U.S. News and National Top Stories : NPR

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks while Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner looks on during a Nov. 21 news conference about new sanctions against Iran. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Middle East

For Iranian-Americans, A Minefield

November 30, 2011 • Members of the Iranian-American community maintain contacts with friends and family in Iran. But that means negotiating the confusing array of sanctions the U.S. government has imposed on Iran for more than three decades. One recent legal case highlights the issue.

In Texas, Keeping Kids In School And Out Of Court

Seventy students a day are sent to the Waco Alternative School Campus, after being "ticketed" for bad behavior in municipal court. Marisa Peñaloza/NPR hide caption

toggle caption

Marisa Peñaloza/NPR

Education

In Texas, Keeping Kids In School And Out Of Court

November 30, 2011 • Instead of being sent to the principal's office for things like truancy or dress code violations, young people in Texas are "ticketed" by school police and sent to court with misdemeanor charges. Some schools are changing their disciplinary policies to keep students from dropping out.

In Texas, Keeping Kids In School And Out Of Court

Listen · 7:50 7:50

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142893192/142961323" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Medicare Offers Expanded Coverage To Battle Expanding Waistlines

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it will cover screening and counseling for obesity as a free preventive service for Medicare beneficiaries. M. Spencer Green/AP hide caption

toggle caption

M. Spencer Green/AP

Shots - Health News

Medicare Offers Expanded Coverage To Battle Expanding Waistlines

KFF Health News

November 30, 2011 • Medicare will now cover screening and counseling for obesity as a free preventive service. Advocates hope the decision will encourage private insurers and Medicaid to do the same.

Listen to Patti Neigmond's related report on Morning Edition

In Fox Interview, Cain Says He'll Decide Campaign's Future In Next Week

Republican presidential candidate, Herman Cain campaigned Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. He told a Fox News interviewer he would decide in the next week whether to stay in the GOP race. Al Behrman/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Al Behrman/AP

It's All Politics

In Fox Interview, Cain Says He'll Decide Campaign's Future In Next Week

November 30, 2011 • Herman Cain says he can't guarantee that more women won't come forward because he's helped many. People may expect him to drop out, but he says, "That's just not me."

Solar Project Moves Forward Without Uncle Sam

SolarCity has received financing from Bank of America Merrill Lynch to install solar electricity systems on houses on military bases, like one here at Soaring Heights Communities at Davis Monthan Air Force Base outside Tucson, Ariz. Lend Lease hide caption

toggle caption

Lend Lease

Energy

Solar Project Moves Forward Without Uncle Sam

November 30, 2011 • SolarCity says it will install solar systems on the roofs of up to 120,000 military homes, with financing coming from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. It's the first time a project of this scale has been launched without the federal government basically co-signing the loan.

Solar Project Moves Forward Without Uncle Sam

Listen · 4:04 4:04

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142935396/142961744" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Gingrich Attracts Jubilant Crowds In S.C.

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich addressed large crowds at campaign stops like this one at Tommy's Ham House in Greenville, S.C. on Wednesday. Richard Shiro/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Richard Shiro/AP

Obama Pushes Payroll Tax Cut in Scranton, Pa.

Listen · 4:08 4:08

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961334/142961309" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Obituaries

Comedian Patrice O'Neal Dies At 41

November 30, 2011 • Guy Raz remembers Patrice O'Neal — a stand-up comedian who took on controversial topics like race, AIDS and his own struggle with diabetes. O'Neal died on Tuesday. He was 41 and lived in New Jersey.

Comedian Patrice O'Neal Dies At 41

Listen · 2:09 2:09

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961332/142961307" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Law

Hearing May Grant John Hinckley More Privileges

November 30, 2011 • A hearing opens Wednesday for John Hinckley, who attempted to assassinate President Reagan 30 years ago and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was sent to a mental institution but is now seeking more privileges that could lead to his living full-time outside the hospital.

Hearing May Grant John Hinckley More Privileges

Listen · 4:03 4:03

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961328/142961303" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

National Security

Medal Of Honor Winner Sues Defense Contractor

November 30, 2011 • Guy Raz speaks with Julian Barnes, the Wall Street Journal's Pentagon reporter, about Dakota Meyer, a Marine who was recently awarded the Medal of Honor. Meyer is suing a defense contractor that he worked with, alleging they blocked him from another job in the defense industry as retaliation for his objections to selling high-tech instruments to the Pakistani military.

Medal Of Honor Winner Sues Defense Contractor

Listen · 5:39 5:39

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961330/142961305" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Economy

A 'Holiday Greeting Card' To Financial Markets?

November 30, 2011 • Guy Raz talks to Felix Salmon, a finance blogger for Reuters. Salmon explains Wednesday's actions by six central banks to improve access to U.S. dollars internationally.

A 'Holiday Greeting Card' To Financial Markets?

Listen · 5:10 5:10

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961326/142961301" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Economy

Central Banks Act Sends Stock Markets Soaring

November 30, 2011 • The major central banks of the world moved Wednesday to prevent a banking crisis in Europe. They're providing more liquidity to the European banking system in hopes that big banks there will remain solvent and continue to make loans. The coordinated move by the central banks sent stock markets soaring. But it will not even begin to fix Europe's fundamental economic problems.

Central Banks Act Sends Stock Markets Soaring

Listen · 3:17 3:17

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961324/142961299" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Occupy Chicago: A 'Dry Run' For Upcoming Summits

November 30, 2011 • In Chicago, city officials and demonstrators say the recent Occupy Chicago protests are a sort of dry run for next year's simultaneous NATO and G-8 summit meetings.

Occupy Chicago: A 'Dry Run' For Upcoming Summits

Listen · 4:49 4:49

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961338/142961311" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

World

In Myanmar, Clinton Tests Waters For Change

November 30, 2011 • Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Myanmar, also known as Burma, to see if the county's leaders are serious about political reform. Myanmar has long been under international sanctions because of the repressive nature of the military junta that held power until recently. But there are signs that a new civilian government is loosening the military's grip.

In Myanmar, Clinton Tests Waters For Change

Listen · 3:29 3:29

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/142961342/142961317" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript