U.S.

National

Brooklyn DA Works To Overturn His 'Legacy Of Disgrace'

3:46pm October 18, 2014

Since Kenneth Thompson became district attorney, he's been investigating a number of old cases. As he tells NPR's Scott Simon, he recently asked a judge to throw out a 30-year-old murder conviction.

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Pritzker Travels Europe And Asia On Commercial Diplomacy Tour

3:46pm October 18, 2014

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker recently returned from Ukraine and Turkey, and she heads next to Japan and South Korea. NPR's Scott Simon talks to her about practicing commercial diplomacy.

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Politics & Government

A Candidate With Low Poll Numbers, But High Hopes

3:46pm October 18, 2014

by Scott Simon

Dr. Doug Butzier was the Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate in Iowa when he died in a small plane crash this week. NPR's Scott Simon thinks on the hopes even "lost cause" candidates inspire.

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The Supreme Court early Saturday declined to block a Texas Voter ID law for the November election.

Supreme Court Lets Texas Enforce Voter ID Law For Nov. Election

2:50pm October 18, 2014

by Scott Neuman

With three justices dissenting, the high court's ruling effectively blocks a lower federal court decision declaring the law restrictive and unconstitutional.

National

America's Boo-It-Yourself Halloween Spirit

2:39pm October 18, 2014

by Linton Weeks

You've heard of recycling and upcycling, now there's boocycling — making first-rate costumes from second-hand stuff.

Workers drill for oil in the Bakken shale formation outside Watford City, N.D., an area experiencing an oil boom.

Predictions Of 'Peak Oil' Production Prove Slippery

12:52pm October 18, 2014

by Marilyn Geewax

Just a few years ago, authors were predicting production would soon hit a peak and then decline. But since then, supplies have surged. So are the forecasters now slapping themselves in the head?

Senegalese fencer Abdoulaye Thiam (left) competed against Jason Rogers of the U.S. during the 2008 Olympics. Due to Ebola fears, a World Cup fencing event set for Senegal this month has been canceled.

Universities To Speakers Who've Visited West Africa: En Garde!

5:37am October 18, 2014

by Eleanor Klibanoff

Fears of Ebola — not always justified — have caused organizers in Africa and the United States to cancel or reschedule events they worry may lead to spread of the disease.

Apple and Facebook's decisions to pay for female employees to freeze their eggs sparked a lively debate on the message it sends to women.

National

Tech Week: Egg Freezing, Gamergate And Online Giving

5:36am October 18, 2014

by Elise Hu

Debates about the role of women in the technology workforce and in gaming are swirling over two notable stories this week.

A notice in a store window in New York City announces a retail job opening. Now that unemployment has slipped below 6 percent, there's renewed interest in what the Federal Reserve's target for joblessness should be.

Drop In Unemployment Raises Debate On Optimal Rate

6:26pm October 17, 2014

by Jim Zarroli

Now that unemployment has slipped below 6 percent, there's renewed interest in what the Federal Reserve's target for joblessness should be. Some economists worry that inflation will resurface.

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NBA Is Trying Shorter Games — Why Not A Shorter Season?

6:26pm October 17, 2014

While the NBA is experimenting with shorter games, some players — including Lebron James — would like to see shorter seasons. Audie Cornish talks to sportswriter Stefan Fatsis.

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