National

Miami Public Service Aide Tatayana Harris enters information into her laptop after clearing an accident in Miami's Little Havana community. Harris has been a Miami Police PSA for five years and hopes to become a police officer.

National

Police Take Different Approaches To 'The Tyranny Of 911'

9:22pm June 28, 2013

by NPR Staff

Most people know to phone 911 in an emergency, but police departments are often overwhelmed by the sheer volume of calls. Some cities use 311 lines to help divert non-emergency requests, while Miami dispatches a group of unarmed public servants to tackle many non-urgent situations.

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National

Same-Sex Marriages Resume In California

9:22pm June 28, 2013

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its injunction on gay marriages in California on Friday. They'd been on hold while the challenges to Proposition 8 worked their way through the appeals process.

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Compost bins at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket in Brooklyn, N.Y. are part of a pilot program to get New Yorkers to recycle their food waste.

National

Composting On The Way Up In New York City High-Rises

10:45am June 28, 2013

by Joel Rose

This summer, New York City is expanding food waste recycling into more neighborhoods, with an eye toward eventually making the program mandatory. Officials are hoping the changes will help improve on the city's dismal recycling rate, which remains stuck at 15 percent.

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Amanda Cowley repaints her bathroom during renovations made to her new three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse.

National

Moving Out And Buying In: Single Ladies Emerge As Homeowners

10:38am June 28, 2013

by Jennifer Ludden

Even though it's tough to purchase your own home in this economy, single women are making it work. After married couples, they're the largest demographic group of homebuyers. In fact, their share of the market is twice that of single men.

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After Samuel Taylor came out to his mother, Connie Casey, the pair had several very difficult years. But in time, Connie realized she had to re-examine her feelings about homosexuality.

National

For A Mom, Learning To Accept A Gay Son Was 'Nonnegotiable'

7:13am June 28, 2013

by NPR Staff

When Connie Casey learned her adolescent son was gay, she blamed herself and sent him to conversion therapy for several years. But when Samuel, now 22, went away to college, Connie says, she realized that "it was time to take a look at everything that I'd ever been taught to believe."

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Defense Officials Indicate NSA Leaks Have Had Consequences

7:13am June 28, 2013

by Tom Gjelten

Washington is still trying to determine how much damage has been done as a result of Edward Snowden's revelations about NSA surveillance. Snowden allegedly encrypted the files he took with him, but some officials fear Chinese or Russian intelligence services gained access to Snowden's computers.

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National

Texas Gov. Calls Special Session, Reigniting Abortion Debate

5:44pm June 27, 2013

by John Burnett

The fight over abortion rights has heated up in Texas. A dramatic late night filibuster session derailed the passage of new abortion restrictions on Tuesday night. The next day, Gov. Rick Perry, an abortion rights opponent, called for a special legislative session to start July, 1, to reintroduce the legislation.

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Caryn Lantz and her husband Chuck were surprised to learn that costs associated with adopting black children were much lower than for white or mixed race children. They ultimately went with an adoption in which the fee was based on their income, not skin

National

Six Words: 'Black Babies Cost Less To Adopt'

9:46am June 27, 2013

by NPR Staff

In the U.S., more prospective parents seek to adopt white and mixed race children than black children. As a result, many agencies levy lower fees to make it easier for parents to adopt from among the large numbers of black children waiting for placement.

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Conservative Religious Leaders Condemn Same-Sex Marriage Rulings

5:34am June 27, 2013

by John Burnett

We talk to religious conservatives about their response to Wednesday's Supreme Court rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8.

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New Bugs In Florida Stymie Researchers, Threaten Crops

5:34am June 27, 2013

by Greg Allen

Researchers usually identify natural predators or parasites to combat invasive bugs like the brown marmorated stink bug and the psyllid. But after not finding immediate solutions, they are turning to pesticides and nutrient sprays.

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