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Linda Wertheimer As NPR's senior national correspondent, Linda Wertheimer travels the country and the globe for NPR News, bringing her unique insights and wealth of experience to bear on the day's top news stories.
Linda Wertheimer
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Linda Wertheimer

As 'All My Children' Ends, Susan Lucci Says Goodbye

Susan Lucci's character, Erica Kane, has served time for kidnapping, been accused of murder and cheated on her fifth and sixth husband, Travis, with his brother, Jackson — who later became Kane's 10th husband. Ron Tom/ABC hide caption

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Ron Tom/ABC

Opinion

Television

As 'All My Children' Ends, Susan Lucci Says Goodbye

Fans have been following the drama of Pine Valley — the fictitious Philadelphia suburb where the show takes place — since 1970, and much of that drama has revolved around Lucci's character, Erica Kane. But her reign comes to an end Friday as ABC airs the soap's final episode.

As 'All My Children' Ends, Susan Lucci Says Goodbye

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School's Out: America's Dropout Crisis

School Dropout Rates Add To Fiscal Burden

Nearly 1 million kids who start high school every year don't make it to graduation. At a time when federal and state budgets are tight, dropouts costs taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenue, health care, welfare and incarceration costs.

School Dropout Rates Add To Fiscal Burden

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Law

Gay Marriage Opponents Line Up Legal Challenges

While thousands of same sex couples in New York state line up to get their marriage licenses, opponents of the new law are already looking for legal grounds to overturn the newly passed legislation — and stop efforts to pass similar laws in other states.

Gay Marriage Opponents Line Up Legal Challenges

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Economy

U.S. Paper Currency Turns 150

One hundred and fifty years ago Sunday, Congress passed a bill that allowed the U.S. Treasury Department to circulate paper money for the first time. And for most of that time, the same family-owned company has produced the paper on which each bill is printed. Guest host Linda Wertheimer talks with Doug Crane of Crane & Company about the company's history in making paper for dollars.

U.S. Paper Currency Turns 150

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Books

Jane Austen Manuscript Sells For $1.6M

Forget Pride and Promiscuity and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Now there's a real Jane Austen manuscript to behold. This week at Sotheby's in London, an unfinished novel by the adored author sold at auction for about $1.6 million. Guest host Linda Wertheimer has more.

Jane Austen Manuscript Sells For $1.6M

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Newt Gingrich

Gingrich Campaign Regroups After Senior Team Quits

Republican Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich says he is staying in the race. On Thursday, 16 members of his staff resigned. That number includes the entire senior team.

Gingrich Campaign Regroups After Senior Team Quits

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Europe

Diplomats In Rome Discuss Aid To Libyan Rebels

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with other members of the Libya contact group Thursday in Rome. The ministers will discuss ways of assisting the Libyan rebels in their efforts to overthrow Colonel Moammar Gadhafi.

Diplomats In Rome Discuss Aid To Libyan Rebels

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Asia

Pakistan: Bin Laden Raid Must Not Serve As Precedent

Pakistan has indicated it was never asked and never gave permission for the U.S. assault that killed Osama bin Laden. The Pakistani leadership told the United States that the raid must not "serve as a future precedent," saying it would undermine international peace.

Pakistan: Bin Laden Raid Must Not Serve As Precedent

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Osama Bin Laden Killed

Afghans React To Osama Bin Laden's Death

Afghanistan hosted Osama bin Laden at the time of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Most Afghans reacted positively to the news that bin Laden has been killed.

Afghans React To Osama Bin Laden's Death

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Osama Bin Laden Killed

U.S. Military Team Targeted Bin Laden In Pakistan

U.S. helicopters hit a fortified compound in Pakistan. Intelligence officials discovered the compound last summer while monitoring an al-Qaida courier.

U.S. Military Team Targeted Bin Laden In Pakistan

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Opinion

William And Kate: The Royal Wedding

Will The Royal Marriage Be A Fairy Tale, Too?

The Royal Wedding went off with all of the British storybook touches — tiaras, boy sopranos, and maids-of-honor named Pippa. But recent history suggests that the Royal Marriage could be more difficult to navigate.

Will The Royal Marriage Be A Fairy Tale, Too?

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Africa

In Misrata, Rebels Call For NATO Strikes

Most of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces have pulled out of the western port city of Misrata, but rockets continue to hammer the city and rebel leaders now suggest the decision to leave Misrata might be a trick. They have called on NATO to increase its airstrikes against Gadhafi's weaponry.

In Misrata, Rebels Call For NATO Strikes

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'Upstairs Downstairs' Takes A New Step Back In Time

On This Day In History ... : Masterpiece Classic's Upstairs Downstairs sequel picks up six years after the original series left off, with a new family — and a nearly new cast of servants — moving into the house at 165 Eaton Pl., London. Jane Hilton/BBC/Masterpiece hide caption

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Jane Hilton/BBC/Masterpiece

Television

'Upstairs Downstairs' Takes A New Step Back In Time

In the 1970s, the BBC's Upstairs Downstairs became one of the most popular British television series to date. The show took a leisurely look at a Britain in which class distinctions were firmly embedded and everybody knew their place. Now, Upstairs Downstairs is back with an only slightly updated take.

'Upstairs Downstairs' Takes A New Step Back In Time

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