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Friday

The Impact of War

Debate Erupts Over Legality Of Awlaki's Killing

Anwar al-Awlaki may have been one of the most wanted men in the world, but he hadn't been convicted of a crime in American or international courts. Civil liberties groups are arguing the Obama administration may have gone too far by killing Awlaki far away from the battlefield.

Debate Erupts Over Legality Of Awlaki's Killing

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Sale Of U.S. Bombs To Israel Raises Questions

Penetrator bombs, commonly known as bunker busters, are stored on pallets at an ammunition plant in McAlester, Okla., in 2002. The U.S. sold 55 bunker busters to Israel in 2009, according to a recent Newsweek report. Sue Ogrocki/AP hide caption

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Sue Ogrocki/AP

Middle East

Sale Of U.S. Bombs To Israel Raises Questions

The U.S. sold bunker buster bombs to Israel in 2009, a recent report details. No U.S. officials have talked openly about why the bunker busters were provided to Israel but speculation falls most heavily on the Iranian nuclear program.

Sale Of U.S. Bombs To Israel Raises Questions

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National Security

Adm. Mike Mullen Retires

Adm. Mike Mullen steps down Friday as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his term as the nation's top military officer, Mullen was influential on two issues in particular: America's relations with Pakistan and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Adm. Mike Mullen Retires

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World

American-Born Cleric Al-Awlaki Killed

The American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has been killed in Yemen. Awlaki has been linked to several terrorist plots targeting the United States. According to reports, he was struck by a missile fired from a drone while traveling in a convoy. Michele Norris talks to NPR's Dina Temple-Raston for more.

American-Born Cleric Al-Awlaki Killed

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Economy

BofA Plans To Introduce Monthly Debit Card Fee

Michele Norris talks about Bank of America's plan to charge some customers a monthly $5 fee for debit cards with Daniel Indiviglio, associate editor with The Atlantic. Indiviglio writes about business, finance, economics and politics.

BofA Plans To Introduce Monthly Debit Card Fee

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Elections

Fla. Moves Up Its Primary Date

Florida wants to be no lower than fifth on the calendar of presidential nominating events in 2012, and Friday its Legislature moved to hold its primary on Jan. 31. That is expected to move the Iowa caucuses into the first week of the year.

Fla. Moves Up Its Primary Date

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Technology

Old-Fashioned Letter Writing Meets Digital Age

In so many ways, the Internet has shoved aside old-fashioned letters, the kind written on stationery or letterhead. But lettersofnote.com serves as a bridge between the new technology and the old. Shaun Usher edits the site that's filled with correspondence written or received by people whose names you know. Michele Norris talks to Shaun Usher about gems from Marilyn Monroe, Roald Dahl and Johnny Cash.

Old-Fashioned Letter Writing Meets Digital Age

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Tevatron Machine Will Smash Particles No More

The main ring of the Tevatron, seen in a time exposure. For a quarter century, the particle accelerator at a lab outside Chicago was the most powerful machine of its kind in the world. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab hide caption

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Reidar Hahn/Fermilab

Science

Tevatron Machine Will Smash Particles No More

On Friday, officials shut down the giant machine designed to smash tiny bits of atoms together to reveal fundamentals of the universe. For a quarter century, the Tevatron, located in a lab near Chicago, was the most powerful and productive machine of its kind in the world, but a new machine in Europe has made it obsolete.

Tevatron Machine Will Smash Particles No More

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Data On Gay Couples Reveal Changing Attitudes

Ryan Witmer (left) and Jhonmar Castillo wait with other couples to exchange vows in a civil union ceremony June 2 in Chicago's Millennium Park. New data from the U.S. census may reveal as much about changing attitudes as about changing numbers. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Data On Gay Couples Reveal Changing Attitudes

Census data released this week may indicate more than just a change in numbers. Some demographers say the stigma of homosexuality is easing, emboldening more people to disclose their same-sex partnerships. As evidence, some of the biggest increases in gay couples occurred in unlikely places.