NPR Topics: U.S. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1003&ft=1&f=1003 NPR coverage of national news, U.S. politics, elections, business, arts, culture, health and science, and technology. Subscribe to the NPR Nation RSS feed. en Copyright 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:55:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif U.S. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1003&ft=1&f=1003 'Quran Burning': Is It News Or Not? Some say the news media have given the story too much attention. But as it comes to a climax on Saturday, what will you do? Follow developments closely or ignore them? Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/09/129747116/-quran-burning-is-it-news-or-not?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/09/129747116/-quran-burning-is-it-news-or-not?ft=1&f=1003 Some say the news media have given the story too much attention. But as it comes to a climax on Saturday, what will you do? Follow developments closely or ignore them?

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]]> Jobless Claims Fall To Lowest Level In Months The Labor Department says new claims for unemployment benefits plunged last week by a seasonally adjusted 27,000 to 451,000. Economists had predicted a much smaller decline of just 2,000. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129746346&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129746346&ft=1&f=1003 The Labor Department says new claims for unemployment benefits plunged last week by a seasonally adjusted 27,000 to 451,000. Economists had predicted a much smaller decline of just 2,000.

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]]> Obama: Quran-Burning Would Benefit Al-Qaida The president, appearing on ABC's <em>Good Morning America</em>, exhorts a Florida minister to call off his plan to engage in a Quran-burning protest this weekend, saying it would serve as a "recruitment bonanza for al-Qaida." Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129745938&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129745938&ft=1&f=1003 The president, appearing on ABC's Good Morning America, exhorts a Florida minister to call off his plan to engage in a Quran-burning protest this weekend, saying it would serve as a "recruitment bonanza for al-Qaida."

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]]> Storm That Killed 2 In Texas Moves North The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine trekked northward after forcing more than 100 high-water rescues in Texas, swamping streets, producing several tornadoes and killing at least two people. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129743224&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129743224&ft=1&f=1003 The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine trekked northward after forcing more than 100 high-water rescues in Texas, swamping streets, producing several tornadoes and killing at least two people.

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]]> Mixed Reaction To Obama's Business Tax-Break Plan Some think the proposal will be another Cash-for-Clunkers-style tax break that probably won't have much of a long-term impact. But others are more enthusiastic about the plan to allow U.S. companies to write off all investments through 2011. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129737076&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129737076&ft=1&f=1003 Some think the proposal will be another Cash-for-Clunkers-style tax break that probably won't have much of a long-term impact. But others are more enthusiastic about the plan to allow U.S. companies to write off all investments through 2011.

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]]> Energy Assistance Program Is Low On Funds A record number of people lined up in Washington D.C. last month to get a small discount on their gas and electric bills. The spike in need comes at a time when the federal program that pays to help keep the poor warm in the winter and cool in the summer is nearly out of money. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742920&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742920&ft=1&f=1003 A record number of people lined up in Washington D.C. last month to get a small discount on their gas and electric bills. The spike in need comes at a time when the federal program that pays to help keep the poor warm in the winter and cool in the summer is nearly out of money.

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]]> BP Spill Report Spreads Blame, What About Liability? BP says its report released Wednesday was not designed to assign blame to any one company or action. But it does say other companies including BP were at fault in the accident. Will this change the company's legal or financial liability? Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742928&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742928&ft=1&f=1003 BP says its report released Wednesday was not designed to assign blame to any one company or action. But it does say other companies including BP were at fault in the accident. Will this change the company's legal or financial liability?

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]]> Colo., Ind., Went 'Blue' In 2008. What About Now? It was not even two years ago that it looked like President Obama might be changing the political map. He won states Democrats hadn't won in years. Now another election season has arrived. Chris Hubbarb, political editor of the <em>Denver Post,</em> and Brian Howy, editor of the independent newsletter "Howey Politics Indiana," talk to Steve Inskeep about where midterm elections are headed in Indiana and Colorado. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742936&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742936&ft=1&f=1003 It was not even two years ago that it looked like President Obama might be changing the political map. He won states Democrats hadn't won in years. Now another election season has arrived. Chris Hubbarb, political editor of the Denver Post, and Brian Howy, editor of the independent newsletter "Howey Politics Indiana," talk to Steve Inskeep about where midterm elections are headed in Indiana and Colorado.

