NPR Topics: Around the Nation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1091&ft=1&f=1091 Stories of Local interest Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:29:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Around the Nation http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1091&ft=1&f=1091 Automakers Help Aging Drivers Travel More Safely Some car companies are developing high-tech solutions to help older people drive more safely and let them hold on to their car keys longer. Ford uses special "aging suits" and virtual reality to help designers and engineers see aging drivers' limitations. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:29:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120766921&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120766921&ft=1&f=1091 Some car companies are developing high-tech solutions to help older people drive more safely and let them hold on to their car keys longer. Ford uses special "aging suits" and virtual reality to help designers and engineers see aging drivers' limitations.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Plymouth And Provincetown, After The Pilgrims At Thanksgiving, most of us think of pious Pilgrims in black clothes landing at Plymouth, Mass. But they actually arrived at Provincetown, Mass., first. It's hard to imagine two places more different today. Plymouth makes money from its image as the home of righteous, hard-working, religious pilgrims. Provincetown makes money from its pounding disco beat and artist hangouts. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120863163&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120863163&ft=1&f=1091 At Thanksgiving, most of us think of pious Pilgrims in black clothes landing at Plymouth, Mass. But they actually arrived at Provincetown, Mass., first. It's hard to imagine two places more different today. Plymouth makes money from its image as the home of righteous, hard-working, religious pilgrims. Provincetown makes money from its pounding disco beat and artist hangouts.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Potter's Wood-Fired Kiln Sparks Friendships Twice a year, potter Naysan McIlhargey and as many as 40 of his friends spend hours firing the plates, bowls, cups, pitchers and vases he makes. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:42:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120844949&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120844949&ft=1&f=1091 Twice a year, potter Naysan McIlhargey and as many as 40 of his friends spend hours firing the plates, bowls, cups, pitchers and vases he makes.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Nuclear Radiation Worries? There's A Pill For That Fear turns out be a very good thing for certain businesses. When North Korea or Iran mentions the word "nuclear," orders pour in to NukePills.com — a Web site that sells potassium iodide. The government also stockpiles this FDA-approved drug. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120751935&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120751935&ft=1&f=1091 Fear turns out be a very good thing for certain businesses. When North Korea or Iran mentions the word "nuclear," orders pour in to NukePills.com — a Web site that sells potassium iodide. The government also stockpiles this FDA-approved drug.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Chef's Global Foods Make Thanksgiving American Marcus Samuelsson was born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden and now is a world-renowned chef in New York City. His Thanksgiving food traditions are as international as his life story. He sat down with NPR's Steve Inskeep to discuss what he's eating this year. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120695872&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120695872&ft=1&f=1091 Marcus Samuelsson was born in Ethiopia, raised in Sweden and now is a world-renowned chef in New York City. His Thanksgiving food traditions are as international as his life story. He sat down with NPR's Steve Inskeep to discuss what he's eating this year.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Police: Bombs, Guns Filled Ex-Doctor's Ohio Home About 35 pipe bombs, assorted firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found in an apartment 20 miles south of Cleveland following two loud explosions, police said Wednesday. Authorities say they don't know why the man had the weapons or whether he planned to use them. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:56:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120852958&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120852958&ft=1&f=1091 About 35 pipe bombs, assorted firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found in an apartment 20 miles south of Cleveland following two loud explosions, police said Wednesday. Authorities say they don't know why the man had the weapons or whether he planned to use them.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Fla. Gov. Crist Fights Back In Battle For Senate Seat Florida Republican Gov. Charlie Crist is hoping to move to Washington, but his first challenge is to win his party's nomination in next year's Senate race. His rival, conservative former state house Speaker Marco Rubio, has been gaining ground, but Crist's campaign has begun to fight back. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120725208&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120725208&ft=1&f=1091 Florida Republican Gov. Charlie Crist is hoping to move to Washington, but his first challenge is to win his party's nomination in next year's Senate race. His rival, conservative former state house Speaker Marco Rubio, has been gaining ground, but Crist's campaign has begun to fight back.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Wholesale Market Highlights Real-Life Economics Hunts Point in Bronx, N.Y., is the largest wholesale food market in the country. The action there happens late at night. The ebb and flow at the market, who's buying when, and at what price, are a real-life economics lesson compressed into a single night. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120846020&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120846020&ft=1&f=1091 Hunts Point in Bronx, N.Y., is the largest wholesale food market in the country. The action there happens late at night. The ebb and flow at the market, who's buying when, and at what price, are a real-life economics lesson compressed into a single night.