National

First lady Michelle Obama's confrontation with a heckler at a Democratic Party fundraiser Tuesday night has sparked a dramatic range of reaction.

Army Sgt. Robert Bales pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing 16 Afghan civilians in a nighttime massacre. Audie Cornish talks with NPR's Martin Kaste, who listened to Sgt. Bales recount the killings at a military court hearing in Washington state. Bales has struck a deal with prosecutors that will spare him the death penalty.

Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court for The New York Times, says that in the years Chief Justice John Roberts has led the court, his patient and methodical approach has allowed him to establish a robustly conservative record.

After a rough loss at Wimbledon last week, many fans are wondering if this is the end for the Swiss tennis star.

Indiana is the only state where you can't buy packaged beer, wine and liquor on Sundays and the only state that regulates alcohol sales based on temperature. Convenience stores want to change the laws, but the state's liquor stores — who would seem to have the most to gain — are fighting back.

After the Supreme Court ruling overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, President Obama ordered federal agencies to revise their rules regarding benefits for same-sex spouses. But that will be simpler for some federal agencies than others.

Many violent crimes are hastily planned and poorly considered, researchers at the University of Chicago's Crime Lab find. Training troubled teens to slow down and put a more benign spin on what they imagine the other guy is thinking significantly reduced the kids' likelihood of committing a crime.

Think buying health insurance through the Affordable Care Act will be confusing? You're not alone. NPR listeners asked questions that have been bugging them about state insurance exchanges and other new options. NPR health policy correspondent Julie Rovner explains how it's going to work.

For most of the 20th century, Democrats were the only game in town when it came to Texas politics. But that changed and Republicans have been in charge for decades. For Democrats to return to power, they'll have to hold together a coalition of minority voters.

Democrats who want to change the dynamics in Texas are turning to California for inspiration. Here's a look at how things went so wrong for the Republicans in the Golden State.

Department of Transportation statistics show that between 3,000 and 4,000 people die annually in large truck and bus crashes in America. Starting July 1, new regulations limiting the hours commercial vehicle drivers can be on the road will be enforced.

Creditors are going to lose up to 70 cents of every dollar they're owed by Jefferson County, Ala. The county earned the title of largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history after a sewer financing deal went awry.