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]]> Ohio Residents Want More Than Obama's Words President Obama traveled to Cleveland Wednesday to rebut GOP complaints about his economic program and to look ahead. More than one in 10 Ohio residents is looking for work. One resident said he didn't know if speeches is what reassures him -- he wants results. But right now, speeches may be the only weapon Obama has. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742896&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742896&ft=1&f=1003 President Obama traveled to Cleveland Wednesday to rebut GOP complaints about his economic program and to look ahead. More than one in 10 Ohio residents is looking for work. One resident said he didn't know if speeches is what reassures him -- he wants results. But right now, speeches may be the only weapon Obama has.

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]]> Political Conservative TV Network Up And Running Actor Kelsey Grammer is an investor and the public face of the RightNetwork. The network launched Wednesday and consists of politically conservative programs. It's available on demand to about three million Verizon FiOS TV subscribers, and via the Internet. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742940&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742940&ft=1&f=1003 Actor Kelsey Grammer is an investor and the public face of the RightNetwork. The network launched Wednesday and consists of politically conservative programs. It's available on demand to about three million Verizon FiOS TV subscribers, and via the Internet.

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]]> DNC Chairman Kaine Kicks Off Fall Campaign Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine traveled to Pennsylvania Wednesday to preview the Democrats fall campaign message. Candidate Obama brought millions of new voters to the polls in 2008. Now Democrats face the difficult task of getting enough of first time voters back to the polls. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742900&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742900&ft=1&f=1003 Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine traveled to Pennsylvania Wednesday to preview the Democrats fall campaign message. Candidate Obama brought millions of new voters to the polls in 2008. Now Democrats face the difficult task of getting enough of first time voters back to the polls.

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]]> Vikings, Saints Open NFL Season In New Orleans The NFL regular season gets underway Thursday night with the champion New Orleans Saints taking on Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota outperformed the Saints in many categories in last season's NFC championship game. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742904&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742904&ft=1&f=1003 The NFL regular season gets underway Thursday night with the champion New Orleans Saints taking on Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota outperformed the Saints in many categories in last season's NFC championship game.

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]]> Did Sleaze Bring Preppy Back? As New York Fashion Week gets underway, Linda Wertheimer talks to fashion writer and Barneys' creative director Simon Doonan about the resurgence of prep. A sequel to the 1980's <em>The Official Preppy Handbook</em> has just come out. And preppy clothes are being worn by everyone from Brooklyn hipsters to Palm Beach dowagers. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742908&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742908&ft=1&f=1003 As New York Fashion Week gets underway, Linda Wertheimer talks to fashion writer and Barneys' creative director Simon Doonan about the resurgence of prep. A sequel to the 1980's The Official Preppy Handbook has just come out. And preppy clothes are being worn by everyone from Brooklyn hipsters to Palm Beach dowagers.

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]]> Fed Survey: Economy Lost Strength In Late Summer A new report from the Federal Reserve provides the latest evidence that economic growth is continuing to slow down across much of the country. According to the Fed's Beige Book -- a compilation of data from across the U.S., there were "widespread signs" that economic growth slowed through the summer months. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742916&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129742916&ft=1&f=1003 A new report from the Federal Reserve provides the latest evidence that economic growth is continuing to slow down across much of the country. According to the Fed's Beige Book -- a compilation of data from across the U.S., there were "widespread signs" that economic growth slowed through the summer months.

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]]> Purple Hearts Elusive For Traumatic Brain Injuries <strong>NPR News/ProPublica Investigation:</strong> Army commanders have routinely denied Purple Hearts to soldiers who have sustained mild traumatic brain injuries in Iraq, despite regulations that make such wounds eligible for the medal. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606127&ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129606127&ft=1&f=1003 NPR News/ProPublica Investigation: Army commanders have routinely denied Purple Hearts to soldiers who have sustained mild traumatic brain injuries in Iraq, despite regulations that make such wounds eligible for the medal.

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