National

GOP Shutdown Strategy Gives House A Twilight Zone Feel

6:51pm October 09, 2013

by Tamara Keith

Amid the shutdown, House Republicans have adopted a piecemeal strategy, voting to reopen small parts of the government. That's put politicians in surprising positions — with Democrats voting against their favorite programs and Republicans cheering for fully funding programs they usually argue need a trim.

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In A Debt Crisis, U.S. May Have To Decide Payment Priorities

12:02pm October 09, 2013

by John Ydstie

If Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling, the U.S. Treasury will be unable to pay creditors and the U.S. will be in default. Some argue Treasury could continue making "priority payments" designed to protect the nation's credit rating. Others say that could undermine the confidence in the U.S. to meet its obligations.

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Flooding brought down a house in Jamestown, Colo., on Sept. 18.

Flood Forensics: Why Colorado's Floods Were So Destructive

10:25am October 09, 2013

by Christopher Joyce

Nearly a year's worth of rain was dumped on parts of the state in four days this fall. The downpour from the heavens created a slurry on the mountainsides that scrubbed away soil, trees, boulders and buildings. Scientists say the flooding may have been a once-in-a-thousand-years event.

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Yvonne Smith is the director of La Rive Spa at Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Washington state. Across the country, Native American tribes are hoping high-end extras will draw visitors to casinos.

High-End Extras Aren't A Sure Bet For Tribal Casinos

9:53am October 09, 2013

by Jessica Robinson

Native American tribes are giving casinos a makeover, hoping added amenities like spas, golf courses and luxury hotels will attract visitors. Still, these ventures make 80 to 90 percent of their revenue from gambling, and experts say getting people on the gaming floor is key.

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Democrat Cory Booker (left) and Republican Steve Lonegan stand together after their first debate in the race for U.S. Senate on Oct. 4 in Trenton, N.J.

Booker Gets A Run For His Money In N.J. Senate Race

9:22am October 09, 2013

by Joel Rose

Newark Mayor Cory Booker is still in the lead in the race to fill the seat of the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg. But Tea Party favorite Steve Lonegan is mounting an unexpectedly strong challenge to the Democrat.

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Phase 2 Of BP Trial Focuses On Amount Of Spilled Oil

12:48pm October 08, 2013

by Jeff Brady

Both the U.S. government and BP have estimates on just how much oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010. The problem: They reached two different numbers. At stake is up to $18 billion in fines and penalties under federal environmental laws.

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National

Calif. Law Allows Undocumented Immigrants To Practice Law

11:32am October 08, 2013

by Emily Green

Sergio Garcia passed the California bar exam four years ago. The bar granted Garcia a law license but then rescinded it because he was undocumented. Gov. Jerry Brown has since signed a measure into law that permits undocumented immigrants to be a licenses attorneys.

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Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois is congratulated by members of Congress during the unveiling of his portrait at the Capitol in 2009.

Hastert: Primary Challenges Making Congress 'Kind Of Neurotic'

11:25am October 08, 2013

by Erica Ryan

"All of a sudden, people are looking over their shoulders," says former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. He says changes in the way campaigns are financed have led members of Congress to worry that if they're seen as not liberal or not conservative enough, they'll be challenged by their own party.

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A U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies over Somalia in September 1993, a month before the battle of Mogadishu.

What A Downed Black Hawk In Somalia Taught America

9:44am October 08, 2013

by NPR Staff

It's been 20 years since the Battle of Mogadishu, a mission gone wrong that cost 18 American lives. The operation and its aftermath left an opening for extremists, says journalist Mark Bowden, and made the U.S. more cautious about sending troops into foreign conflicts. Would the operation go differently today?

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National

Deepwater Horizon Trial Enters Second Phase

6:50pm October 07, 2013

The second phase of the BP oil spill trial is under way in New Orleans. Last week, the court heard arguments about how BP responded to the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010. The judge will now hear testimony about how much oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. BP and the federal government have differing numbers and at stake are billions of dollars in potential fines under the Clean Water Act.

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