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> National Day Of Listening For the National Day of Listening project, contributor Katie Davis interviews a neighborhood acquaintance, Carlton Davis. The two struck up a friendship when they met outside the local Safeway. The two struck up a friendship when they met outside the local Safeway. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120846069&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120846069&ft=1&f=1091 For the National Day of Listening project, contributor Katie Davis interviews a neighborhood acquaintance, Carlton Davis. The two struck up a friendship when they met outside the local Safeway. The two struck up a friendship when they met outside the local Safeway.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Teenage Boys More Likely To Be In Fatal Car Crashes The number of teenage drivers involved in fatal car crashes has dropped dramatically in the past decade. But in those wrecks, male drivers still outnumber females by more than 2 to 1. For Basil Rynestead of Fauquier County, Va., it's a battle against peer pressure and inexperience to stay safe on the road. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:16:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120537839&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120537839&ft=1&f=1091 The number of teenage drivers involved in fatal car crashes has dropped dramatically in the past decade. But in those wrecks, male drivers still outnumber females by more than 2 to 1. For Basil Rynestead of Fauquier County, Va., it's a battle against peer pressure and inexperience to stay safe on the road.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Thanksgiving Traditions: From Bad Poetry To Pinatas A few weeks ago, NPR asked listeners to share some nontraditional Thanksgiving traditions. Listeners shared some surprising rituals — from dropping brussels sprouts on the floor to making up bad poetry to an all-you-can-eat slider contest at White Castle. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120621406&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120621406&ft=1&f=1091 A few weeks ago, NPR asked listeners to share some nontraditional Thanksgiving traditions. Listeners shared some surprising rituals — from dropping brussels sprouts on the floor to making up bad poetry to an all-you-can-eat slider contest at White Castle.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> How To Make Trucks Safer On Highways Last year, over 4,000 people died as a result of truck related accidents. As part of NPR's series, <em>On The Road To Safety,</em> guests look at what's being done to make big rig driving on the long haul safer for truck drivers and for motorists. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120833750&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120833750&ft=1&f=1091 Last year, over 4,000 people died as a result of truck related accidents. As part of NPR's series, On The Road To Safety, guests look at what's being done to make big rig driving on the long haul safer for truck drivers and for motorists.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> 2010 Census Will Count Same-Sex Couples Next year, for the first time, the United States census will count same-sex couples who identify themselves as spouses. Previously these people were identified as unmarried partners. Guest host Jennifer Ludden discusses the effort and its implications for the gay rights movement with demographer Gary Gates; he's a senior research fellow at the UCLA School of Law, and a member of "Our Families Count," a census advocacy campaign for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120816467&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120816467&ft=1&f=1091 Next year, for the first time, the United States census will count same-sex couples who identify themselves as spouses. Previously these people were identified as unmarried partners. Guest host Jennifer Ludden discusses the effort and its implications for the gay rights movement with demographer Gary Gates; he's a senior research fellow at the UCLA School of Law, and a member of "Our Families Count," a census advocacy campaign for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Catholic Church Stokes Political Debate On Abortion, Gay Marriage An Irish Catholic congressman is entangled in a very public battle with a Catholic Archbishop. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Democrat from Rhode Island, says he was told not to take communion because of his views on abortion rights. The controversy illustrates a larger debate about the Catholic Church's priorities and core values. For more on the subject, guest host Jennifer Ludden talks with Frances Kissling, former president of Catholics for Choice, the Rev. Harry Jackson, pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md., Professor Stephen Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:28:59 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120816494&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120816494&ft=1&f=1091 An Irish Catholic congressman is entangled in a very public battle with a Catholic Archbishop. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Democrat from Rhode Island, says he was told not to take communion because of his views on abortion rights. The controversy illustrates a larger debate about the Catholic Church's priorities and core values. For more on the subject, guest host Jennifer Ludden talks with Frances Kissling, former president of Catholics for Choice, the Rev. Harry Jackson, pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md., Professor Stephen Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Economy Puts A Damper On Holiday Travel The worst recession since the 1930s has caused many Americans to rethink their holiday travel plans. As a result, far fewer are flying, and many are opting not to travel at all just to save money. Among other things, it's bad news for an already struggling airline industry. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:07:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120820033&ft=1&f=1091 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120820033&ft=1&f=1091 The worst recession since the 1930s has caused many Americans to rethink their holiday travel plans. As a result, far fewer are flying, and many are opting not to travel at all just to save money. Among other things, it's bad news for an already struggling airline industry.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]>