archive
College Student Recalls High School Homelessness
September 21, 2012 High school was tough for Tierra Jackson. She shared a single room in a Chicago homeless shelter with six other family members, and her mom was in and out of prison. But today, the college junior says school is her ticket out.
From Topless Bar To Biology: A Love Story
September 14, 2012 Susan McClinton says when she met her husband, Philip, 40 years ago, her life was headed in a bad direction. Together, they went back to school and helped each other change their lives.
Boy Grows Close To Grandmother Through Memories
September 7, 2012 Graham Haggett was just 10 weeks old when his grandmother was killed in the World Trade Center attacks. But his mother has told him many stories about her — including how his face was one of the first things his grandmother saw when she got to the office that day.
A Veteran Cop Recalls A Tough Night On The Job
August 31, 2012 Police officers often have to respond to tragic scenes. Mark Edens, a retired Michigan State Trooper, remembers one night in 1974 that was especially tough. He says breaking the news to a family that a family member has died is always hard, but something he was born to do.
An Inmate Firefighter Finds His Proudest Moment
August 24, 2012 In Wyoming, as in several Western states, many wildfires are fought by prison inmates. Daniel Ross, serving time in a Wyoming prison for assault, has spent two seasons fighting fires. He says he's been overwhelmed by the gratitude of the townspeople his team has helped.
A Mother Tries To Atone For A Deadly Hate Crime
August 17, 2012 At 40, Julie Sanders is a mother of three from Portland, Ore. But when she was 16, Sanders belonged to a white supremacist group — and one night in 1988, she found herself at the scene of a murder. Since then, she's kept the event a secret from most of her friends and family.
Two Sikh Men, Two Lifetimes Of Looking Different
August 10, 2012 Surinder Singh and his son Rupinder spent much of their lives in Canada before moving to the U.S. in 1992. As practicing Sikhs, they wear turbans. Maintaining that tenet of their faith has made for some challenging experiences.
Grandfathers Go To The Mat For Gymnast Grandson
August 3, 2012 Frank Maestas and Frank Barela have been at C.J. Maestas' side since the beginning of his tumbling career. While the young gymnast didn't qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games, he already has his sights on 2016.
'I Didn't See The Gun, And I Didn't Hear The Bullet'
July 27, 2012 In 1980, Edith Green met a man at a friend's party. When she realized the man could be dangerous, she attempted to cut him off — and was shot. Edith survived, but the attack took a physical and mental toll.
Two Tough Guys Meet Tough Times, And Each Other
July 20, 2012 In 2008, "Boston" Bill Hansbury was learning to live with a prosthetic leg when he met Jake Bainter, who was about to have his right leg amputated. The two struck up a friendship, despite their wide age gap: Hansbury was 70, and Jake was 7.
A Small Town's Post Office, And Its 'Squire'
July 13, 2012 One of the many rural post offices facing federal cuts sits inside the Wood & Swink General Store in rural Evinston, Fla. The store has been in Freddie Wood's family for more than 100 years — and it's barely changed in that time.
Sending Vets' Lost Medals, And Memories, Home
July 6, 2012 Zachariah Fike finds old military medals for sale in antique stores and on the Internet, tracks down the medals' owners, and returns them. So far, Fike — who earned a Purple Heart when he was wounded in Afghanistan on Sept. 11, 2010 — is 5 for 5.
Stories, Old Friends, A Good Time 'Til The End
June 29, 2012 Bishop Ricardo Ramirez's grandmother lived a long and full life. But it was the way Francisca Espitia approached her final years that may have impressed her grandson the most. It started with a story about how she'd been enjoying life at 90.
National Teachers Initiative
Former Dropouts Push Others To Reach Finish Line
June 24, 2012 Learning Works charter school in California takes an unorthodox approach to getting young people to graduate. Students who had previously dropped out get mentors who help with everything from getting to class on time to staying up late studying. Now, some of those who graduated are helping others.
Serving In Silence, Before 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
June 22, 2012 This weekend, gay pride celebrations will mark the first year since the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," the law that banned gays from serving openly in the U.S. military. Denny Meyer, who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, describes what it was like to be both gay and a sailor.
