U.S.

Gene Wilder's Nephew Remembers Late Actor Who Starred In 'Willy Wonka'

7:36pm August 29, 2016

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Jordan Walker-Pearlman, the nephew of Gene Wilder, who died Monday at 83. Wilder is best known for his roles in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The Producers.

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Officials found the toxin microcystin in the blue-green algae present at Discovery Bay, Calif. For people exposed to the toxin, symptoms include dizziness, rashes, fever, vomiting and in more unusual cases, numbness.

Poisonous Algae Blooms Threaten People, Ecosystems Across U.S.

7:36pm August 29, 2016

by Lesley McClurg

Serious algae outbreaks have hit more than 20 states this summer. Algae blooms aren't unusual. But the frequency, size and toxicity now are worse than ever, and changes in climate are partly to blame.

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From left, Thomas Edison, Luther Burbank and Henry Ford. Two are still world-famous; the guy in the middle brought us many crop experiments, including the Himalayan blackberry that's now inescapable in Seattle.

The Strange, Twisted Story Behind Seattle's Blackberries

6:50pm August 29, 2016

by Ann Dornfeld

Those tangled brambles are everywhere in the city, the legacy of an eccentric named Luther Burbank whose breeding experiments with crops can still be found on many American dinner plates.

National

50 Years Ago, Martin Luther King Jr. Fought For Open Housing In Chicago

6:36pm August 29, 2016

by Cheryl Corley

50 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr., took his fight for civil rights to the north. The Chicago Freedom Movement was a push for open housing and an end to Chicago slums.

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U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim hold a news conference after meeting Aug. 24 in Ankara, Turkey. While the U.S. and Turkey are close allies, they've been at odds on a number of issues, and the meeting was designed t

In A Time Of Middle East Conflict, What's The Role Of U.S. Diplomacy?

5:21pm August 29, 2016

by Peter Kenyon

The focus has often been on U.S. military action in the Middle East. But diplomacy is also critical. Here's a look at one of America's most important and complicated relationships in the region.

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Drones are flown at a training class in Las Vegas in anticipation of new regulations allowing their commercial use.

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FAA Expects 600,000 Commercial Drones In The Air Within A Year

5:06pm August 29, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

The soaring number of drones for hire is forecast in response to new federal rules that simplify and streamline the process of getting government approval and certification.

Syrian Refugee Family Arrives In New Jersey To Start New Life

4:36pm August 29, 2016

by Deborah Amos

A Syrian refugee family arrives to meet Syrian American relatives who are waiting to host them. This comes as the U.S. meets its goal of bringing 10,000 refugees from Syria by October.

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Hurricane Katrina Victim Rebuilds Her Life Again After Louisiana Floods

4:35pm August 29, 2016

After Kevia Bolds fled New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, she and her family decided not to return over concerns about future flooding. Instead they moved to Baton Rouge, La., and two weeks ago her house flooded again. Now she faces the challenge of rebuilding her life for a second time.

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New Chief Of Staff Outlines Global Challenges Faced By The Air Force

4:35pm August 29, 2016

Gen. David Goldfein was sworn in about two months ago as the 21st Air Force chief of staff. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Gen. Goldfein about the outsized demands the Air Force must meet as it fights ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Many people get antidepressants when they might not need them.

Depression Treatment Often Doesn't Go To Those Most In Need

3:52pm August 29, 2016

by Zhai Yun Tan

Most people with depression aren't getting treatment, a study finds, while people who aren't depressed are prescribed antidepressants they don't need. Ethnicity and income have a lot to do with that.