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The Two-Way
6:40 am
Wed April 4, 2012

Former Colorado Sheriff Pleads Guilty In Meth-For-Sex Case

Credit Ed Andrieski / AP
Former Arapahoe County Sheriff Patrick Sullivan before a court hearing last month.

Former Arapahoe County (Colo.) sheriff Patrick Sullivan, who back in December was charged with trying to trade methamphetamine for sex with a man, "pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of meth possession and soliciting prostitution," Denver's KUSA-TV reports.

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It's All Politics
6:33 am
Wed April 4, 2012

Will Pennsylvania Dash Santorum's Political Dreams (Again)?

Credit Jason Cohn / Reuters /Landov
The action was in Wisconsin Tuesday night, but Rick Santorum and his wife, Karen, had already moved on to his home state of Pennsylvania. They greeted supporters at an election night rally in Mars.

After going 0-for-3 in Tuesday's presidential primaries, a defiant Rick Santorum dismissed calls to drop out and predicted he'll win the next contest in his home state of Pennsylvania on April 24.

He'll have to — and not because it would put the former Pennsylvania senator on a path to defeat front-runner Mitt Romney, who has been racking up delegates and is increasingly seen as the inevitable nominee.

A loss in Pennsylvania, where recent polls show Santorum is weakening, would "destroy the rationale for him continuing," says Pennsylvania pollster G. Terry Madonna.

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The Two-Way
6:20 am
Wed April 4, 2012

VIDEO: Pepper Spray Used At Another California Student Protest

Credit Courtesy of David Steinman / AP
Nnaemeka Alozie, campaign manager for California congressional candidate David Steinman, poured milk on his face Tuesday after being pepper sprayed during the incident at Santa Monica College.
The Two-Way
5:35 am
Wed April 4, 2012

After Ferocious Texas Tornadoes, Two Incredibly Welcome Words: 'No Deaths'

Credit Tom Pennington / Getty Images
In Arlington, Texas, Tuesday afternoon, David Lowe carried his daughter's dog, Phoebe, away from the rubble.
The Two-Way
5:05 am
Wed April 4, 2012

Baylor Women Are Perfectly Great; Finish Season 40-0, Win NCAA Title

Credit Justin Edmonds / Getty Images
Brittney Griner (#42) of the Baylor Lady Bears blocks a shot attempt by Kayla McBride (#23) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during Tuesday night's NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game in Denver.

Looking not just to win the NCAA Division I women's basketball championship, but also to be the first team to win 40 games in one season and to do it without a single loss on the way, the Baylor Lady Bears achieved all that last night with an 80-61 win over Notre Dame.

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The Two-Way
4:40 am
Wed April 4, 2012

With Wisconsin Win, Romney Moves From 'Likely' To 'Almost Certain'

Credit Scott Olson / Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney celebrated last night with supporters in Milwaukee.

His wins Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Maryland and — most importantly — in Wisconsin has produced a subtle shift in the way Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney is being referred to by the news media.

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Law
1:19 am
Wed April 4, 2012

Gay Marriage Lawsuit Presses For Survivor Benefits

Herbert Burtis met the person he wanted to marry in college, in 1948. But since the object of his affection was another man, they had to wait until 2004 for the ceremony, when Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriages.

"It's a long engagement," Burtis says, laughing. "We thought it was time that we made each other honest people."

His spouse, John Ferris, died four years ago. When Burtis went to the Social Security office to apply for survivor benefits, the clerk told him the federal government did not recognize his marriage.

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Around the Nation
1:18 am
Wed April 4, 2012

College Student Pieces His Way To Lego Mastery

Europe
1:06 am
Wed April 4, 2012

The Secret To Germany's Low Youth Unemployment

Originally published on Wed April 4, 2012 12:47 pm

For as long as he can remember, German teenager Robin Dittmar has been obsessed with airplanes. As a little boy, the sound of a plane overhead would send him into the backyard to peer into the sky. Toys had to have wings. Even today, Dittmar sees his car as a kind of ersatz Boeing.

"I've got the number 747 as the number plate of my car. I'm really in love with this airplane," the 18-year-old says.

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U.S.
1:05 am
Wed April 4, 2012

Activist Puts Albany Neighborhood On The Bus Map

Credit Marie Cusick for NPR
Willie White pushed for the creation of a new bus route for his previously underserved neighborhood in Albany, N.Y.

Originally published on Wed April 4, 2012 12:47 pm

The New York state capital, Albany, is a gathering place for the state's most powerful people.

