http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=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 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 23 May 2013 18:40:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1003&ft=1&f=1003 The partisan war over judicial nominees has accelerated in recent years. It took nearly a year to win Senate confirmation for Sri Srinivasan to the important federal appeals court for the District of Columbia, though he had no formal opposition. Thu, 23 May 2013 18:40:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/23/186341668/srinivasans-confirmation-first-for-d-c-circuit-in-7-years?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/23/186341668/srinivasans-confirmation-first-for-d-c-circuit-in-7-years?ft=1&f=1003 The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America has voted to allow gay Scout members, but to continue a ban on openly gay adult Scout leaders. The policy change would take effect Jan. 1, 2014. Thu, 23 May 2013 18:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186344972/boy-scouts-vote-to-admit-openly-gay-members?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186344972/boy-scouts-vote-to-admit-openly-gay-members?ft=1&f=1003 Lois Lerner has been at the center of a scandal over the tax agency's targeting of conservative groups. Thu, 23 May 2013 18:12:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186339666/head-of-irs-tax-exempt-division-reportedly-placed-on-leave?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186339666/head-of-irs-tax-exempt-division-reportedly-placed-on-leave?ft=1&f=1003 The Congressman says he will step down in August to take a senior position at the University of Alabama. Thu, 23 May 2013 18:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186323352/alabama-republican-jo-bonner-says-hes-leaving-congress?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186323352/alabama-republican-jo-bonner-says-hes-leaving-congress?ft=1&f=1003 Rep. Marcia Fudge, the head of the Congressional Black Caucus, says any immigration overhaul significantly boosting the numbers of highly skilled immigrants could negatively affect African-Americans with similar skills. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/23/186316728/black-caucus-leader-we-disagree-with-presidents-even-obama?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/23/186316728/black-caucus-leader-we-disagree-with-presidents-even-obama?ft=1&f=1003 The Supreme Court justice and noted Yankees fan showed her baseball acumen Wednesday while presiding over a re-enactment of the 1972 case that challenged the sport's antitrust exemption. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186314129/justice-sotomayor-takes-swing-at-famed-baseball-case?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186314129/justice-sotomayor-takes-swing-at-famed-baseball-case?ft=1&f=1003 In a major speech, the president rejects the idea that the country can fight an opened-ended "global war on terror." In setting his own guidelines, he defines the standards for using drone strikes and again calls for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison. Thu, 23 May 2013 16:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186306464/breaking-down-obamas-new-blueprint-for-fighting-terrorism?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186306464/breaking-down-obamas-new-blueprint-for-fighting-terrorism?ft=1&f=1003 The tornado that devastated Moore, Okla., Monday destroyed some 12,000 homes, according to Oklahoma City Police. And for one family, it was the second house they've lost to a tornado in the past 14 years. Rena and Paul Phillips say that the recent loss won't make them move. Thu, 23 May 2013 16:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186321041/for-second-time-moore-family-loses-home-to-a-tornado?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186321041/for-second-time-moore-family-loses-home-to-a-tornado?ft=1&f=1003 Forecasters predict as many as six major hurricanes in the Atlantic this year due in part to warmer-than-average ocean temperatures. Thu, 23 May 2013 16:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186310919/noaa-predicts-above-average-hurricane-season?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186310919/noaa-predicts-above-average-hurricane-season?ft=1&f=1003 Over the years, McDonald's has gotten a lot of flack for marketing to kids. At a shareholders meeting Thursday morning, Hannah Robertson, age 9, took the fast-food giant's CEO to task. Thu, 23 May 2013 15:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/23/186304643/this-9-year-old-girl-told-mcdonalds-ceo-stop-tricking-kids?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/23/186304643/this-9-year-old-girl-told-mcdonalds-ceo-stop-tricking-kids?ft=1&f=1003 Members of the Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to allow gay members. Thu, 23 May 2013 19:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186355479/boy-scots-vote-to-allow-gay-members-but-not-leaders?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186355479/boy-scots-vote-to-allow-gay-members-but-not-leaders?ft=1&f=1003 Officials are forecasting that hurricane activity will be "above normal" this season, with 13 to 20 named storms. As many as six of those could be major hurricanes. Warm ocean waters and the lack of El Nino conditions are partly to blame. Thu, 23 May 2013 18:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186236171/extremely-active-atlantic-hurricane-season-predicted?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186236171/extremely-active-atlantic-hurricane-season-predicted?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/dmg/dmg_wmref_em.php?id=186340615&type=1&date=23-May-2013&mtype=WM There were hugs and tears, smiles and laughter: Parents and students from two schools destroyed in Monday's tornado in Moore, Okla., reunited Thursday with their teachers. The school district reopened all of its schools just for the day on what would have been the final day of classes before summer vacation. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186329403/after-the-storm-students-gather-for-one-more-school-day?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186329403/after-the-storm-students-gather-for-one-more-school-day?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/dmg/dmg_wmref_em.php?id=186323453&type=1&date=23-May-2013&mtype=WM Abortion opponents are hoping the recent murder conviction of Pennsylvania abortion provider Kermit Gosnell will lead to more scrutiny of second trimester abortions. They're working on a bill that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy — nationwide. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/23/186249588/abortion-opponents-try-to-spin-murder-case-into-legislation?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/23/186249588/abortion-opponents-try-to-spin-murder-case-into-legislation?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/dmg/dmg_wmref_em.php?id=186321744&type=1&date=23-May-2013&mtype=WM At nearly seven miles below the water's surface, the Mariana Trench is the deepest spot in Earth's oceans. And the site north of Guam is where director and explorer James Cameron fulfilled a longtime goal of reaching the bottom in a manned craft. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/stations/force/force_localization.php?station=WETS_FM&url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186302916/Mariana-Trench?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186302916/Mariana-Trench?ft=1&f=1003 http://www.npr.org/templates/dmg/dmg_wmref_em.php?id=186338342&type=1&date=23-May-2013&mtype=WM