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Robert Smith Robert Smith is a correspondent for NPR's Planet Money where he reports on how the global economy is affecting our lives.
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Robert Smith

Inquiry into Fired U.S. Attorneys

Talking Points Site Kept Attorneys Story Alive

The story about eight fired U.S. attorneys is all over the front pages of the papers and on the nightly TV news now. But back in January, only a few journalists were paying attention, including a group of bloggers at the Talking Points Memo Web site.

Talking Points Site Kept Attorneys Story Alive

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Law

NYC Officers Plead Not Guilty in Shooting Death

Three New York City Police officers plead not guilty to manslaughter charges in the shooting of Sean Bell, an unarmed man who was shot to death outside a Queens nightclub just hours before he was due to get married.

NYC Officers Plead Not Guilty in Shooting Death

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Law

New York Grand Jury Indicts Officers in Shooting

A grand jury has voted to indict three New York City police detectives in the killing of an unarmed black man, Sean Bell, according to the Associated Press. On Saturday, supporters of Bell's family rallied in New York's Union Square.

New York Grand Jury Indicts Officers in Shooting

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Media

Campaigns Hope to Move from Web to Cell Phones

Advances in technology have changed the landscape in so many ways, including politics. Presidential candidates all over the Internet, but it doesn't stop there. One of the new ideas coming out of a Washington, D.C., conference of online politicos: placing candidate videos on cell phones. The 14th annual Politics Online Conference is being held in Washington this week.

Campaigns Hope to Move from Web to Cell Phones

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Politics

Campaigners Seek to Connect Via the Web

Presidential campaigns have expanded beyond whistle-stop tours and rope lines and moved right into cyberspace. Candidates and their surrogates are using social networking sites on the Web in search of financial support and votes.

Campaigners Seek to Connect Via the Web

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The Impact of War

Fort Dix Holds Jobs Fair for Wounded Soldiers

The Pentagon is inviting soldiers wounded in Iraq to job fairs around the country where they can look for employers who will accommodate their disabilities. It's part of a program called Hiring Heroes.

Fort Dix Holds Jobs Fair for Wounded Soldiers

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Diversions

Group Holds Pillow Fight in New York

A group called Newmindspace, which says it "disseminates urban bliss," sponsored a come-one, come-all pillow fight in New York City this weekend. Hundreds of people showed up at Union Square, pillows in hand.

Group Holds Pillow Fight in New York

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Politics

Gore Fans Can't Believe He Won't Run

Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth may win an Oscar for Best Documentary. But there are skeptics populating the Web who don't quite believe Gore when he says he's not running for president.

Gore Fans Can't Believe He Won't Run

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Business

JetBlue Offers Passengers Rights, Compensation

JetBlue Airways officially announces a passenger bill of rights, as it offers compensation to the thousands of passengers subjected to flight delays and cancellations last week. The company says that in the future, passengers can count on vouchers and refunds if flights don't take off.

JetBlue Offers Passengers Rights, Compensation

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Business

JetBlue CEO Promises to Improve Cancellation Plans

Flights on JetBlue are still not back to normal, after six days of chaos and long delays triggered by a winter storm. A quarter of JetBlue's flights were canceled today — the airline promises that all flights should be back on schedule Tuesday. The CEO of JetBlue says the company has drafted a Customer's Bill of Rights.

JetBlue CEO Promises to Improve Cancellation Plans

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Technology

Toy Fair: Big-Ticket High Tech

With iPods and cell phones in abundance, the toy industry wants to come up with new electronic gadgets. At the annual Toy Fair in New York City, there are plenty of innovative ideas, but most come at a hefty price.

Toy Fair: Big-Ticket High Tech

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Election 2008

Giuliani Rides High as He Weighs 2008 Bid

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani moved toward a run for president this week, filing a "statement of candidacy" with the FEC (without actually announcing that he's running). He's leading in the polls — but some analysts see challenges ahead.

Giuliani Rides High as He Weighs 2008 Bid

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National

Rally Urges Funds for Ailing Ground Zero Responders

The son of one worker who died last week is seeking a personal meeting with Mr. Bush. The Bush administration has just announced that it will propose more funding for health programs for Sept. 11 first responders in this year's budget.

Rally Urges Funds for Ailing Ground Zero Responders

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