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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The Salt

How Genomics Solved The Mystery Of Ireland's Great Famine

This illustration from 1846 shows a starving boy and girl raking the ground for potatoes during the Irish potato famine, which began in the 1840s.

Although scientists have known that a fungus-like organism caused the potato blight that triggered the Great Famine in Ireland in the 1840s, they didn't know which strain was the culprit. But they do now, thanks to the genes in some 19th century potato samples.

Summary

The Two-Way

Man Killed By FBI In Florida Was Linked To Boston Suspect

A friend of the man killed Wednesday in Orlando says the FBI was questioning the man about his connection to Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the men suspected of planting the bombs in Boston.

Summary

The Two-Way

Eric Garcetti Wins L.A. Mayor's Race

Incoming Los Angeles Mayor  Eric Garcetti as he celebrated with supporters late Tuesday in Hollywood.

In a non-partisan race in which two Democrats were the top contenders, the city councilman has edged out City Controller Wendy Greuel.

Summary

The Two-Way

Anthony Weiner Jumps Into Race To Be NYC Mayor

Former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., in June 2011 — at the height of the sexting scandal that led to his resignation from Congress.

The former congressman's career appeared to be over when he resigned in 2011 because of an extramarital sexting scandal and his lies about it. Now, he tells voters, "I've made some big mistakes. ... I hope I get a second chance to work for you." The Democratic primary is set for Sept. 10.

Summary

The Two-Way

Book News: Newly Found Pearl Buck Novel To Be Published This Fall

At her desk in the study of her Philadelphia townhouse in 1967, Pearl Buck looks at a bound volume of the magazine Asia from 1925 that  contained her first published work.

Also: shameless book blurbs; new plays from Ayad Ahktar; and a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone draws a record price at auction.

Summary

The Two-Way

In Oklahoma, Rescue Efforts Give Way To Recovery

A teddy bear sits atop some of the rubble in Moore, Okla.

Officials think they've found all the survivors, and victims, of the massive tornado that devastated the community of Moore. The official death toll stands at 24. More than 230 people are said to have been injured.

Summary

Politics

Garcetti Holds Slim Lead As L.A. Picks New Mayor

Councilman Eric Garcetti held a slender edge Tuesday in early returns over city Controller Wendy Greuel to become the next Los Angeles mayor, while slow-coming returns suggested it could take a day or more until a winner emerges.

Summary

Politics

Anthony Weiner Launches Bid To Become NYC Mayor

The ex-congressman whose career imploded in a rash of raunchy tweets two years ago said in a YouTube video announcement late Tuesday that he's in the New York City mayoral race. He'd said last month he was considering it.

Summary

U.S.

Oklahoma's Gov. Fallin On Life-Saving, Recovery Efforts

 

Planet Money

Why Apple (And Lots Of Other Companies) Wound Up In Ireland

Apple

It goes back to a single page in a report written decades ago by U.S. consultants, and funded by the U.S. State Department.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Parallels

West Bank Businesses Seek Growth Amid Uncertainty

A worker chips away at Jerusalem stone, likely destined for a building facade somewhere in the world. Stone and marble is a big business in Palestinian towns near Bethlehem. Quarries are in Israeli-controlled areas, and access can be a challenge.

Political unpredictability in the region hampers all kinds of businesses: from stone-cutters and shoemakers to IT. Business owners in the West Bank say Secretary of State John Kerry's commitment to remove barriers to commerce might go further than actual cash.

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Research News

Quantum Or Not, New Supercomputer Is Certainly Something Else

Google and NASA are betting that quantum forces are at work inside D-Wave's 512-bit chip.

NASA and Google have come together to buy a new kind of computer that the manufacturer says runs on the strange laws of quantum mechanics. But some physicists counter that the machine, known as the D-Wave Two, has never demonstrated a phenomenon known as "quantum entanglement."

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Your Money

Instead Of Snoozing In Savings, Let's Put $5,000 To Work

pink piggy bank with coins

It's a hard time to be a saver. The return on a savings account doesn't even keep up with inflation, and that has led many savers to ask: What should I do with my money? NPR's Uri Berliner takes $5,000 out of his own personal savings and explores various investment opportunities.

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Shots - Health News

Boomer Housemates Have More Fun

Group houses are becoming popular — again — among some single baby boomers, and not just for financial reasons. Marianne Kilkenny (second from right) shares her home in Asheville, N.C, with four other people.

Some single baby boomers are moving into group houses, a college-era solution to their modern needs. Housemates share costs, socialize, and cheer each other on through life's thick and thin.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Sweetness And Light

Backing Becks: Don't Knock The Soccer Star's Talents

David Beckham spent six years in the U.S. with the LA Galaxy before returning to Europe earlier this year.

After the announcement that David Beckham is retiring, there's been much discussion about how good of an athlete he's really been. Sports commentator Frank Deford says Beckham's talents have been overlooked.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

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