News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1001&ft=1&f=1001 NPR news, audio, and podcasts. Coverage of breaking stories, national and world news, politics, business, science, technology, and extended coverage of major national and world events. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 21 May 2013 20:01:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif News http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1001&ft=1&f=1001 IRS Official In Charge Of Nonprofits Declines To Testify Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division dealing with nonprofits seeking tax-exempt status, will not testify on Wednesday despite a congressional subpoena, her attorney says. She is accused of closely scrutinizing conservative groups that sought tax-exempt status. Tue, 21 May 2013 20:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185877696/irs-official-in-charge-of-nonprofits-declines-to-testify?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185877696/irs-official-in-charge-of-nonprofits-declines-to-testify?ft=1&f=1001 Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division dealing with nonprofits seeking tax-exempt status, will not testify on Wednesday despite a congressional subpoena, her attorney says. She is accused of closely scrutinizing conservative groups that sought tax-exempt status.

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]]> Idaho Terrorism Suspect Waives Detention Hearing The waiver means the details of Fazliddin Kurbanov's alleged crimes remain mostly a mystery. Tue, 21 May 2013 19:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185865432/idaho-terror-suspect-waives-detention-hearing?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185865432/idaho-terror-suspect-waives-detention-hearing?ft=1&f=1001 The waiver means the details of Fazliddin Kurbanov's alleged crimes remain mostly a mystery.

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]]> Why Oklahomans Don't Like Basements A high water table and red clay that soaks up the moisture make dry basements an expensive and iffy proposition right in the heart of Tornado Alley. Tue, 21 May 2013 19:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185857916/why-oklahomans-dont-like-basements?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185857916/why-oklahomans-dont-like-basements?ft=1&f=1001 A high water table and red clay that soaks up the moisture make dry basements an expensive and iffy proposition right in the heart of Tornado Alley.

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]]> Two Key Candidates Barred From Seeking Iran's Presidency The Guardian Council, which vets all candidates, approved eight names, but left out an influential former president and a top aide to the current president. Their exclusion gives establishment-friendly candidates a clear path to the presidency in the June 14 election. Tue, 21 May 2013 18:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185865203/two-key-candidates-barred-from-seeking-irans-presidency?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185865203/two-key-candidates-barred-from-seeking-irans-presidency?ft=1&f=1001 The Guardian Council, which vets all candidates, approved eight names, but left out an influential former president and a top aide to the current president. Their exclusion gives establishment-friendly candidates a clear path to the presidency in the June 14 election.

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]]> The Scramble At Moore Medical Center As The Tornado Hit Nick Stremble, a registered nurse and manager at the hospital, described what he saw Monday. As winds ripped through the facility, people started "to tumble and roll and be pushed down the hall," he said. Tue, 21 May 2013 17:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/185826188/the-scramble-at-moore-medical-center-as-the-tornado-hit?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/185826188/the-scramble-at-moore-medical-center-as-the-tornado-hit?ft=1&f=1001 Nick Stremble, a registered nurse and manager at the hospital, described what he saw Monday. As winds ripped through the facility, people started "to tumble and roll and be pushed down the hall," he said.

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]]> WATCH: Moore Tornado As Seen From Space Once NOAA realized conditions were ripe for severe weather they put their satellites on overdrive. They beamed back amazing images. Tue, 21 May 2013 17:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185839138/watch-moore-tornado-as-seen-from-space?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185839138/watch-moore-tornado-as-seen-from-space?ft=1&f=1001 Once NOAA realized conditions were ripe for severe weather they put their satellites on overdrive. They beamed back amazing images.

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]]> Nutrition Group Says Chocolate Milk Is OK, No Need For Aspartame The nation's largest group of nutritionists is urging the FDA to reject the dairy industry's petition to change the definition of milk. The petition aims to allow aspartame or other alternatives to be used to sweeten milk in an effort to boost consumption in schools. Tue, 21 May 2013 17:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/21/185835001/nutrition-group-says-chocolate-milk-is-ok-no-need-for-aspartame?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/21/185835001/nutrition-group-says-chocolate-milk-is-ok-no-need-for-aspartame?ft=1&f=1001 The nation's largest group of nutritionists is urging the FDA to reject the dairy industry's petition to change the definition of milk. The petition aims to allow aspartame or other alternatives to be used to sweeten milk in an effort to boost consumption in schools.

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]]> Former IRS Head To Senate: It Wasn't My Fault Douglas Shulman, who led the IRS during the years when agency workers targeted tax-exempt applications from conservative groups, did his best to deflect accusations from unhappy senators. Tue, 21 May 2013 17:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/21/185834361/former-irs-head-to-senate-it-wasnt-my-fault?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/21/185834361/former-irs-head-to-senate-it-wasnt-my-fault?ft=1&f=1001 Douglas Shulman, who led the IRS during the years when agency workers targeted tax-exempt applications from conservative groups, did his best to deflect accusations from unhappy senators.

