Thu, 31 May 2012 15:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/31/154069672/for-many-teens-summer-jobs-may-be-thing-of-the-past?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/31/154069672/for-many-teens-summer-jobs-may-be-thing-of-the-past?ft=1&f=1001 A recession and its lingering effects have made it even harder for teens to find summer employment. But the drop off in teen summer hiring predates the recession.

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]]> Bloomberg Becomes Nanny-State Epitome For Some, Giving Obama A Breather Mayor Mike Bloomberg's proposed ban on the sale of supersized sugary fountain drinks in his city made the mayor, at least for some, the epitome of Big Government excess, a place many critics, particularly conservatives, typically reserve for the Obama. Thu, 31 May 2012 15:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/05/31/154063100/bloomberg-becomes-for-some-a-nanny-state-symbol-giving-obama-a-breather?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/05/31/154063100/bloomberg-becomes-for-some-a-nanny-state-symbol-giving-obama-a-breather?ft=1&f=1001 Mayor Mike Bloomberg's proposed ban on the sale of supersized sugary fountain drinks in his city made the mayor, at least for some, the epitome of Big Government excess, a place many critics, particularly conservatives, typically reserve for the Obama.

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]]> Boston Takes Center Stage In Fight For White House President Obama's campaign has tried to turn attention to Mitt Romney's tenure as governor of Massachusetts. It's a period Romney rarely discusses on his own. As Obama supporters brought their fight to Romney's backyard, Boston, Romney focused his attention on Obama's experience. Thu, 31 May 2012 18:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154085015/boston-takes-center-stage-in-fight-for-white-house?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154085015/boston-takes-center-stage-in-fight-for-white-house?ft=1&f=1001 President Obama's campaign has tried to turn attention to Mitt Romney's tenure as governor of Massachusetts. It's a period Romney rarely discusses on his own. As Obama supporters brought their fight to Romney's backyard, Boston, Romney focused his attention on Obama's experience.

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]]> Antibiotic-Free Meat Business Is Booming, Thanks To Chipotle Antibiotic-free food went mainstream after Chipotle's founder advertised free-range pork on the menu. Now many big players in food service are getting into the act, creating a few supply chain hiccups. Thu, 31 May 2012 17:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/05/31/154084442/antibiotic-free-meat-business-is-booming-thanks-to-chipotle?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/05/31/154084442/antibiotic-free-meat-business-is-booming-thanks-to-chipotle?ft=1&f=1001 Antibiotic-free food went mainstream after Chipotle's founder advertised free-range pork on the menu. Now many big players in food service are getting into the act, creating a few supply chain hiccups.

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]]> Romney's Foreign Policy Views Comfort, Unsettle GOP Republicans who thought the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would change the party's traditional interventionist views are disappointed. On the other hand, many senior officials from the George W. Bush years feel comfortable with Romney. Thu, 31 May 2012 16:50:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154085970/romneys-foreign-policy-views-comfort-unsettle-gop?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154085970/romneys-foreign-policy-views-comfort-unsettle-gop?ft=1&f=1001 Republicans who thought the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would change the party's traditional interventionist views are disappointed. On the other hand, many senior officials from the George W. Bush years feel comfortable with Romney.

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]]> When The Jury Becomes The Story At the trial of John Edwards on Thursday, attention turned to the actual jury and its verdict. It was a switch from earlier days, when alternates dubbed the "giggle gang" stole the show. Their actions were relatively benign, but there is precedent for shenanigans in the jury pool at U.S. trials. Thu, 31 May 2012 16:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154064144/when-the-jury-becomes-the-story?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154064144/when-the-jury-becomes-the-story?ft=1&f=1001 At the trial of John Edwards on Thursday, attention turned to the actual jury and its verdict. It was a switch from earlier days, when alternates dubbed the "giggle gang" stole the show. Their actions were relatively benign, but there is precedent for shenanigans in the jury pool at U.S. trials.

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]]> Battered Spanish Economy Nears Tipping Point After watching Greece from afar, many Spaniards feel that they could be next in line for a costly bailout. Spain will have to pay $40 billion in interest this year alone. Unemployment tops 24 percent and is rising. Thu, 31 May 2012 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154074005/battered-spanish-economy-nears-tipping-point?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154074005/battered-spanish-economy-nears-tipping-point?ft=1&f=1001 After watching Greece from afar, many Spaniards feel that they could be next in line for a costly bailout. Spain will have to pay $40 billion in interest this year alone. Unemployment tops 24 percent and is rising.

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]]> Court Rules Against Key Part Of Gay Marriage Law A federal appeals court in Boston ruled unanimously Thursday that a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act — which bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage — is unconstitutional. Ultimately, though, the case is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Thu, 31 May 2012 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154093269/court-defense-of-marriage-act-unconstitutional?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154093269/court-defense-of-marriage-act-unconstitutional?ft=1&f=1001 A federal appeals court in Boston ruled unanimously Thursday that a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act — which bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage — is unconstitutional. Ultimately, though, the case is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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]]> Bloomberg's Sugary Drink Ban May Not Change Soda Drinkers' Habits Mayor Bloomberg's proposed ban on large sugary drinks may not slake peoples' thirst for them, or address the obesity problem. A behavioral expert says people who want to buy lots of soda may just rebel at being told what to do. Thu, 31 May 2012 14:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/05/31/154055518/bloombergs-sugary-drink-ban-may-not-change-soda-drinkers-habits?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/05/31/154055518/bloombergs-sugary-drink-ban-may-not-change-soda-drinkers-habits?ft=1&f=1001 Mayor Bloomberg's proposed ban on large sugary drinks may not slake peoples' thirst for them, or address the obesity problem. A behavioral expert says people who want to buy lots of soda may just rebel at being told what to do.

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