U.S. High Schools Employ Mixed Strategies To Raise Graduation Rates
NPR explores what is behind rising high school graduation rates and the methods schools use to increase these rates.
National
Puerto Rico Calls On Congress For Help In Billion Dollar Debt Crisis
Puerto Rico has a billion dollars in debt payments due January 1 and the U.S. territory's governor says the island may default. If forced to choose between making debt payments or paying for vital public services, Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla says he will choose Puerto Ricans. The heightening crisis has spurred Congress to take action, but it might not come until the island is insolvent.
'Dangerous' Missouri Flooding Expected To Worsen
Mississippi River Valley flooding has already caused the deaths of at least 18 people in Missouri and Illinois. The water is expected to rise to an all-time high, according to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.
Cosby Charged With Felony Sexual Assault In Philadelphia-Area Case
Bill Cosby has faced numerous civil suits from dozens of women over the years, but this is the first criminal charge. The statute of limitations in the 2004 case was set to expire in January.
A Nigerian Actress Had An Unlikely Dream: Make A Movie About Fistula
Fistula, an injury that can result from childbirth, causes incontinence. Health groups supported the idea of a film, but nobody wanted to back it. That didn't stop Stephanie Linus from making Dry.
To Conquer Fear, A Man Turns Rejection Into A Game
Jason Comely was terrified of being rejected. The only cure, he figured, was to get rejected on purpose, once a day. It started to hurt less and less. And then it actually started to become fun.
Privacy Violations Rising At Veterans Affairs Medical Facilities
Deceased veterans' documents were sent to the wrong widows. VA workers snooped on patients who had committed suicide. And whistleblowers contend the VA violated their medical privacy.
8 Things Congress Actually Did This Year
It is fair to say that the widely held assumption that Congress gets nothing done doesn't exactly fit in 2015. Some big issues, like guns and immigration, were left on the table, though.
LISTEN: 6 Moments From A Surprising Year In Presidential Politics
At almost every turn, the conventional wisdom turned out to be wrong in politics in 2015 — from Donald Trump to the depth of Bernie Sanders' support to the lack of strength of governors.
2015 Was Another Rough And Tumble Year For Obamacare
The Affordable Care Act survived another challenge before the U.S. Supreme Court this year. But the still-fragile marketplace is showing the strain of rising health care costs.