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]]> Microsoft Reveals New Xbox One Game System Microsoft unveiled its new Xbox One Tuesday, displaying a device that takes new steps in game consoles' journey into becoming all-purpose entertainment and communication devices. The new console replaces the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for more than seven years. Tue, 21 May 2013 16:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185833716/microsoft-reveals-new-xbox-one-game-system?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185833716/microsoft-reveals-new-xbox-one-game-system?ft=1&f=1001 Microsoft unveiled its new Xbox One Tuesday, displaying a device that takes new steps in game consoles' journey into becoming all-purpose entertainment and communication devices. The new console replaces the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for more than seven years.

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]]> African Cities Test The Limits Of Living With Livestock Hipsters may just be discovering the joys of backyard chickens, but in African megacities, people have been bringing their animals into the slums with them for decades. That's creating a new ecosystem of animals and huge numbers of people living closely together like never before. Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/21/185763979/african-cities-test-the-limits-of-living-with-livestock?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/21/185763979/african-cities-test-the-limits-of-living-with-livestock?ft=1&f=1001 Hipsters may just be discovering the joys of backyard chickens, but in African megacities, people have been bringing their animals into the slums with them for decades. That's creating a new ecosystem of animals and huge numbers of people living closely together like never before.

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]]> A Catch For Insurers That Cut Deductibles For Healthy People Rewards to policyholders for claims that don't meet the annual deductible can be a boon for healthy people. But the approach might not pass the smell test in 2014 when the federal health law bans discriminating against people based on their health status. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/185823609/a-catch-for-insurers-that-cut-deductibles-for-healthy-people?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/185823609/a-catch-for-insurers-that-cut-deductibles-for-healthy-people?ft=1&f=1001 Rewards to policyholders for claims that don't meet the annual deductible can be a boon for healthy people. But the approach might not pass the smell test in 2014 when the federal health law bans discriminating against people based on their health status.

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]]> Gandhi Artifacts Could Fetch Steep Prices At Auction A pair of sandals, a shawl and a drinking cup that were used by the Indian independence leader are among the objects going under the hammer in the U.K. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185829604/gandhi-artifacts-could-fetch-steep-prices-at-auction?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185829604/gandhi-artifacts-could-fetch-steep-prices-at-auction?ft=1&f=1001 A pair of sandals, a shawl and a drinking cup that were used by the Indian independence leader are among the objects going under the hammer in the U.K.

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]]> Vertical 'Pinkhouses:' The Future Of Urban Farming? Architects have come up with spectacular concepts for vertical farms that would grow crops in city skyscrapers. But many horticulturists think the future of vertical farming isn't in skyscrapers, but rather in large, indoor warehouses lit up magenta by superefficient LEDs. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/21/185758529/vertical-pinkhouses-the-future-of-urban-farming?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/21/185758529/vertical-pinkhouses-the-future-of-urban-farming?ft=1&f=1001 Architects have come up with spectacular concepts for vertical farms that would grow crops in city skyscrapers. But many horticulturists think the future of vertical farming isn't in skyscrapers, but rather in large, indoor warehouses lit up magenta by superefficient LEDs.

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]]> Discovering A Family Member's Lost Time In Amsterdam When Margot Adler learned that a cousin had hidden from the Nazis in Amsterdam, she was stunned. Adler started digging around and discovered that like Anne Frank, 25,000 Dutch Jews hid, and two-thirds of them survived. Her cousin was one of them. Tue, 21 May 2013 16:40:58 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/182676360/discovering-a-family-members-lost-time-in-amsterdam?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/182676360/discovering-a-family-members-lost-time-in-amsterdam?ft=1&f=1001 When Margot Adler learned that a cousin had hidden from the Nazis in Amsterdam, she was stunned. Adler started digging around and discovered that like Anne Frank, 25,000 Dutch Jews hid, and two-thirds of them survived. Her cousin was one of them.

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]]> Teacher Led Students Through Storm Despite Peril To Daughter The high school in Moore, Okla., wasn't badly damaged by Monday's tornado. But a special ed teacher stayed with her own students there rather than hunting for her own daughter at a wrecked elementary school. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185839244/students-huddled-in-bathroom-as-school-was-destroyed?ft=1&f=1001 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185839244/students-huddled-in-bathroom-as-school-was-destroyed?ft=1&f=1001 The high school in Moore, Okla., wasn't badly damaged by Monday's tornado. But a special ed teacher stayed with her own students there rather than hunting for her own daughter at a wrecked elementary school.

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