U.S.

National

Ill. Considers Licenses For Undocumented Immigrants

7:09pm December 09, 2012

by Allison Keyes

Bipartisan support in the Illinois Senate helped pass legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses. But critics say granting driving rights to people in the country illegally is putting the cart before the horse.

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National

Affirmative Action: Factious Past, Uncertain Future

7:09pm December 09, 2012

by NPR Staff

The Supreme Court's expected ruling on a case involving the University of Texas could end race-based affirmative action. But while some say the program works and is still needed, others argue there are better ways of measuring diversity.

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Abandoned and flooded cars sit in the Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, N.Y., on Nov. 2. It's estimated that it could cost auto insurers $800 million to deal with all the claims from the storm.

National

Next Post-Sandy Challenge: The Sea Of Damaged Cars

9:40pm December 08, 2012

by Ilya Marritz

Hurricane Sandy wrecked hundreds of thousands of cars along the New York and New Jersey shorelines, and could cost auto insurers around $800 million. That's not the companies' only problem, though; disposing of these water-damaged vehicles isn't so simple.

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General Electric's Appliance Park has been in Louisville, Ky., since 1951. But it's putting new power behind its U.S. production.

National

Not Just Patriotic, U.S. Manufacturing May Be Smart

8:12pm December 08, 2012

by NPR Staff

The incentives are stacking up in favor of making things at home. As General Electric discovered in its Appliance Park in Louisville, Ky., big things can happen when marketers and designers talk to assembly line operators. Collaboration is one piece of how U.S. factories are becoming more efficient — and enticing.

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Called a boyo or bulema, this Turkish-style pastry was traditionally made for the Jewish Shabbat. Today, boyos are mostly reserved for holidays like Hanukkah.

National

At Hanukkah, Pastry Reminds Portland Jews Of Their Mediterranean Roots

7:29pm December 08, 2012

by Deena Prichep

The cheese-and-spinach-filled food called a boyo was once served on the Shabbat tables of Jews who lived in the Ottoman Empire. Today, the Turkish-style pastries are mostly reserved for the holidays.

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National

Hoodie Company Put U.S. Manufacturing In Style

6:51pm December 08, 2012

When Bayard Winthrop founded American Giant, he set up manufacturing in San Francisco. The sweatshirt company focuses on the details and skips over the distributors. Winthrop tells host Guy Raz how making the clothing in America actually helps his bottom line.

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National

Unemployment Falls To Lowest Rate In Four Years

11:50pm December 07, 2012

by Jim Zarroli

The stock market moved higher Friday on a jobs report that came in stronger than expected. Employers added 146,000 jobs to payrolls in November and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent.

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Supreme Court Takes Up Same-Sex-Marriage Cases

11:50pm December 07, 2012

by Nina Totenberg

The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that for the first time it will tackle the issue of same-sex marriage. Defying most expectations, the justices said they will examine two cases, presenting the possibility that the court could decide all the basic issues surrounding gay marriage in one fell swoop.

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'Escape Fire' Exposes Flaws Of American Healthcare

1:03pm December 07, 2012

In Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare", director Matthew Heineman exposes what he sees as flaws in the U.S. healthcare system, such as a doctor who can spend just minutes with her patients to a soldier addicted to painkillers. Colonel Chester 'Trip' Buckenmaier III, of the U.S. Army Medical Corps, describes the military's efforts to swap pain pills for alternative therapies, like acupuncture and yoga.

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Tea Party May Be Losing Steam, But Issues Still Boil

9:56am December 07, 2012

by Don Gonyea

While the movement loses popularity nationwide, it's still a force in the GOP. When it comes to fiscal cliff negotiations, however, Tea Party members in Congress seem resigned to the fact that any eventual deal will be one they won't like. That doesn't mean the Tea Party spirit can't be recharged.

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