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Wednesday

Sold! First Parcels Auctioned For Future Offshore Wind Farms

The offshore wind farm in the North Sea near Borkum, Germany, is nearly complete. The Riffgat facility, seen here on June 23, includes 30 turbines, each with a generating capacity of 3.6 megawatts. David Hecker/Getty Images hide caption

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David Hecker/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Sold! First Parcels Auctioned For Future Offshore Wind Farms

The federal government held its first ever auction for the right to build offshore wind farms on Wednesday. After 11 rounds, a Rhode Island company was the highest bidder, at $3.8 million.

Sold! First Parcels Auctioned For Future Offshore Wind Farms

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Obama's Fed Pick Quandary: What Does It Mean For His Legacy?

Janet Yellen, vice chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, is under consideration to become the first woman to lead the Fed. President Obama reportedly is likely to choose between Yellen and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers. Franck Robichon/EPA/Landov hide caption

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Franck Robichon/EPA/Landov

It's All Politics

Obama's Fed Pick Quandary: What Does It Mean For His Legacy?

Both Janet Yellen and Lawrence Summers have awe-inspiring credentials. So Obama's decision seems to come down to whose understanding of the economy most closely matches his own, and which candidate is likeliest to have people looking back years from now saying: "That was an inspired pick."

Twice Rejected, LGBT Group Won't Give Up On Boy Scout Bid

Senicka Arciaga-Spears (left), with his siblings and mothers, Kelly and Eliza. Senicka hopes to join the Boy Scouts if the Utah Pride Center's troop charter application is accepted. Terry Gildea/KUER hide caption

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Terry Gildea/KUER

Twice Rejected, LGBT Group Won't Give Up On Boy Scout Bid

KUER

The Utah Pride Center, which serves LGBT youth in Salt Lake City, has applied to charter a Boy Scout troop twice. Center leaders say they will comply with the rule barring gay adults from serving as troop leaders. But the Boy Scouts of America says the two organizations' missions are misaligned.

Twice Rejected, LGBT Group Won't Give Up On Boy Scout Bid

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Tampon Marketing Gets Real For The Social Media Age

"We just thought we were telling this endearing story women could relate to," says HelloFlo founder Naama Bloom. Courtesy of HelloFlo hide caption

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Courtesy of HelloFlo

All Tech Considered

Tampon Marketing Gets Real For The Social Media Age

An online video spot for HelloFlo breaks the familiar mold of cheesy tampon commercials in a clever way. Ad watchers say it's a reflection of the open, transparent conversations spurred by social media.

Tampon Marketing Gets Real For The Social Media Age

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Media

Local Kentucky TV Station Wants To 'Un-Hype' The News

Sick of the hype that desperate local TV news programs use to try to draw viewers, a station in Louisville, Ky., is making a bold promise: If news isn't breaking at that moment, the station won't call it breaking news. It is part of a new compact with viewers and advertisers not to hype the news.

Local Kentucky TV Station Wants To 'Un-Hype' The News

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National Security

Bradley Manning Had Long Been Plagued By Mental Health Issues

Sentencing began Wednesday in the trial of Army Pvt. Bradley Manning. Journalist Steve Fishman wrote an in-depth profile of Manning for New York Magazine. He speaks to Melissa Block about the famed Wikileaker who faces years in prison.

Bradley Manning Had Long Been Plagued By Mental Health Issues

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Politics

House Republicans Work To Keep IRS Scandal In The Spotlight

Congressional Republicans are accusing the IRS of dodging their questions and requests for documents in the inquiry into the flagging of Tea Party groups seeking tax exempt status. One House committee warns the agency it could use its investigative powers to enforce compliance. And a second committee says it now has proof that conservative groups were treated worse than progressive groups.

House Republicans Work To Keep IRS Scandal In The Spotlight

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Politics

Obama Makes Rare Trip To The Hill For Closed-Door Meetings

President Obama made a rare journey to Capitol Hill on Wednesday morning for closed-door meetings with House and Senate Democrats.

Obama Makes Rare Trip To The Hill For Closed-Door Meetings

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Economy

Better GDP Report Doesn't Mean Economy Is In Good Shape

The economy grew at an annual rate of 1.7 percent in the second quarter. That's better than most analysts expected, but far below the historical average. Federal Reserve policymakers meeting in Washington decided to leave interest rates alone and kept plans to begin phasing out a stimulus program later this year if the economy holds up well.

Better GDP Report Doesn't Mean Economy Is In Good Shape

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Former Chicago Mayor Lends A Hand To Ailing Gary, Ind.

After more than 20 years as Chicago's Mayor, Richard Daley is working with the new Mayor of Gary, Ind., to try to revitalize that rust belt city. Daley is a senior fellow at the University of Chicago and his students are also helping in the transformation effort.

Former Chicago Mayor Lends A Hand To Ailing Gary, Ind.

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Law

Man Forgotten In Windowless Cell Awarded $4 Million

A young man whom the Drug Enforcement Administration left in a windowless holding cell without water or food for several days settled a lawsuit against the Justice Department on Tuesday for more than $4 million. Audie Cornish spoke to the man, whose name is Daniel Chong, in May 2012.

Man Forgotten In Windowless Cell Awarded $4 Million

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National Security

NSA Director Speaks At Hacker Conference With Mixed Reviews

Gen. Keith Alexander, head of the National Security Agency, spoke Wednesday at Black Hat, a hackers conference in Las Vegas.

NSA Director Speaks At Hacker Conference With Mixed Reviews

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National Security

White House Declassifies Documents To Justify NSA Program

The Obama administration declassified a series of documents in an effort to justify data collection efforts by the National Security Agency on Wednesday. The move may be an effort to get ahead of efforts in Congress to limit the government's ability to gather information about telephone and Internet communications. Also on Wednesday, The Guardian newspaper leaked more information from former contractor Edward Snowden, showing how vast the U.S. governments abilities are.

White House Declassifies Documents To Justify NSA Program

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For One Seniors Basketball Team, The Game Never Gets Old

She-Ca-Go's Leona Cochran attempts to block Jo Cahill's shot during the team's game against the Colorado Combos at the National Senior Games in Cleveland on Monday. Benjamin Morris for NPR hide caption

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Benjamin Morris for NPR

Sports

For One Seniors Basketball Team, The Game Never Gets Old

At the National Senior Games, the women who make up She-Ca-Go, a team in the 75-to-79 age division, are still in it for the camaraderie and competition. The games finish a two-week run in Cleveland on Thursday.

For One Seniors Basketball Team, The Game Never Gets Old

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