Around the Nation

Is Santa's Sleigh Powered By Caribou?

9:42am December 25, 2012

In a study, a biology professor argues the animals pulling Santa's sleigh might actually be young caribou. North American Caribou have a "greater power to mass ratio" than Siberian reindeer. They are leaner and have longer legs.

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Ronan at 2 years old. "I know Ronan's purpose in life was to shed light on this disease," says his mother, Maya Thompson. "This is why I will continue to fight for childhood cancer for the rest of my life."

Finding New Meaning In The Loss Of A Son

6:00pm December 24, 2012

by Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Maya Thompson's son Ronan died of cancer three days before his fourth birthday. During his illness, she began a raw and sometimes angry blog that drew millions of readers. Thompson has since started a foundation and is funding clinical trials to find a cure for childhood cancer.

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National

Firefighters Trapped And Shot After Responding To Blaze

5:18pm December 24, 2012

by Joel Rose

Two firefighters died and two others were hospitalized in western New York on Monday. They were shot after responding to a fire in the town of Webster, outside Rochester. Police say the gunman is also dead, and they're not ruling out the possibility that the firefighters were led into a trap.

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Why We Behave So Oddly In Elevators

2:53pm December 24, 2012

For most of us, riding from floor to floor in an elevator is a completely mundane process. Lee Gray, an associate dean at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, is known as the Elevator Guy. He spends a lot of his time researching the history of elevators and why we behave so oddly in the big metal boxes.

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The Transit Workers Who Get You Home For The Holidays

2:49pm December 24, 2012

The holiday season is one of the busiest travel times of the year. However, we seldom think about the transit workers — bus drivers, train operators, air traffic controllers and tow truck operators — who help us reach our destinations.

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In Newtown, Conn., makeshift memorials have been set up outside the town hall, which is holding thousands of toys and stuffed animals for residents as the holidays approach.

National

Toy Donations Pour Into Newtown For The Holidays

1:48pm December 24, 2012

by Diane Orson

Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, gifts have come into the grief-stricken Connecticut community by the truckload. Parents say they're not sure how to celebrate, but some hope the traditions will bring back some sense of normalcy.

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Santa Suits Are Getting Bigger

7:38am December 24, 2012

ABC polled a few Santa suit makers, who say Santa's girth has been steadily increasing. The man known for excess can now order suits up to size quadruple X. That's a 70-inch waistline.

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Ill. Chef To Make Gigantic Green Bean Casserole

7:33am December 24, 2012

Mark Shoopman is into green beans. The Illinois chef is cooking 270 pounds of beans and 75 pounds of onions. His goal, according to WMBD in Peoria, is the largest green bean casserole in Central Illinois.

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Gun Ownership Is A 'Responsiblity To Be Proud Of'

6:30am December 24, 2012

Following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, the debate over gun control has been reignited. Many have said that if there is going to be any action on gun control, law-abiding, responsible gun owners will need to be a part of the conversation. Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep talks to Steven Rinella, a writer and avid hunter, about how he views the current debate.

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National

Atheists Join Religious Groups In Giving Sandy Hook Support

6:37pm December 22, 2012

In the wake of the Newtown shooting, a coalition of atheists have come together to provide some relief. Atheists Giving Aid is raising money for funeral costs and counseling services for Sandy Hook victims.

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