But in the city's poor and predominately black South End neighborhood, many residents once felt powerless.

They had repeatedly asked for better public transit for South End, an area plagued with poverty and crime not far from New York's gated governor's mansion.

Today, the city's Route 100 bus glides easily up Morton Avenue, a steep hill in the South End neighborhood. Many feel there would be no Route 100 if not for the efforts of local resident Willie White.

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Sports
1:04 am
Wed April 4, 2012

U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics Star Readies For London

Latin America
1:03 am
Wed April 4, 2012

An Upgrade, And Bigger Ships, For The Panama Canal

Two giant ships move through the Panama Canal's two parallel channels at the Miraflores locks, heading toward the Pacific Ocean.

The orange and white Bow Summer is a tanker. The deck of the Ever Dynamic is stacked high with burgundy and blue shipping containers. More boats like these are backed up in both the Pacific and the Atlantic waiting to enter the narrow waterway.

Global trade has grown dramatically, but the Panama Canal — one of the most vital transit routes — hasn't changed its basic structure since it opened in 1914.

But that is about to change.

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Starting Up: Silicon Valley's Origins
1:00 am
Wed April 4, 2012

A Rare Mix Created Silicon Valley's Startup Culture

The first in a 3-part series airing this week on Morning Edition.

When Facebook goes public later this spring, its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, will be following in the footsteps of a long line of Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs that includes Steve Jobs and Google's Larry Page and Sergey Brin. But there was a time when the idea of an engineer or scientist starting his or her own company was rare.

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It's All Politics
12:58 am
Wed April 4, 2012

Once Again, Santorum Keeps It Close But Falls Further Behind

Credit Jeff Swensen / Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum speaks at a campaign rally at Four Seasons Sheraton in Mars, Pa., Monday night. Rival Mitt Romney won the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Wisconsin primaries.

Originally published on Wed April 4, 2012 11:50 am

Rick Santorum came surprisingly close to an upset in Wisconsin this week, losing to Mitt Romney by less than 5 percentage points. It was not as heartbreakingly close as his previous losses in Michigan and Ohio, but it was one more reminder of what might have been.

With a win in Wisconsin, Santorum would have confounded the ruling media narrative of the moment, which wants to turn from the primary season of spring to the autumnal matchup of Romney and President Obama.

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NPR Story
9:05 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Wisconsin Primary In Focus

Audie Cornish talks to NPR's Ron Elving, Ari Shapiro and David Welna about the Republican primary in Wisconsin.

NPR Story
9:05 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Romney Sweeps Primaries In Wis., Md., D.C.

Audie Cornish talks to NPR's Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving about Tuesday's primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

It's All Politics
4:35 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Live Blog And Results: Wisconsin, Maryland And D.C.

Credit Scott Olson / Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets supporters Tuesday in Milwaukee.

With wins in Maryland, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., Mitt Romney inched his way forward toward becoming the inevitable GOP presidential candidate.

After Tuesday's hat trick, the road to victory is clear for Romney and increasingly rocky and unlikely for Rick Santorum, Romney's leading opponent.

Still, in a speech from Mars, Pa., Santorum vowed to continue his campaign.

"We have now reached the point where it's half time," Santorum said. "Who's ready to charge out of the locker room for a strong second half in Pennsylvania?"

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It's All Politics
3:51 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

GSA Clown-Conference Scandal Could Result In Counterproductive Reaction

Credit Harry Hamburg / AP
Former GSA administrator Martha Johnson on Capitol Hill in June 2009.

The scandal involving the General Services Administration's by now infamous conference featuring spending on a clown and mind reader is certainly far from the biggest in terms of the overall dollars involved. After all, we're talking about less than $1 million all told.

That's pocket change at the Pentagon, where they can probably find more taxpayer money under the couch cushions.

But it may go down in history as one of the dumbest. A clown and a mind reader at a conference of federal bureaucrats? Really?

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The Two-Way
3:32 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

After Two Test Flights, The Race Toward A Flying Car Is On

Credit PalVco / via Flickr
The PAL-V at a runway.
It's All Politics
3:22 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Will 2008's Surge In Young Voters Continue In 2012?

Credit T.J. Kirkpatrick / Getty Images
Supporters of Texas Rep. Ron Paul cheer as the Republican presidential candidate speaks on March 28 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.

Historically, young people have been much less likely to vote than older Americans.

That trend has started to change in the past few presidential election cycles, especially in 2008, when a census report found that 49 percent of those ages 18 to 24 who were eligible to vote participated in the presidential election.

