National

Spending Bill Provision Would Provide Big Boost To Party Fundraising

9:38am December 11, 2014

by Peter Overby

The 1,600-page omnibus spending bill includes language that raises contribution limits to the national party committees, bringing them above the realm of merely wealthy donors. Under the provision, donors can give a party a total of $778,000 — each year, an eight-fold increase.

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French Hostage Released After Being Held For 3 Years By Al-Qaida

9:38am December 11, 2014

by Eleanor Beardsley

France has now obtained the release of all known French hostages being held by militants, but critics say there are questions about whether governments should negotiate with hostage-takers.

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National

Journalist: 'Torture Report' Shows CIA's Failure To Police Itself

9:38am December 11, 2014

Audie Cornish speaks with journalist Jane Mayer, author of The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War in Terror Turned into a War on American Interests.

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Problems With Your Boss? Try A Chat With The Office Chaplain.

8:13am December 11, 2014

by Lauren Silverman

Chaplains have long been present on college campuses and in the military but increasingly they can also can be found in the workplace, specially trained to help employees offload office frustrations.

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Congressional Plan To Fund Military Comes With A Side Of 'Land Grab'

8:13am December 11, 2014

by Juana Summers

Material tacked onto the authorization bill adds 250,000 acres of new wilderness, expands national parks, and moves toward a national women's history museum. 'Ethically, it stinks,' says Sen. Coburn.

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What Is Torture? Our Beliefs Depend In Part On Who's Doing It.

8:13am December 11, 2014

by Shankar Vedantam

Researchers are studying how nations and individuals react when they given information that members of their own group have harmed other people, such as through torture. It takes some nimble thinking.

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A rendering of the planned Golden State Warriors arena drew ridicule from people who said it resembled a toilet.

A Toilet No More: NBA Team Changes Arena Plan After Jokes Swirl In

9:26pm December 10, 2014

by Bill Chappell

The Golden State Warriors have revised their new arena's design, after critics said that from overhead, at least, the building looked just like a toilet with the seat and lid down.

At the end of the day, Roma tomatoes are ready for transport in Cristo Rey in the state of Sinaloa. Half the tomatoes consumed in the U.S. come from Mexico.

Mexican Megafarms Supplying U.S. Market Are Rife With Labor Abuses

9:06pm December 10, 2014

by NPR Staff

An investigation by the Los Angeles Times into labor camps on Mexican megafarms reveals appalling conditions. Reporter Richard Marosi says U.S. consumers need to pressure retailers for change.

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Bafana Khumalo (in black jacket) carried his fight for "gender justice" to the White House today. He called on the U.S. to help fund abortions for women in other countries who've been raped.

Why Aren't World Leaders Angrier About Violence Against Women?

8:58pm December 10, 2014

by Marc Silver

That's what South African activist Bafana Khumalo wants to know. He's spoken out for 20 years. He protested at the White House today and will accept an award for his efforts tomorrow.

Radiation therapy is effective in treating breast cancer but typically requires dozens of visits over five to seven weeks. A newer protocol takes just three weeks.

Doctors Lag In Adopting Cheaper, Faster Radiation For Breast Cancer

8:54pm December 10, 2014

by Nancy Shute

Three weeks of radiation works just as well as six weeks for most women with early stage breast cancer. But doctors have been slow to make that switch. Money may be one big reason why, a study says.