Around the Nation

National

As Two States Legalize Pot, Tommy Chong Isn't Nostalgic About The Old Days

9:11pm December 05, 2012

by Mark Memmott

Washington state decriminalizes possession tonight. Colorado does so next month. Chong, one half of the stoner duo Cheech and Chong, is all in favor of the new laws. There isn't anything funny about being busted, the comic says.

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National

Texas Twang Fixin' To Ride Off Into The Sunset

8:25pm December 05, 2012

by Matt Largey

The way Texans speak, from using words like "y'all" to that old Texas twang, is iconic in American culture. But linguists say the twang is fading — and that, in a few decades, "talking Texan" may sound quite different than it does today.

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Alan Krueger, chairman of the president's Council of Economic Advisers, warns that consumer spending will drop if Congress and the White House fail to reach a deal on spending cuts and tax increases.

Looming Spending Cuts Would Hit Hard All Over

6:09pm December 05, 2012

by Jim Zarroli

If Congress fails to reach an agreement on tax increases and spending cuts this year, it will mean sharp reductions in a broad swath of federal spending, from defense and Medicare to education and unemployment benefits. Economists say the cuts would be a serious setback for the economy as a whole.

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That's a valuable commodity: A hay bale at a farm in Eatonton, Ga., earlier this year.

National

Crime On The Farm: Hay Thefts Soar As Drought Deepens

9:09am December 05, 2012

by Mark Memmott

Hay prices are up sharply because of the drought across much of the nation. So hay bales sitting in fields have become hot properties. So much so, in fact, that a sheriff in Oklahoma put a GPS tracker in one bale. It helped him track down the suspects.

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When The Art Of The Deal Includes Improv Training

9:09am December 05, 2012

by Julia Flucht

Some top-tier business schools — Duke, UCLA, MIT and Stanford — are teaching improv as a way for students to increase collaboration, creativity and risk taking. An instructor at MIT says success in business, as in improvisation, can hinge on your ability to rebound.

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Politics & Government

Senate Fails To Ratify U.N. Treaty On Disabilities

9:09am December 05, 2012

by David Welna

Republicans in the Senate on Tuesday blocked ratification of a U.N. treaty that would have helped countries protect the rights of disabled people. It was inspired by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Opponents argued, among other things, it would threaten the ability of parents in this country to home school their children.

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Famous Rudolph, Ohio, Postmark Will Shine On

9:09am December 05, 2012

After the staff of the village post office was cut to one, it wasn't clear whether the 80,000 Christmas parcels and cards that flow in would get the special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer postmark. But the Toledo Blade reports nearly 75 volunteers have stepped up to keep the tradition going.

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Electronic medical records can have drawbacks, too.

Computerized Health Records Breed Digital Discontent For Some Doctors

6:50pm December 04, 2012

by Eric Whitney

Some doctors are unhappy about switching from paper records to electronic ones. While the government is creating incentives for doctors to switch, some say the hassles and expense exceed the rewards.

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Education

Online Courses Force Changes To Higher Education

8:32am December 04, 2012

by Claudio Sanchez

Online college courses are attracting hundreds of thousands of students, and that's forcing colleges and policymakers to rethink higher education. The online courses may pose a serious challenge to the way institutions deliver a college education.

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The restored building where the "Gadget" atomic bomb was assembled would be included in the Manhattan Project National Park. Gadget was the nickname given to the first nuclear bomb, tested at Trinity Site, N.M., in July 1945.

National

Manhattan Project Sites Part Of Proposed Park

6:55am December 04, 2012

by Ted Robbins

Congress is considering whether to turn three top-secret sites involved with creating the atomic bomb into one of the country's most unusual national parks. Critics question the need for a park that celebrates nuclear weapons. Supporters say the park would ask tough questions about lessons learned.

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