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Asia
1:53 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Is North Korea Changing — Or Resisting Change?

Originally published on Tue April 3, 2012 9:05 pm

Recent developments in North Korea are puzzling watchers of the "Hermit Kingdom" in both the U.S. and South Korea.

There are some signs of change within the new leadership in North Korea — and there are signs of resistance to change as well.

When he was in Seoul, South Korea, last week, President Obama said he didn't know who is calling the shots in Pyongyang, which is making it difficult to determine what's next for North Korea.

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Shots - Health Blog
1:50 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

FDA To Fund Controversial Research Foundation

Credit Win McNamee / Getty Images
FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg says there is a desperate need to have the Reagan-Udall Foundation up and running.

A nonprofit foundation set up to support scientific research of interest to the Food and Drug Administration is finally starting to take off after years of struggling financially — and it's about to get some long-promised funding from the FDA.

But some critics worry that this foundation, which will also raise money from private sources including industry, could provide a way for the food and medical industries to sway FDA decisions.

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The Salt
1:17 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

'Nature's Barcode' Tells The Story Of Foods' True Origin

As we've reported, fish fraud – labeling a less-desirable species as a more desirable one – is more widespread than you'd think. Olive oil, too, isn't always what it seems. And honey from Asia is fraught with suspicion.

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Music Reviews
1:10 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Dr. John: Swamp Grooves From The Bayou Underworld

Credit Alysse Gafkjen
Dan Auerbach (left) joins Dr. John on the latter's new album, Locked Down.

Originally published on Wed April 4, 2012 8:41 am

Right now, Dan Auerbach is living a rock-star moment, with his hard-hitting blues-rock duo The Black Keys selling out arenas all over the country. Lots of people want him on their records. So what does he do? He seeks out the 71-year-old Dr.

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The Two-Way
1:02 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Possible Tornadoes Touch Down Near Dallas

Credit Tony Gutierrez / AP
Destroyed vehicles sit in a Kenworth trailer lot after a tornado that swept through the area toppling many of the trailers on the lot on Tuesday in Lancaster, Texas.

"We've got two tornadoes, one in Dallas and one in Arlington. I just watched it plow through a tractor trailer parking lot like it was Godzilla in a temper tantrum."

That's how NPR's Wade Goodwyn just described the images being shown on local television in Texas.

The images from WFAA, the local ABC affiliate in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, show tractor trailers flailing across the air in the middle of a dark debris ball.

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Business
12:50 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

City Rents Rise As Buyers Wait Out Housing Bust

Credit Mario Tama / Getty Images
The Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village apartment complexes in New York City.

The turmoil in the housing market over the past few years has scared a lot of people away from homeownership. That means many people who can afford to buy are now renting. With so much demand for apartments, rents are once again on the rise. And in places like New York City, they're near record highs.

A few weeks ago Lauren Weitz got her first apartment in the city. Every night when she gets home from the office, she upholds a New York City tradition.

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Education
12:44 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

Under Scrutiny, Some Head Start Programs In Limbo

Originally published on Tue April 3, 2012 9:05 pm

The Obama administration is calling for major changes in Head Start, the 46-year-old early childhood education program that helped launch President Johnson's War on Poverty.

President Obama says too many children today aren't learning, and too many education programs are mismanaged.

"We're not just going to put money into programs that don't work," the president announced late last year. "We will take money and put it into programs that do."

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Shots - Health Blog
12:00 pm
Tue April 3, 2012

New Rankings Are County-By-County Health Snapshot

How healthy is your county?

To see how the place where you live stacks up against the rest of the U.S., check out the latest County Health Rankings, an annual report comparing health trends for more than 3,000 counties, plus the District of Columbia.

The rankings are produced by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. You can drill down to look at, among other things, which areas have the highest and lowest education rates and income levels as well access to medical care and healthful foods.

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The Two-Way
11:07 am
Tue April 3, 2012

Obama: GOP Budget 'Makes Contract With America Look Like The New Deal'

Renewing his push against "trickle-down economics" that he says has failed the nation in the past, President Obama just said the Republican budget plan passed by the House last week is so conservative and so focused on cutting taxes for the rich that it makes the GOP's mid-1990s Contract With America "look like the New Deal."

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Business
11:00 am
Tue April 3, 2012

A Buyer's Market: The Balance Of Power In Retail

Shopping apps and retail websites give consumers the power to compare prices, read reviews and shop on the go. Stephanie Clifford, business reporter at The New York Times and market researcher Paco Underhill discuss how many brick-and-mortar stores are altering pricing strategies.

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