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National

Friday

Closing Bell: Will Optimism For Stocks Return?

A trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange looks at stocks during the final minutes of trading on May 6. The Dow fell more than 600 points in a few minutes in what became known as the "flash crash." Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Economy

Closing Bell: Will Optimism For Stocks Return?

The stock market is ending 2010 on an up note, and investors are slowly growing more hopeful about the economy. But wild swings in the market over the past few years, coupled with high unemployment in the U.S. and a banking crisis in Europe, have left investors cautious.

Closing Bell: Will Optimism For Stocks Return?

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A Philly Tradition Gets New Followers

A century-old New Year's Day tradition in Philadelphia is starting to get hip. The Mummers Parade has always been a day when mostly working-class men don elaborate dresses and dance down Broad Street with parasols. It has historically been an enclave of families with deep labor-union ties. But now young artists are adopting the tradition as a creative vehicle.

A Philly Tradition Gets New Followers

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What's Ahead In The Year In Politics?

The health care debate and President Obama's political fortunes dominated the year in politics. How will these and other issues play out in the coming year. E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Reihan Salam, a blogger at National Review and policy advisor at Economics 21, offer their insight.

What's Ahead In The Year In Politics?

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Politics

Year In Politics Reviewed

President Obama's self-described "shellacking" and Republican House leader John Boehner's emotions getting the better of him were some of the more memorable moments of the year in politics. We hear these and a sampling of others.

Year In Politics Reviewed

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Science

Year In Review: Science Stories Of 2010

From the Gulf oil spill and the earthquake in Haiti to the creation of synthetic life and the Icelandic volcano eruption, a lot of science stories made headlines in 2010. Science writers Ron Cowen, Robin Lloyd, Andrew Revkin and Paul Raeburn join Ira Flatow to discuss the year's top stories in science.

Year In Review: Science Stories Of 2010

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Analysis

Politics

'Tell Me' Awards Honor Year's Political Stars, Gaffes

In this week's Political Chat roundtable, host Michel Martin looks back on the year that was, in politics. She reviews the highlights of 2010 in the form of a "political awards show" with Mary Kate Cary, columnist and blogger for the US News and World Report and Cynthia Tucker, columnist and blogger with the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

'Tell Me' Awards Honor Year's Political Stars, Gaffes

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Opinion

BackTalk

Unforgettable Guests Share Updates On Year's Struggles

In a special end-of-year edition of the weekly BackTalk segment, Tell Me More's "digital media guy" Lee Hill and host Michel Martin catch up with some of the program's more memorable guests from stories featured in 2010. Hear updates on their individual journeys to overcome a year of challenges and loss, having been affected by the Gulf oil spill, joblessness and the struggle to re-enter society after being incarcerated for sexual assault.

Unforgettable Guests Share Updates On Year's Struggles

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Bellagio Discontinuing $25,000 Chip After Heist

It'll be harder to flash a certain kind of cash in Las Vegas in the New Year. The Bellagio casino is discontinuing its $25,000 chip. A gunman robbed the casino of $1.5 million in chips earlier this month, and is still at large. Casino executives hope to make it harder for the thief to cash them in.

Bellagio Discontinuing $25,000 Chip After Heist

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Business

Record Snow Boosts Ski Resorts' Holiday Season

KUNC

Snow is piling up in record amounts in the western part of the U.S. That's good news for the snow-dependent ski industry, which like most travel and tourism industries, has limped its way through the economic downturn. The Christmas-New Year's holiday is the make or break time for most ski resorts and hotels.

Record Snow Boosts Ski Resorts' Holiday Season

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Decade In Sound: Voices In The News 2000-2010

Remember Y2K? That's beginning to seem like a long time ago, now. Morning Edition takes some time to remember how much has happened since the turn of the century. Listen for a decade of history in this audio montage.

Decade In Sound: Voices In The News 2000-2010

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College Bowl Games Mix Nailbiters With Oddities

Auburn and Oregon will play for the BCS championship on Jan. 10 in Glendale, Ariz. Above, workers assemble gift bags for fans. Matt York/ASSOCIATED PRESS hide caption

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Matt York/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sports

College Bowl Games Mix Nailbiters With Oddities

College football bowl season is in full swing, as schools will play 35 games in 24 days, culminating in the national championship game on Jan. 10. There have already been some tight games, and some odd moments — like the runaway falcon.

College Bowl Games Mix Nailbiters With Oddities

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Kidnappings Highlight Al-Qaida's Rise In The Sahara

Soldiers from Niger patrol the road between Agadez and Arlit in September. Issouf Sanogo/Getty Images hide caption

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Africa

Kidnappings Highlight Al-Qaida's Rise In The Sahara

How to counter and curb growing Islamist militancy and banditry in the Sahel — the vast, poorly policed zone that straddles the African nations of Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Algeria — is a priority for governments in West Africa, Washington and beyond.

Kidnappings Highlight Al-Qaida's Rise In The Sahara

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Oprah Launches A Network On Her OWN

Oprah Winfrey, shown during a visit to Sydney in December, is set to launch OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, on Jan. 1. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images hide caption

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Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Television

Oprah Launches A Network On Her OWN

On Jan. 1, Oprah Winfrey launches the Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN, the first television channel entirely dedicated to a personal brand. Will her loyal audience follow?

Oprah Launches A Network On Her OWN

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